Thursday, August 22, 2019
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
Friday, April 24, 2009
Join IJSP in supporting the Domestic Workers Week of Action!
Check the link for more info. A very busy and important week, indeed!
April 25th: March & Rally - 11am - 1pm. Gather @ 86th Street between Park and Lexington
April 25th: Exit Cuckoo benefit performance. $25 tickets (proceed portion goes to DWU). 410 W. 42 St.
April 27th: National Call-in Day of Action.
April 28th: Domestic Workers Take Action in Albany. ALBANY LOBBY DAY. Buses leave Union Square at 6:30am and return at 7:30pm.
More info here: http://www.domesticworkersunited.org/shownews/38
Thursday, February 12, 2009
IJSP Members Travel to Albany for the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights!
This was the 5th legislative session that Domestic Workers United (DWU) has lobbied state legislators for passage of the Bill of Rights. For the first time in decades, the state legislature is controlled by the Democratic Party. Though many Democratic legislators still stand in the way of justice, dignity and reparations for domestic workers, it is our hope that the change in political party control will provide more space and chance for passage of the Bill of Rights THIS YEAR.
It was a cold, but exciting day as 4 buses filled up at 6:30am at Union Square in Manhattan and made the trip up to Albany. We met with over 50 state legislators, held a press conference and had a march around the capital square.
YOU CAN STILL SUPPORT THE DOMESTIC WORKERS BILL OF RIGHTS!
There are still a number of ways that you can support the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights:
- You can join IJSP members for our monthly phone outreach to help build the membership base of DWU
- You can help IJSP plan and conduct neighborhood canvassing in support of the Bill of Rights
- You can join IJSP, DWU and others for the NEXT Albany Action Day! The exact date is not set yet, but will occur in late April
- Have an idea or skill you'd like to share? Let us know! ijsp@riseup.net
Another example of the importance of CopWatch!
Below is an article from the New York Times today that presents the importance of video taping police interactions in the community.
To get involved with a city wide effort in doing Cop Watch, you can get more info on Peoples' Justice website - www.peoplesjustice.org - and you contact us! ijsp@riseup.net
February 12, 2009
An Officer Is Accused of Beating a Suspect
By JOHN ELIGON
Last July, Police Officer David London arrested a man in the
But the building's surveillance video told a different story, District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau <http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/m/robert_m_m
orgenthau/index.html?inline=nyt-per> said Wednesday.
It showed Officer London pulling the man out of an elevator, Mr.
Morgenthau said, and beating him 18 to 20 times with a baton. The beating continued even after the man, Walter Harvin, fell to the ground, Mr. Morgenthau said. And even after Mr. Harvin was in handcuffs, Officer London delivered another eight to 10 blows, some with his feet, Mr.
Morgenthau said.
Officer London, 43, has been indicted on charges of assault and filing false records and pleaded not guilty on Wednesday in State Supreme Court in
Stephen C. Worth
<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/w/stephen_c_
worth/index.html?inline=nyt-per> , his lawyer, said Officer London "maintains his innocence strenuously."
Mr. Worth said his client was a 16-year veteran of the force assigned to a housing unit and is married with three children. He also has an exemplary record as a police officer, Mr. Worth added.
Daniel J. Castleman, the chief assistant district attorney, said, "We will dispute that," but he declined to give details.
Mr. Worth said it was important to put the video of the beating in the context of what happened before and after it was captured.
"Oftentimes the videotape is the beginning of the story, not the end,"
Mr. Worth said.
Several officers have been indicted in recent months after videos contradicted their accounts of how they made arrests. In December an officer was indicted <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/16/nyregion/16critical.html> on assault and other charges after a video showed him shoving a bicyclist in
In Officer London's case, prosecutors said they could not release the video, which came from surveillance cameras, to the public because it was part of the evidence. But they said it captured the episode in detail.
The confrontation took place on July 28, 2008, when Mr. Harvin, 29, an
Mr. Harvin made it to the elevator, where the assault began, Mr.
Morgenthau said. Mr. Harvin was arrested on charges of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, but prosecutors dropped the charges last September after the surveillance video contradicted Officer London's account.
Mr. Harvin suffered bruises and welts on his arms, back and head, Mr.
Morgenthau said. Afterward, Mr. Harvin became homeless and drifted about the country, and prosecutors could not find him, Mr. Morgenthau said.
But a lawyer representing Mr. Harvin informed the district attorney's office Wednesday that he was back in
"He's a fragile person," said the lawyer, Adam Orlow, who added that Mr.
Harvin suffered post-traumatic stress disorder from his time in
"He became only worse after this incident."
He said he would file a civil rights lawsuit in federal court in
Officer London was placed on modified duty shortly after the episode and was suspended without pay because of the indictment.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Help Canvass for the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights!
Particularly with the balance of power shift in the New York state legislature,
THIS IS THE YEAR to make the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights pass!
Help make it happen!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Support DRUM YouthPower! Campaign & the Student Safety Acct
DRUM YouthPower! youth leaders & Hillcrest students held an energetic rally on Monday at Hillcrest High School calling attention to escalting abuse by School Safety Officers.
DRUM youth leader Kumar Heeralall spoke about guards who attacked him in the "Strip Search Room" while he was handcuffed and had him arrested after. DRUM was joined by NYCLU and Rojan Morgan's family & lawyers who have filed suit & are working closely with DRUM to demand an investigation.
Help us demand an end to these practices on low-income youth of color.
Call your City Council member and express support for the Student Safety Act!
Call DRUM to help out with the ongoing YouthPower! campaign at 718-205-3036
------------
NY 1 News Clip:
http://www.ny1.com/Default.aspx?ArID=90276&ap=1&Flash
------------Hillcrest High School 'safety agents' under attack from students, parents
BY JOY WILTERMUTH
DAILY NEWS WRITER
Tuesday, December 9th 2008, 6:58 PM
Activists Saniya and Rishi (they did not want last names used) at Hillcrest HS rally Monday. Rohan Morgan (inset, l.) and Kumar Heeralall accuse school security of abuse.
Students, parents and civil rights activists are demanding a probe of what they call overly aggressive policing at a Queens school, saying safety agents have created a "climate of fear."
Agents at Hillcrest High School in Jamaica have allegedly beaten students, strip-searched them and routinely forced them to line up for at least an hour for security checks, protesters said Monday at the school."We came to Hillcrest because, in our view, there is an educational and civil rights emergency," said Donna Lieberman, director of the New York Civil Liberties Union.
She said Principal Stephen Duch is "complicit" in ongoing problems and has "turned a blind eye" to the aggressive behavior of security agents, who are NYPD employees.
Hillcrest student Rohan Morgan, 16, filed a lawsuit against the city in August after four security agents allegedly handcuffed him and then severely beat him in the dean's office.
"I was scared and didn't know what to think," Morgan said, recounting the incident at the rally.
School has been difficult since then, he said.
"I still have to look over my shoulder," Morgan said, adding that agents "still mess" with him.
City Education Department officials declined to comment on the lawsuit. But spokeswoman Marge Feinberg said such allegations are taken seriously.
NYPD Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne said the July incident was sparked over a cell phone, which is banned in school. When agents tried to pull Morgan aside after his phone set off the metal detector, Morgan resisted, Browne said."The student became irate, and pushed and struck the agent," Browne said. Morgan was taken to Long Island Jewish Hospital for psychiatric evaluation.
Trudy Morgan said her son came home with bruises all over his body and suffered a knee injury that required surgery.
"This is not the way they deserve to be treated," she said.
Hillcrest graduate Kumar Heeralall, 21, said he was the victim of a similar assault in 2007.
"They took me in a room, handcuffed me and beat me up," said Heeralall, who did not file a suit. "I thought I was the only one that it happened to."
Hillcrest student Ashley Avery, 16, said other schools don't have such stringent security.
"Not everyone is carrying a pocketknife," she said.
But George Geller, who heads the school's safety agents union, called the claims "outrageous."
"Inevitably, there are going to be allegations from time to time," Geller said. "What you heard here today were irresponsible calls to remove safety agents from schools."
With Jonathan Lemire
http://www.nydailyn
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
EXIT CUCKOO TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
7:00p-11:00p
Please join Domestic Workers United for
A SPECIAL BENEFIT PERFORMANCE of:
EXIT CUCKOO
A one-woman show that exposes the myth of motherhood
Written and Performed by Lisa Ramirez
Directed by Colman Domingo
@ Judson Memorial Church
55 Washington Square South
Between Thompson and Sullivan
Take the A/C/E/B/D/F/V to West 4th Street
Reviews-
"'Nanny Diaries' it ain't!" - Erline, Nanny, DWU Member
"I think it was right on point. The agency in the play really mirrors the agencies today." - Barbara, Nanny, DWU Member
"Ramirez gives us an inside look into the complicated, disturbing, often overlooked world of mothers, nannies, and children. Both brave and funny, Exit Cuckoo deserves our attention." - Eve Ensler, Writer/Activist
"The play shows us how immigrants come here, how we have to take so many jobs, how we are underpaid, and the way they treat us. I really enjoyed [the play]; it was wonderful!" - Elfrida, Nanny, DWU Member
"...delivers a hilarious (and frightening) running commentary on your child-rearing neighbors - but not you, of course." - New York Magazine
Party following the performance!
Tickets: $30
Call - (718) 220-7391 x 23 or email
exitcuckoo4DWU@gmail.com
to RSVP or purchase tickets
All proceeds to benefit Domestic Workers United
http://www.domesticworkersunited.org
Join IJSP on the DWU Frontlines for a Domestic Worker Bill of Rights!
DWU is just picking up some steam to PASS THE BILL OF RIGHTS IN 2009, and they want IJSP and friends to help bring this struggle to its climax this year!
So please join us and DWU at any or all of THREE DOMESTIC WORKER BILL OF RIGHTS EVENTS YOU JUST SHOULDN'T MISS!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. RALLY AND PRESS CONFERENCE - City Council Votes on Resolution to Support the NYS Domestic Workers Bill of Rights
Call upon New York City Councilmembers and local elected officials to take a stand in support of labor standards for New York's 200,000 domestic workers. Domestic workers are excluded from almost every major labor law; the financial crisis will hit those without a safety net the hardest. Act now to protect the workers who make all other work possible!
Thursday, November 13
11am-12:00 noon Rally and Press Conference
1:00-3:00 pm Vote inside City Hall
City Hall Steps
Enter on Broadway or Park Row
Take R/W to City Hall, the 4/5/6 to Brooklyn Bridge or 2/3 to Park Place
__________________________________________________________________
Come hear testimony and recommendations from domestic workers, employers, academics and policy experts on the crisis in the domestic work industry and the solutions toward recognition, respect and basic rights for domestic workers.
Friday, November 21
11am-2pm
250 Broadway
Assembly Hearing Room
Take R/W to City Hall, 4/5/6 to Brooklyn Bridge or 2/3 to Park Place
__________________________
3. CHILDREN'S VIGIL for the Human Rights of Domestic Workers
December 10 is International Human Rights Day. In honor of this day and the holiday season, show your solidarity with the children and families of domestic workers. This critical workforce supports 200,000 New York families as caregivers and housekeepers, yet works without a safety net, living wages or basic labor standards.
Their own children and families stand to suffer the most as the financial crisis hits. Stand up for respect and justice for domestic workers, call upon NYS legislators to act quickly, pass the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. Protect the workers who make all other work possible.
Sunday, December 7
11:30am-1:00pm
City Hall steps
Take R/W to City Hall, 4/5/6 to Brooklyn Bridge or 2/3 to Park Place
Monday, September 22, 2008
1st Happy Hour Outreach a Success!!!
Phone outreach is one of the key ways IJSP provides support for DWU as it is a major component of DWU's basebuilding campaign. September marked the first month that we switched up the format of our regular phone outreach with DWU. Instead of meeting twice a month, we decided to maximize attendance by meeting once every month, on a Friday, have a drink or two, hang out, make phone calls and then go out for drinks in the area afterwards.
It was a lot of fun & we are very excited by the turnout, especially by folks who came for the first time! It was great to hang out more and have time to get know each other and have fun beyond making phone calls. Productivity and fun all at once! HOLD THE PHONES! :P
Our next Happy Hour Outreach will be on Friday, October 10th. We will meet up, have a drink, and make some calls from 6:00p - 8:30p and then head out for drinks afterwards. Feel free to come by for part of the time or if you can - all of it! Suggestions for new bars in the area are always welcome too!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Help Rename IJSP!
HELP RENAME IJSP!
WE NEED YOUR CREATIVITY & INPUT!
Flexibility and growth - IJSP definitely believes these are important traits to maintain in our movement for social justice & change. With this in mind, we here at the Immigrant Justice Solidarity Project (IJSP) are looking to change our name - streamline it and spice it up - and we want to hear your suggestions!
BACKGROUND
IJSP formed as the detention working group of the Coalition of Human Rights of Immigrants in 2001. We became our own organization in late summer 2002 and worked principally in alliance with Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM) in the "Stop the Disappearances! Campaign". Over the past 5 years, our work has continued to grow and develop. We entered new and exciting partnerships, most notably with Domestic Workers United and Peoples' Justice coalition, which shifted the focus of our work from being focused purely on immigrant rights to being more broadly about intersecting movements such as labor rights, low-income women of color organizing, and anti-policy brutality, in addition to immigrant rights. We've also realized something kinda simple: IJSP is a bit of a tongue-twister and a lot to chew on. So that's why we're coming to you!
GUIDELINES:
We want to change our name to something:
(a) easier to remember
(b) reflects our work as an ally organization and
(c) reflects our spunk!
We like names with pop, such as DRUM, FIERCE, FUREE, Catalyst, POWER.
Got something in mind? Hit us up with it!
Put those sizzling summer energies to use for (for now) IJSP!!! Email us suggestions at ijsp@riseup.net or leave a comment here!
Love & struggle,
Immigrant Justice Solidarity Project (for now)