Our Universities Should Be “Sanctuary Zones,” Not Enforcement Agencies

Written by Cloee Cooper

Every person deserves the right to the pursuit of knowledge. Academic institutions should not be places where bigotry and racism are endorsed. Yet nativist ideologies and organizations continue to pave a legislative and ideological path which restricts education to some.

Nativist organizations are making headway in the legislative battle to make education exclusive.

Georgia’s HB 87 restricts undocumented students from attending any public college. In Alabama, their version of SB1070, HB 56, bars undocumented students from enrolling in or attending public colleges. In addition, it requires every school district to submit an annual report on the number of presumed undocumented immigrants to the state education board.

Legislative efforts to… Read more

Immigration

Romney Accepts Endorsement from Lawyer Tied to White Nationalists

Written by Cloee Cooper

“I am pleased to stand with this true conservative” said Kris Kobach of GOP nominee Mitt Romney, who he endorsed Wednesday. But would a “true conservative” accept an endorsement from someone with Kobach’s connections? A closer examination of Kobach reveals some disturbing ties that stray far from the ideals that Romney claims to uphold.

Kobach is employed by the Immigration Reform Law Institute (IRLI), the legal arm of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). IRLI was founded as a project of FAIR by white nationalist John Tanton; to this day, both of these organizations are legally connected according to tax documents, and FAIR president Dan Stein serves as… Read more

New Documentary ‘Under Arpiao’ Sets Off Southern Tour

Written by Cloee Cooper

Jason Michael Aragón, a filmmaker and activist from Pan Left Productions in Tucson, Arizona, recently released preview screenings of his documentary film titled Under Arpaio, which documents the struggle against the notorious Joe Arpaio.

This “working- cut” of the film is being shown to audiences through grassroots tours in order to create more community awareness of Arizona and other states where similar anti-immigrant laws have been developed. A finished version of the film will be released later this year after the nationwide tour of effected communities.

On December 15, the Department of Justice issued a report documenting the civil rights violations which occurred under Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Maricopa County has since been… Read more

“Free Pancho!”: the Occupy Movement Steps Up for Immigrant Rights

Written by Cloee Cooper

“If you want to be a rebel, be kind: human-kind, be both.” – Pancho

Pancho Ramos Stierle was known by members of the Fruitvale community in Oakland as a spiritual leader. Following the Occupy Oakland General Strike of November 2, Pancho joined three people in meditation to peacefully defend the site against police removal at Occupy Oakland. During a police sweep of the encampment on November 14, police arrested him and entered his name into a federal database.

In a personal letter that was drafted by members of the community after Pancho’s arrest, it stated, “Pancho’s case is unique, in that he faces not only the charges in connection with his peaceful protest, but… Read more

White Nationalists Seek Inroads to College Campuses

Written by Cloee Cooper

With an economic recession that isn’t letting up for most people, the average American is dealing will a lot of stress and uncertainty in their daily lives. It’s sometimes difficult to know who or what is to blame. There is a very active white nationalist movement in this country that is using this collective anxiety to blame people of color, immigrants, queers and just about anyone else who doesn’t fit into its very narrow definition of white.

There are several fronts we have seen the white nationalist movement take on more seriously as of late.  One of these fronts is on college campuses and universities. White nationalist leaders believe organizing students will protect “western civilization”… Read more

GOOD NEWS FRIDAY: Mayor Paul Bridges Stands Against the Anti-Immigrant Movement

Written by Cloee Cooper

Uvalda, GA, is a town of only 530 people, mostly white, that’s tucked away in southeastern Georgia.  The small town relies almost completely on farming, boasting a tight-knit, faith-based sense of community, which is nothing unusual.

However, a good deal of hype has

Bernard’s Story: a Documentary of Action and Change

Written by Cloee Cooper

COMING SOON!

Bernard’s Story, a short documentary that chronicles how and why Enforcement-only stances on immigration can destroy families and communities, will be released this July 4.

Politics

CIS Moderates Panel with Author of Anti-Islam Conspiracy Book

Written by Cloee Cooper

Today, Executive Director Mark Krikorian of the anti-immigrant group Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) will moderate a panel at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. titled “Built to Fail: Deception and Disorder in Immigration Court.”

Not surprisingly, one of the panelists who will be speaking on today’s panel is an author of several books that promote Islamophobia.

The panel will discuss the release of a report titled “Deception and Disorder in Immigration Court”, authored by Mark H. Metcalf, a former immigration judge and former Special Counsel at the Domestic Security Section within the Justice Department.

Immigration

Students on Frontline in Fight Against Hate

Written by Cloee Cooper

This week in the border town of Tucson, Arizona, high school students chained themselves to the chairs of school board members in a struggle against a ban on ethnic studies.

When Tucson Unified School District’s governing board prepared to meet on Tuesday night, students, local members of the LGBT activist community, African American community, teachers, union representatives and members of the religious community filled the hall. Within moments, high school students had chained themselves to the seats of the School Board and filled the hall. Chants soon reverberated against the walls:

“Our education is under attack. What do we do? We fight back!”