MAY DAY OF ACTION: STATUS FOR ALL!

MAY DAY OF ACTION: STATUS FOR ALL!
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Christie Pits Park (at Christie subway station) TORONTO
12 Noon

*This is a child-friendly demonstration. Food and drinks will be available. There will be vehicles on-hand for those with reduced mobility.*

Millions across North America have taken to the streets in the last two years demanding Status for All! In Toronto, workers, students, trade unionists, activists and community members have led passionate demonstrations calling for justice and dignity for immigrants and refugees.

The last year has seen unprecedented targeting of refugees in Sanctuary. Asylum seekers have been arrested from schools, workplaces and even hospital beds. Families have been torn apart. Over 12,000 friends, family, and community members have been deported.

On March 14th 2008, the Conservative government introduced a series of amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), buried in Bill c-50, a 136-page "budget implementation bill". If passed, the Minister will have the discretion to refuse applications even where the applicants meet the elitist and racist criteria for
permanent residence, to refuse to even examine humanitarian applications filed from abroad, and to arbitrarily set quotas on the "category" of person that can enter Canada – including quotas based on country of origin.

In the face of this intimidation and fear, our communities have refused to be silenced. Together, we have forced immigration enforcement out of Toronto District schools. Inspired frontline community workers have taken up the struggle for Access Without Fear. We have fought against, and stopped the deportations of allies and
friends.

But the fight is not over. There are over 500,000 undocumented people living and working across Canada, over 200,000 in Toronto alone. They are forced to live in daily fear of jailing and deportation, without access to essential services. Bill C-50 would create even more categories of "temporary foreign workers" without full status and
without rights. These workers will be exploited as cheap labour, as mere commodities, used and then removed. We will not stand for this.

On May 3rd, as part of the National Days of Action for Status for All, we will take to the streets. We demand an end to detentions and deportations. We demand access without fear to essential services. We demand an end to security certificates and secret trials. We demand a full and inclusive regularization program. We demand justice, dignity and respect!

The March will be followed by a community fair featuring music, performers, food, children activities and visual art displays.

JOIN US!

WAYS TO SUPPORT:
1) Organize a loud contingent to come out on May 3rd.
2) Endorse the May Day of Action by emailing NOII a short statement of support.
3) Financial and in-kind (photocopying, translation) donations.
4) Organize a NOII workshop/presentation at your school, union local, agency, community centre or workplace.
5) Help out with postering and outreach

For more information about how you support the march or get involved:
Email: nooneisillegal@riseup.net
Website: www.nooneisillegal.org
Phone: 416 604-5765

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No One is Illegal-Toronto is looking for volunteers and allies to help out for the Day of Action on May 3rd.

If you can help out, attend our Volunteer Meeting

Wednesday April 30th - 6:30pm

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)

252 Bloor Street West (between Bedford and St George, at the St George Subway Station)

The room location will be posted in the lobby

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Endorsed by: AMNI Student Group - University of Toronto * Basics Community Newsletter * Black Action Defence Committee * Bolivarian Circle - Manuelita Saenz * Campaign Anti-Sharia * Canadian Federation of Students * Caribbean Studies Student's Union at UofT * Carranza Barristers & Solicitors * Central Neighbourhood House * Centre for Feminist Research * Centre for Spanish Speaking People * Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid * Community Social Planning Council of Toronto * CUPE 1281 * CUPE 1777(Social Service Workers) * CUPE 3896 (Social Service Workers) * CUPE 3902 (Educational Workers at UofT) * CUPE 3907 (OISE T.A.s) * CUPE 4308 (Social Service Workers) * CUPE International Solidarity Committee * CUPE Ontario * Education Not
Deportation * Educators for Peace and Justice * Elementary Teachers of Toronto Regional Council * UKPC (Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance) * Glendon College Student's Union - York University * Grassroots Youth Collaborative * Industrial Accident Victims' Group of Ontario * International Federation of Iranian Refugees in Canada * Justice for Alwy Campaign * Justice for Mohamed Harkat Campaign * KAIROS * Law
Union of Ontario * Liberation of Women in Iran * New Socialist Group * No One Is Illegal – Brampton * No One Is Illegal – Kingston * No One Is Illegal – Ottawa * No One Is Illegal- Montreal * No One Is Illegal-Vancouver * Ontario Coalition Against Poverty * OPIRG-Toronto * OPIRG-York * OSSTF District 12 - Human Rights Committee * ROAD Network * Ryerson Students Union * Sistering * Department of Sociology
and Equity Studies at OISE * Sociology and Equity Studies in Education Student Caucus * Solidarity Across Borders * Somali Youth Association of Toronto * South Asian Women's Rights Organization * Status Now * Teachers for Palestine * The Bickford Centre * The Socialist Project * The Stop * Toronto Haiti Action Committee * Toronto Adult Student Association * Toronto Climate Change Coalition * Toronto Coalition to
Stop the War * Toronto Immigration Legal Committee * United Black Students at Ryerson * York University Black Students Alliance * York University Muslim Student's Association *

Check out the national No One Is Illegal statement on the new changes to the Immigration Act proposed by the Conservative government:

http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/node/935


To see photos, video and report backs from last year's Status for All demo, check out:

http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/node/683