Document Actions
The Campaign to Reform Immigration FOR America Launches!
Torrential rain, booming thunder, shocking lightning and the launch of the Campaign to Reform Immigration FOR America! What a week! To local and national acclaim, during the week of June 1, 2009 our Campaign launched with press events, phone calls, faxes and a Summit of nearly 800 organizers and leaders from across the nation. We could not have done it without your support. Thank you!
(co-written with Ali Noorani of the National Immigration Forum)
Just last week, you supported:
- 44 local Campaign to Reform Immigration FOR America launches in 21 states. Events included a diverse collection of allies (mayors, law enforcement, labor, business and immigrant communities) in key regions, generating over 75 press clips.!
- The national launch of the Campaign at the National Press Club which gathered faith, business, labor, civil rights and immigrant partners committed to working together for an American Solution. A new set of leaders for reform participated, including Ben Jealous of the NAACP (who joined us at the Summit as well), John Podesta of the Center for American Progress, Arlene Holt-Baker of AFSCME and Bob Dolibois of the Agriculture Employer Association.
- A three-day Summit of the entire immigration field, held under an enormous tent that withstood a violent Wednesday night thunderstorm. Over 200 organizations and nearly 800 organizers from 36 states were represented and trained in messaging, advocacy, fundraising, targeting and field organizing.
- A National Town Hall on Immigration where House Immigration Subcommittee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren joined Senator Robert Menendez and other Members in a call for immigration reform. The Town Hall served to gather key members of Congress, grassroots, labor and faith leaders, the press and real people telling the story of immigration in America. (Photos of the entire Summit, including the Town Hall, can be found at here)(Video of the Summit can be found here)
- The release of a national polling that continues to point to the demand for comprehensive immigration reform.
- Hundreds of leaders organized over 140 Capitol Hill meetings (many with Members of Congress), preceded by over 125,000 faxes! Senator Reid said publicly that immigration reform WOULD happen this session, and that his strong preference was that it happen THIS year. Speaker Pelosi publicly listed immigration only behind health care and energy in House priorities.
- The participation of White House and key members of the Hill in our events. Our own Cecilia Munoz brought the house down to close it out –restating the Administration’s commitment to the issue, leading up to the June 17th meeting between President Obama and Congressional leaders. Congressman Luis Gutierrez joined the Summit for two different events, each time inspiring further action.
Our power and momentum is palpable.
These events and the metrics behind them are our benchmarks for success. Yet, in some ways they do not come close to capturing how important this week was and what we have accomplished. The Summit helped restore the essence of our movement: leaders from across the country and across the spectrum believing in the value of immigrants and immigration to the nation.
This has all the feel and optics of a historic moment in the fight for immigration reform. A historic moment made possible by all of you.
Our work has not ended – in some ways this is just the beginning. But it’s an opening act that sets the stage for us to WIN.
Deepak Bhargava is the Executive Director of the Center for Community Change.
