National Campaign of Fasting to Pressurize the Clinton Administration to Provide a Prompt and Just Solution to Late Amnesty Cases
To: Immigration Advocates
From: Association for Residency and Citizenship of America (ARCA)
Dear Immigration Advocates:
As you might know, ARCA (Association for Residency and Citizenship of America) was formed by members of the class action suits CSS v. Reno and Newman (LULAC) v. INS when they met in Washington, D.C. in May of this year.
Class members met with officials of the White House, the Department of Justice, Congressional Representatives, seeking temporary protection for all (reinstatement of work permits, stays of deportation, and right to travel) and permanent residency now (processing of all pending legalization applications).
In subsequent months, ARCA chapters in Los Angeles, Houston, Clearlake, El Paso, Miami, Seattle, San Jose, Stockton, San Francisco, Atlanta, New Jersey, Denver, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Phoenix and sister organizations like Fair Treatment of Immigrants (FTI) of Las Vegas, LAMA of Los Angeles, OLAMA of Miami, and Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law (CHRCL) of Los Angeles have spoken and written to the Clinton Administration requesting a just solution. In September, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) organized a press conference with Congressional Representatives and a rally in front of the White House to encourage the Clinton Administration to take action.
Lately, talks with the White House have been stalled. In a teleconference call two weeks ago, ARCA chapters and FTI agreed to initiate a national campaign of days of fasting in order to pressure the Clinton Administration to resolve this matter justly and quickly. The first 24-hour fast will take place in Los Angeles on Nov. 10th (begins at midnight on Monday, Nov. 9th and ends at midnight on Tuesday, Nov. 10th) in front of the Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles, located at 300 N. Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, on the corner of Temple and Los Angeles streets.
Class members from cities around the nation are flying into Los Angeles to be at this first event, a 'candle-light' fast. In November, each ARCA chapter in their city will hold fasts of two days, the following week for three days, and the next week for four days. In December, a call will be issued to all immigrants and people of goodwill to hold a 24-hour fast in their city on Dec. 10th, which is the International Human Rights Day. If there is still no response from the White House, then 100 class members will go to Washington, D.C. to hold a week-long fast in front of the White House.
As part of this first-ever fast, a major press conference is also arranged on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 1998, at 2:00 p.m. in front of the Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles, located at 300 N. Los Angeles Street, L.A., CA 90012, corner of Temple and Los Angeles streets. The speakers include Lead Attorneys for late amnesty: Peter Schey & Carlos Holguin of CHRCL; Maria Jimenez of American Friends Service Committee (AFSC); Selena Walsh of LULAC, Washington, D.C., among other distinguished speakers.
To make it a successful first national event (fast), we need your participation in several ways: i) by spreading the word around amongst your late amnesty clients; ii) by joining the fast in L.A. and/or other cities; iii) by attending the press conference on Tuesday; iv) by donating water bottles, Gatorade, blankets and candles to the fasting site; v) by inviting colleagues and other individuals and organizations to also participate and support the cause.
Thanking you in anticipation.
Sincerely,
Anil Urmil President, ARCA L.A. c/o Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law 256 S. Occidental Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90057 Tel: (213) 388-8693 ext. 101 Fax: (213) 386-9484 E-mail: AnilUrmil@aol.com Website: http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/cholguin/