Saturday morning prayer and community briefing in SF kicks off day of action
Oakland, SF, SJ call on Congress to pass humane immigration reform

In the wake of the national crisis triggered by Arizona's passage of the country's harshest and most extreme anti-immigrant law, communities throughout the Bay Area are stepping up organizing efforts for the yearly May 1 demonstrations for immigrant rights. 

In San Francisco, community organizers and faith leaders will come together for a Saturday morning prayer service. A community and press briefing will follow the service, including an analysis of the crisis in Arizona, an update on the legislative process, and personal testimony from immigrant leaders.  Following the prayer and briefing, activists will march to 24th and Mission to join with hundreds of marchers.

"Arizona 2010 will soon revert to Alabama 1960. Families will be under siege, parents will be afraid to send their children to school, and workers will be afraid to report to their jobs. The chilling demand of 'papers, please - or jail' that all brown-skinned people will soon be subject to harkens back to the darkest chapters of human history," said Eric Quezada, Director of Dolores Street Community Services. "Sadly, a state which long refused to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, is once trampling upon his dream of a nation where freedom and justice are a reality for all."

"This outrage cries out for Congress to take strong leadership and pass humane immigration reform this year. We need reform that upholds our values of due process and fairness, and brings millions of our sisters and brothers out of the shadows so they can participate in and contribute to our society without fear. Reform isn't just a moral imperative - it's also a key ingredient to economic recovery for all us. We need everyone's help, including immigrants, to put this nation's economy back on track."

SCHEDULE OF BAY AREA IMMIGRANT RIGHTS EVENTS (Partial)

Friday, April 30
•    6:30 PM, Oakland: Press conference with Congresswoman Barbara Lee, followed by Prayer Service. Cathedral of Christ the Light, 2121 Harrison.

Saturday, May 1
•    10:00 AM, SF: Community Briefing and Prayer.
•    12:00 PM, SF: March, 24th & Mission Sts.
•    1:00 PM, Oakland: Rally, Fruitvale Bart, 2pm March.
•    4:00 PM, San Jose: March starting at Story Road and King Road.

Sunday, May 2
•    2:00 PM, Berkeley: Prayer and Press conference, 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way,