Nydia Velazquez Co-sponsor DREAM NOW! 24 hr vigil starts July 13th
It is a critical time for immigrant youth around the country as they mobilize for the Dream Act. Letters have been written, phone calls have been made, coalitions have been built, 250 miles have been walked to Washington, DC, and even 10 days of hunger strike have occurred. Along the way we have gained support of our community, organizations, universities, and local politicians. However, 10 years into the struggle for the passage of the Dream Act, our Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez has failed to come out in its support. She has failed to represent the dreams of youth in her district and to support the millions of Latino/a youth and their families in the United States as chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
President Obama recently spoke to the nation about the urgency for a change in our immigration system. Even though the President and Democratic leadership have not provided a concrete plan to do this, the DREAM Act is a tangible and possible solution that can help undocumented immigrant youth and their families.
This Tuesday, NYSYLC members, community leaders, students, and allies will carry out a 24-hour vigil at the doorstep of Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez’s office to demand her support for the DREAM Act immediately and to show how many youth she is letting down with her inaction. The clock is ticking, the Dream Act needs to pass now, Rep. Velazquez we are waiting on you.
***If you will not be able to attend the vigil you can still let her office know that you are supporting the DREAM Act by filling out this petition http://bit.ly/dgjyix ***
Who: New York State Youth Leadership Council members, allies, university and high school students, and supporters
What: 24-hour Vigil outside the office of Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez
When: Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Press Conference will begin at 11am. Vigil starts at 12 pm.
Where: Rep. Nydia Velazquez’s Lower East Side Office
173 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009 MAP: http://bit.ly/b9DCaD
Why: Enough is Enough. We need the Dream Act Now and it is intolerable that our Congresswoman
and Chair of the Hispanic Caucus does not come out in full support of the Dream Act.
TODAY!!!: 70th Hour for the 70,000 Dreams Deferred!: VIGIL at STARVED 4 DREAM HUNGER STRIKE
70th Hour for the 70,000 Dreams Deferred!: VIGIL at STARVED 4 DREAM HUNGER STRIKE
Every year 70,000 undocumented students graduate each year from high school with little hopes of pursuing their dreams. On June 5th, 2010, on Day 4 of the Hunger Strike, the 10 hunger strikers, their families and community members will mark the 70thhour of their hunger strike in honor of the dreams that have been deferred.
The vigil will consists of a prayer ceremony, personal story sharing and a demand that Senator Schumer move the Dream Act forward as a stand alone bill.
As the Chairman of the Senate Immigration Subcommittee, Schumer has the power to move the dream act forward now but he chooses not too. He chooses to keep our dreams hostage and our time is running out! It’s been about 10 years fighting for this bill and we can’t wait anymore, our dreams can’t wait anymore.
Come and Join STARVED 4 DREAM as we say Schumer, MOVE the DREAM Act as a stand-alone bill NOW!
When: THIS Friday, June 4th at 7pm - RAIN or SHINE
Where: In front of Schumer's office located on 757 Third Ave New York, NY 10017
Please bring flashlights or electric candles (not real candles). Invite your friends, family members and neighbors to join the strikers of starved4dream. Our families are the ones that are there for us, that support us in what we do. Their dreams have become ours, It’s because of those dreams that we’re in this country today.
--
Help the strikers everyday by calling Senator Schumer’s office at 212-486-4430 and say you want him to move the DREAM Act forward as a stand-alone bill.
You can also donate the following items: pedialite, bottles of water, sleeping bags, baby wipes, sunscreen, and yoga mats. Bring the items to the hunger strike site directly: 757 Third Ave New York, NY 10017. Call us at 347-755-3303 or emailKiran@nysylc.org
Three Dreamers Detained in AZ!
On the anniversary of landmark civil rights case Brown v. Board of Education, Arizona law enforcement arrested three undocumented leaders of the immigrant student movement in addition to Arizona native Raul Alcaraz after staging a sit-in at Senator John McCain’s office. Lizbeth Mateo, 25, an organizer with DREAM Team Los Angeles, Mohammad Abdollahi, 24, co-founder of http://www.facebook.com/l/ecb0b;DreamActivist.Org, a resource web portal for undocumented students, and Yahaira Carrillo, 25, a founder of the Kansas Missouri Dream Alliance are risking deportation in hopes that this action will make a significant contribution to the fight for immigrant rights. In response to the onslaught of enforcement-based immigration law, they staged a sit-in at Senator McCain’s office, and urged congressional leadership to champion the DREAM Act and the values it represents: hard work, education, and fairness.
In response to the action of the youth in Arizona, the NYSYLC is calling an EMERGENCY MEETING for Wednesday, May 19th at 6:30PM. Please come to this meeting to plan what the NYSYLC will do in solidarity with the detained youth. We are planning to initiate a hunger strike on Monday, May 24th if Senator Schumer does not meet with us by the end of this week. Contact Jennifer@nysylc.org to get involved. More details will be discussed at the Emergency Meeting.
Also, join us this Saturday, May 22nd at our General Meeting at 11AM to continue planning~ Let's keep on, P'alante!
Trail of Dreams NY Stages Die-In in Sen. Schumer’s office
Our dreams and futures continue to be put on hold due to Congress's inaction. As a demonstration of our frustration and sense of urgency, the walkers of the Trail of Dreams NY and members of the NYSYLC held simultaneous die-ins in the DC and NY offices of Senator Schumer on April 30, 2010.
Wearing caps and gowns that represented our desire to get access to college, walking barefoot that represented the blisters and tiredness of our feet after walking 250+ miles from NYC to DC, and white paint and blood stains on our faces that represent the death of our dreams, we stormed into Senator Schumer's office to demand answers and action.
Our message to Congress: OUR YOUTH CAN'T WAIT ANYMORE. We need less talk and more action!
Our message to Youth: Don't be afraid! Organize and demand the change that we need. We are all united in this cause and we are here to support each other.
See the vid below:
Week of Action 4 Trail of Dreams in NYC and DC
The Trail of Dreams is really close to Washington DC. Check out our week of action below and find out how you can get involved!!!
Tuesday, April 27th
9am-5pm Walk to University of Maryland at College Park
To walk, contact: walkers@nysylc.org
6pm Georgetown University Event
Contact Francisco Gutierrez for more info at gutierrezfrancisc@gmail.com
Wednesday, April 28th
9am-5pm Walk to Gallaudet University
To walk, contact: walkers@nysylc.org
10am National Press Club Event
Lisagor Room: 529, 14th Street, NW, Washington DC
Contact Marisol at Marisol@nysylc.org
Thursday, April 29th
All Day National Dream ACT Lobby DAY
Register at: http://tinyurl.com/dreamlobbyday
For more info, contact Kiran at kiran@nysylc.org
Friday, April 30th
All Day Trail of Dreams NY Dream ACT Lobby Day
For more info/questions: Contact Kiran at kiran@nysylc.org
2pm “Death of Dreams” Action at Senator Schumers’ Office// Contact todnyteam@nysylc.org 4 info
- in NYC: 757 Third Avenue, New York 10017 (btwn 47th/48th on 3rd Ave)
- in DC: 13 Hart Bldg, Washington, DC
Saturday, MAY 1st
YLC IN WASHINGTON, DC
6:30am Bus leaves from NYC from Union Square East
4,5,6, N,R,W, L Train to Union Square
Costs: $5
Register at http://bit.ly/may1stylc
Contact Sergio at Sergio@nysylc.org 4 info
11am March from Gallaudet University with Trail of Dreams NY to 15th and Constitution Ave
Meet at 800 Florida Ave NE, Washington, DC
Will walk 1 MILE to 15th and Constitution Ave
12pm Rally with Trail of Dreams NY and FL and then walk to Lafayette Park
2pm Rally at Lafayette Park (in front of White House)
YLC IN NEW YORK CITY
May 1st Contingent//Contact info@nysylc.org or 212-627-2227 ext 248 for info or questions
Day 11: @St Paul’s Friary in Wilmington DE
We have now walked about 120 miles which is a little more than halfway through our journey. Our feet are not pretty to look at as they have now filled with blisters and calluses (yuck) but our spirits remain stronger than ever.
Yesterday, we had a really exciting event at Swarthmore, when Swatties for the Dream ACT and PA DreamActivist joined our 11 mile walk from UPenn to Swarthmore and chanted the whole way! We love you guys and keep up the good work in putting together the Press Conference!
Tonight we are sleeping at St Paul's Friary in Wilminton, DE. We were received warmly by community members. Tomorrow we will be walking 16 miles to Elkton! Thanks to all who have supported us along the way and back home..We miss you but you are here with us!
Thank You Dreamers
Hey everyone,
The walkers have safely arrived to Jersey City and will be spending the night here before starting our walk tomorrow. We wanted to take the opportunity to thank each and everyone of you for making the first day of the Trail of Dreams a success. Listening to your courageous and brave personal stories about why you were walking with the Trail of Dreams has kept our energies high even if our bodies are tired from walking over 15 miles today.
But we will not give up! We will walk to every community we can to share our stories and urge for immediate passage of the Dream Act. As Dreamers, we are committed to making the Dream Act a reality
Much love,
Trail of Dreams NY 
Support the Trail of Dreams: Food Drive
There are other ways in which you can support the Trail of Dreams, particularly the 1st day of the walk-a-thon:
Trail of Dreams NY: The Route
The TODNY team will be walking for a period of 3 weeks, sharing their stories about the urgent need, for immediate passage of the Dream Act. Interested in helping out or joining us? Email us at todny@nysylc.org
View TOD NY in a larger map