Films for Thought - Morristown: In the Air and Sun

Films for Thought Series present Morristown: In the Air and Sun directed by Anne Lewis followed by a post-screening discussion on immigration Wednesday, June 11th at 7pm Food For Thought Books (106 N. Pleasant St., Amherst)

This event will be a fundraiser to support those affected by the recent immigration raid in Postville, Iowa.

Morristown offers a working class look at globalization from both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. This film brings forth the voices of Tennessee and Mexican workers affected by economic globalization, through plant closings, immigration, farm and factory work. It shows the hardships of these forces but also people's courageous efforts to organize to address the problems. The film screening will be followed by a facilitated discussion about how current immigration policies and economic globalization are impacting our local communities.

Postville, Iowa Immigration Raid: This event will also serve as an opportunity to raise funds for those affected by the Postville, Iowa immigration raid. We will be collecting funds for the detainees and their families as well as for El Centro Latinoamericano, which is working directly the immigrant communities affected by the raid.

This event is co-sponsored by Western Mass Coalition for Immigrant & Worker Rights, Casa Latina and Food For Thought Books.

The Western Massachusetts Coalition for Immigrant and Worker Rights is a group of organizations and community members who advocate, educate, organize, and mobilize to protect the Human, Civil, and Constitutional Rights of all workers and residents in our communities.

Casa Latina is the only Latino-led and Latino-focused organization in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. Our mission is to promote self-sufficiency and a sense of community among local Latinos. We endeavor to fulfill this commitment by working directly with Latino residents to develop educational, access, and action programming based on the community's capabilities and needs.

Food For Thought Books is a worker-owned and collectively-run not-for-profit bookstore located in downtown Amherst since 1976. We specialize in author readings, community events, hand-picked books and all manner of nourishment for the heart and mind.

For more information about this event please contact Javiera Benavente at 413.253.5432 and javiera@foodforthoughtbooks.com, or visit our website at www.foodforthoughtbooks.com.

390 Immigrants Detained in Raid In Iowa

Almost 400 people have been detained in a raid at the country's largest kosher slaughterhouse, in Postville, Iowa. This is more than a third of all workers in the plant, and almost 1 in 6 residents of the town. No matter what anyone says, this raid will destroy the Hispanic population and cripple the town.

The following are photos and excerpts from the Des Moines Register coverage of the raids.

Hidie Roach, a teller at Citizens State Bank in Postville, said the raid gives the town a bad name. The town needs the packing plant, Roach said. "I think a lot of people will leave." (Des Moine Register)

The local churches have been flooded with people seeking refuge and guidance.

The town is rallying, with many residents volunteering at food lines and offering everything from clothing to blood and taking care of the broken families left behind.
Another worrisome question is whether the detainees are getting proper legal counsel.

"It appears that detainees are not receiving adequate time to meet with their lawyers, and that defense attorneys are being overwhelmed by requests to represent far more clients than is advisable -- or perhaps even ethical," ACLU of Iowa President Ben Stone said in the statement. "We are concerned that the sheer size of this raid is likely to result in numerous violations of the U.S. Constitution, which protects the due process rights of all persons in this country." (Chicago-Tribune)

The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) released a statement earlier today on the Iowa raids. MIRA asks some very good questions...

"Is it really in the country's best interest to be spending federal
resources to tear apart families, to traumatize young children, to devastate
small towns, and to ruin local economies, at a time when the country have
other pressing challenges and concerns? Shouldn't we instead be protecting
all working families in America from exploitation, guaranteeing the fair and
just treatment of every worker, especially the most vulnerable? Immigration
enforcement should not exacerbate the exploitation of workers, nor should it
interfere with labor laws that are vital to protect all working families in
America."