February 2017 – Colorado People's Alliance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 24, 2017

Contact: Lupita Carrasquillo, (773) 956-9596

RTD Opens Inaccessible R Line, Ignores the Working Class

AURORA, CO- Despite the struggle for low income communities to afford transportation to and from work, RTD chooses to spend Colorado tax dollars on beautification projects like the 30 million dollar beautification project in central Denver and ignore those communities. When presented the solution of creating an Income Based Pass that would reduce the cost of transit for people with low incomes, RTD instead suggested the community and nonprofit organizations fundraise the money. The Income Based Pass Project would have been a fraction of the cost of the beautification project coming in at 11 million dollars. RTD is a public service and it is their responsibility to ensure that their service is available to all residents.

We believe RTD has ignored the needs of our community and prioritized projects that attract tourists instead of serving the very people whose tax dollars make any RTD project a possibility.

Today Colorado People’s Alliance (COPA) disrupted the Opening Ceremony for the R Line at the Iliff Station. As the program began, COPA leaders and allies interrupted with a song calling for accessible transportation. Shortly after the group began to sing, they were escorted out from the ceremony and the program continued with RTD praising themselves for the new addition to the existing train system, an addition that regardless of location remains inaccessible to our community because of its high cost.

COPA has been engaged in the fight for more accessible and affordable public transportation for our communities that depend on our transit system for their everyday lives. We call on RTD to wisely utilize our resources to create transportation that is accessible to all, especially those who need it most. We call on RTD to ensure that working class people are served, represented, and prioritized instead of corporate interests which currently shape our communities.

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Colorado People’s Alliance (COPA) is a racial justice, member-driven organization dedicated to advancing and winning progressive social change locally, statewide and nationally. COPA builds power to improve the lives of all Coloradans through leadership development, organizing and alliance building.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 1, 2017

Contact: Lizeth Chacon, (720) 938-6588
lizeth@coloradopeoplesalliance.org

Dear Cory Gardner, Silence is Unacceptable

DENVER, CO- Colorado People’s Alliance (COPA) members are greatly concerned by the lack of communication from Cory Gardner’s office regarding the executive orders that target his immigrant constituents. We were glad to see the Senator recognize that the refugee and Muslim ban went too far, but we have yet to see a similar statement regarding the other executive orders. Despite the attacks against our immigrant community, Cory Gardner has been silent. As our elected official, silence is unacceptable.

Cory Gardner’s immigrant constituents are holding him accountable to stand up, to denounce the executive orders and to support policies that protect immigrants, like the BRIDGE Act. In the face of destructive orders that attack our community, silence is unacceptable.

Adrian Nava, a COPA member with undocumented relatives, fights for the protection of all immigrants. “I urge Senator Gardner to take a hard and thoughtful look at the people he represents. My community votes, we organize, and we are involved in our legislative and political processes. Silence from my Senator is not what my family and I need – we need Senator Gardner to take action against the blatant racism and discrimination that has taken place over the last week, and to support bipartisan legislation that will move Colorado forward.”

COPA’s members stand up to divisive orders and organize to protect our immigrant community. We will fight for justice and for a Colorado where our elected officials fight for their citizens. We will not stand by and allow Cory Gardner’s complicit silence.

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PARA PUBLICACION INMEDIATA
Febrero 1, 2017

Contacto: Lizeth Chacon, (720) 938-6588
lizeth@coloradopeoplesalliance.org

Estimado Cory Gardner, silencio es inaceptable

DENVER, CO- Los miembros de la Alianza del Pueblo de Colorado (COPA) están muy preocupados acerca de la falta de comunicación de la oficina de Cory Gardner acerca de las órdenes ejecutivas que están atacando a sus constituyentes inmigrantes. Nos dio gusto ver que el Senador reconoció que la prohibición contra los refugiados y musulmanes fue más allá de lo apropiado, pero aún no hemos visto alguna comunicación similar al respecto a las otras órdenes ejecutivas. A pesar de estos ataques hacia nuestra comunidad, Cory Gardner ha callado. Como nuestro funcionario electo, el silencio es inaceptable.

Los inmigrantes quienes son votantes de Gardner le están pidiendo que denuncie las órdenes ejecutivas y que apoye políticas que protejan a los inmigrantes, como la ley BRIDGE. En la presencia de ordenes destructivas que ataquen nuestra comunidad, el silencio es inaceptable.

Adrian Nava, un miembro de COPA que tiene familiares indocumentados, lucha por la protección de todos los inmigrantes. “Le ruego a Senador Gardner que tome una seria y reflexiva mirada a la gente que representa. Mi comunidad vota, organizamos y estamos involucrados en nuestros procesos legislativos y políticos. Mi familia y yo no necesitamos el silencio de mi Senador—necesitamos que Senador Garnder tome acción en contra del racismo descarado y la discriminación que ha pasado en esta semana y apoyar legislación bipartita que mueve adelante Colorado.”

Los miembros de COPA resisten ordenes divisivas y organizan para proteger a nuestra comunidad de inmigrantes. Lucharemos por justicia y por un Colorado donde nuestros funcionarios electos luchen por sus ciudadanos. No nos quedaremos sin actuar ni aceptaremos el silencio cómplice de Cory Gardner.

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Month: February 2017

RTD Opens Inaccessible R Line, Ignores the Working Class

Press Release: Dear Cory Gardner, Silence is Unacceptable