Migrant Justice Organizing and Solidarity Campaign Results in New and Improved State Police Bias-Free-Policy: Take Follow-up Actions Today!

Dear friends of the Vermont Migrant Farmworker Solidarity Project,

Below you will find:

1) We are making a difference! VTMFSP Farmworker Organizing and Solidarity Campaign Produces New and Improved State Police Bias-Free-Policy!

2) Take Action: Thank the Shumlin Administration for Listening to Farm Workers and Vermonters; and keep up the Letters to the Editor

3) Help us Keep this important work going! Pleae join us as a monthly sustainer or one time donor!

4) Check us out in Waitsfield at 7pm on 11/17 at the Big Picture Theater showing our documentary film Silenced Voices with a Q&A and discussion with Danilo and Natalia.

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1) VTMFSP Farmworker Organizing and Solidarity Campaign Results in New and Improved State Police Bias-Free-Policy

Friday, November 5- Burlington, VT-- Farm Worker leaders from the VT Migrant Farmworker Solidarity Project (VTMFSP) welcome Governor Shumlin Administration's new Bias-Free-Policing-Policy as a significant improvement and step in the right direction. At the same time, the policy change demonstrates that though migrant farm workers live on the margins of our communities in Vermont, they are building and organizing a voice for the first time, and this led to a concrete policy change.

Eliazar Martinez, one of 5 farm workers who met with Governor Shumlin and his legal counsel Beth Robinson just weeks ago to present community concerns about Vermont State Policing practices and policy, commented, "We are very pleased that the new policy directs the State Police to not use agency resources, equipment, or personnel for immigration enforcement of otherwise law abiding community members. We thank the Governor for hearing our voices and we look forward to continued dialogue to create a more safe and just Vermont for all."

Farm workers recently joined the struggle for biased-free policing, particularly after Danilo Lopez, a VT Migrant Farmworker Solidarity Project leader (VTMFSP), was detained by VT State Police with his cousin Antonio, in a routine traffic stop as passengers in a vehicle on September 13th. Lopez contacted the organization during the stop, setting off a chain of calls and rapid responses and eventually leading to the arrests of 3 Vermonters who non-violently blocked a Border Patrol Vehicle. Later that same day, the farmworkers were released and the Governor called for an investigation into the incident. In the weeks following the incident the VTMFSP has been organizing a statewide speaking tour, with Danilo as the featured speaker, to raise awareness and generate support to stop police from acting as immigration agents.

-For the rest of the story: http://migrantjustice.net/node/128

-Check out all media we've been generating: http://migrantjustice.net/in-the-news

2) Take Action: Thank the Shumlin Administration for Listening to Farm Workers and Vermonters; and keep up the Letters to the Editor

a) Thank the Shumlin Administration for Listening to Farm Workers and Vermonters:

While the new Bias-Free-Policing Policy isn't perfect it is a big step forward particularly in light of some of the inhumane and racist reactions to our broken immigration system that we've seen in Alabama, Georgia and Arizona. The right wing will attack Governor Shumlin for this decision. Thus, its extremely important to take a moment to thank the Shumlin administration for listening and being responsive to the voices of farm workers by creating a more safe and just Vermont while at the same time pointing out the need for continued work on this issue!

Please write (GovernorVT@state.vt.us) AND call (802 828-3345) Governor Shumlin and tell him:

"Thank you for listening to farm workers by creating a new Bias-Free-Policing Policy. When State Police act as immigration agents it creates an environment for racial profiling, which jeopardizes the civil rights and public safety of ALL Vermonters. We are proud of you and Vermont for making clear that State Police should not be engaging in immigration enforcement. At the same time, I am concerned that police may be able to use ambiguities and exceptions in the policy to continue to defend their immigration enforcement actions. Again this is a big step forward for Vermont and I thank you for it. At the same time I hope we can continue to work together to challenge all forms of biased-policing in Vermont."

b) Keep up the letters to the editor and help us continue to shape the conversation on immigration in Vermont in a humane, thoughtful and engaging way!

Check out all the recent media coverage on the new Bias-Free-Policing Policy:

http://migrantjustice.net/in-the-news

Please write in letters of support to your local media outlets to stand with Vermont farm workers, Vermont's communities of color, and the Governor on this new and improved policing policy. Monitor the news for potentially dehumanizing language like 'illegal immigrants', or misinformation like 'Vermont is simply ignoring the law'. This is a time when racism and hatred are manifesting across the country-lets not tolerate it in Vermont. Make your letters personal, engaging, and craft your message to help us continue to build the dialogue in Vermont about migrant farm workers, immigration, and a food system that respects and rewards all those who work in it! Again, the talking points for Bias-Free-Policing can be found here: http://migrantjustice.net/sites/default/files/ActionPackforBiasFreeVT.pdf

Good sample letters to the editor:

http://climate-connections.org/2011/09/24/crack-down-on-vermont-illegal-...

http://www.timesargus.com/article/20111015/OPINION02/710159985

3) Help us Keep this important work going! Join us as a monthly sustainer! Donate on-line: http://migrantjustice.net/node/91

Dear Friends of the VTMFSP,

As you may know we've been organizing around the clock to turn a recent crisis into an opportunity and WE DID IT! On September 13th, Danilo, an outspoken farm worker leader, was racially profiled by State Police as a passenger in a routine traffic stop, then turned over to Border Patrol. We rapidly mobilized our members and solidarity networks flooding the Governor and State Police offices with hundreds of calls. At the same time we organized an effective act of civil disobedience blocking the vehicle as it sought to take away our friends and drew widespread attention to the incident. All of this helped free Danilo from the inhumane immigration detention system although he still awaits a deportation hearing in December.

In the weeks following the incident we've been holding a speaking tour, with Danilo as the featured speaker, to raise awareness and generate support to stop police from acting as immigration agents and build our statewide support network. We also worked tirelessly to produce and release a new video documenting other instances of police immigration enforcement. Then, we organized an historic meeting between five of our core farmworker leaders and Governor Shumlin asking him to strengthen the State Police’s Bias-Free Policing Policy and to stop practices and programs that might take Vermont in the direction of Arizona and Alabama. This campaign has just resulted in a better State policing policy thus building a more humane and just Vermont and building the voice and power of the farm worker community in Vermont!

As you can see, we've been busy and are really building momentum to give voice to the migrant farm worker community in Vermont. However, In order to keep doing this important work for immigrant rights and food justice, we need your support. This work requires resources! We are currently still a mostly volunteer drive project with two 1/2 time organizers!

Please join us as a monthly sustainer to keep this crucial work going.

The easiest way to become a monthly sustainer or give a one-time donation is to do so through our website:

migrantjustice.net/node/91

You can also make out and send checks to VTMFSP, PO Box 314, Underhill, VT 05489. Thank you so much for your generosity.

4) Check us out in Waitsfield at 7pm on 11/17 at the Big Picture Theater!

As Vermonters, farmers, and consumers of farm products, we all participate in the complex story of migrant labor. Join GMGF on Thursday November 17th at 7pm for a screening of the film "Silenced Voices." It will be followed by a Q&A session with Natalia Fajardo and Danilo Lopez from the Vermont Migrant Farmworker Solidarity Project. They will bring additional information and outlook on the challenges and opportunities for Vermont farms and their workers.

Green Mountain Global Forum (http://www.gmgf.org/) is co-sponsoring this presentation with The Vermont Migrant Farmworker Solidarity Project. This event is FREE to the public and all are welcome.

Sincerely,
Natalia and Brendan

For the VT Migrant Farmworker Solidarity Project/Justicia Migrante