Month: March 2017

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We Demand a Welcoming and Safe City for All

juliecopa

*Seguido en Español*
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 27th 2017
Contact: Lizeth Chacon, 720-938-6588
lizeth@ coloradopeoplesalliance.org

We Demand a Welcoming and Safe City for All

Aurora, CO–Aurora City Council is calling a Special Study Session to talk about Sanctuary Cities but they are not allowing for public comment. Colorado People’s Alliance (COPA) will be hosting a press conference to stand with our immigrant and refugee community and send a message to City Council.

Our community will not be used for politics—we demand respect and dignity. Instead of holding conversations that leave out community input, the city should include the community on the conversation and should work to ensure that everyone that lives or visits Aurora feels welcome and safe.

“We are disappointed that the focus of the city is to ensure people know they are not a sanctuary city rather than working to ensure our city is welcoming and safe for everyone. The session on the 27th shows that City Council is ignoring the community by not allowing for public comment to be part of the session. Stop playing politics and get to work to support and protect everyone in Aurora,” states Lizeth Chacon, Executive Director of Colorado People’s Alliance.

It is time for us to stand strong and demand a welcoming city for all. We welcome community members to join us in solidarity, wearing white, at the press conference at 4:30pm and the study session from 5-7:30pm.

What: Press Conference to stand in solidarity and send a message to the Aurora City Council
Where: Outside of the Aurora Municipal Building
When: Monday, March 27th, 4:30pm
Who: Colorado People’s Alliance members and allies

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.
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El lunes 27 de marzo 2017
Contacto: Lizeth Chacon, 720-938-6588
lizeth@ coloradopeoplesalliance.org

Exigimos una ciudad de bienvenida y segura para todos

Aurora, CO—El consejo municipal de Aurora está llamando a una sesión especial para discutir Ciudades Santuarios, pero no permitirán que el público comente. La Alianza del Pueblo de Colorado (COPA) tendrá una conferencia de prensa para estar con nuestra comunidad de inmigrantes y refugios y mandar un mensaje al consejo municipal.
Nuestra comunidad no será usada por los políticos—exigimos respeto y dignidad. En vez de facilitar conversaciones sin escuchar la opinión de la comunidad, la ciudad debe incluir la comunidad en la conversación y debe trabajar para asegurarse que todos se sientan bienvenidos y seguros.

“Estamos decepcionados porque el enfoque de la ciudad es asegurarse que la gente sepa que Aurora no es una ciudad santuario en vez de trabajar para asegurarse que la ciudad le de la bienvenida todos y sea segura para todos. La sesión en el 27 demuestra que el consejo municipal está ignorando la comunidad con la falta de comentarios públicos. Dejen de jugar política y hagan el trabajo para apoyar y proteger a todos en Aurora,” dijo Lizeth Chacon, Directora Ejecutiva de la Alianza del Pueblo de Colorado.
Es la hora de mantenernos firme y exigir una ciudad que le de bienvenida a todos. Invitamos a los miembros de la comunidad a unirse en solidaridad, poniendose blanco, en la conferencia de prensa a las 4:30pm y la sesión de estudios a las 5-7:30pm.

Qué: Conferencia de prensa para colocarnos en solidaridad y mandar un mensaje al consejo municipal de Aurora
Dónde: Afuera del edifico municipal de Aurora
Cuando: el lunes 27 de marzo, 4:15pm
Quién: Miembros y aliados de la Alianza del Pueblo de Colorado

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.
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As Trump Looks to Dismantle the EPA, Concerned Members of the Community Will Rally to Demand that Senator Bennet Defends Public Health and the Environment

copaadmin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, March 22nd 2017

Contact: Elizabeth Murphy

elizabeth@coloradopeoplesalliance.org

303-893-3500 ext. 1

As Trump Looks to Dismantle the EPA, Concerned Members of the Community Will Rally to Demand that Senator Bennet Defends Public Health and the Environment

Trump is Proposing a 31 Percent Budget Cut at EPA; Action is One of Many Across the Country

 

Denver CO – As details of the Trump administration’s plans to dismantle the Environmental Protection Agency and attack fundamental health and safety standards steadily come to light, dozens of concerned community leaders organized by Colorado People’s Alliance will take action on Wednesday to demand that Senator Bennet resist Trump’s agenda and defend the funding and mission of the EPA.

The administration announced on Thursday its intention to slash the EPA’s budget by 31 percent, and do away entirely with the agency’s programs on climate change and numerous large-scale pollution cleanup initiatives throughout the country. The responsibility now rests with Congress to reject Trump’s draconian plan and staunchly defend the EPA’s budget and function.

This event is one of many taking place this week in solidarity with a National Day of Action to Defend Public Health and the Environment, organized by the advocacy groups Food & Water Watch and People’s Action.

It is time for Senator Bennet to stand with Colorado to protect the Environmental Protection Agency and take leadership against any proposed cuts to the EPA’s budget. We must continue to fight to protect the health and safety of our air, water, and communities. Trump’s efforts to gut the EPA are another example of putting corporate interests and profits over our lives. We need the EPA to continue to enforce important regulations and requirements to keep our communities and environment safe. At the same time we must continue hold the EPA accountable to protecting communities of color from corporate polluters and a continued lack of investment that only amplifies environmental justice issues in our communities.

 

WHAT: Rally to Demand that Senator Bennet Reject the Trump Agenda and Defend the EPA

WHEN: Wednesday, March 22nd, 12pm

WHERE: 1127 Sherman St. Denver CO 80203

WHO: Senator Bennet’s constituents will gather to call on him to continue to stand strong against any cuts to the EPA’s budget.

 

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.

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More Than a Half-Million Signatures Delivered at Disney Shareholder Meeting Demand that CEO Bob Iger Leave Trump’s Business Advisory Council

copaadmin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 9, 2017

Contact: Robel Worku, (678) 907-3866

robel@coloradopeopleslliance.org

More Than a Half-Million Signatures Delivered at Disney Shareholder Meeting Demand that CEO Bob Iger Leave Trump’s Business Advisory Council

By association, Disney is complicit in Trump’s anti-immigrant, anti-refugee agenda. Disney can’t pick and choose which of Trump’s policies they support and which they don’t

DENVER – Community members and activists delivered more than 511,000 signed petitions to the Walt Disney Co. during its annual shareholder meeting in Denver Wednesday, demanding that CEO Bob Iger step down from President Trump’s Business Advisory Council.

Activists also spoke inside the shareholder meeting, calling on Iger directly to break ties with Trump, and noting potential harm to Disney’s brand from such a relationship.

The half-million signatures were collected by a coalition of organizations (see the list below) representing millions of people who have come together to hold Disney accountable to families.

“Business leaders like Iger are legitimizing and normalizing Trump’s entire agenda,” said Heidi Hess, CREDO’s senior campaign manager.  “CEOs who are prioritizing access to political power and their companies’ profits over the core values of our democracy must do better.”

About 70 local activists rallied outside the shareholder meeting holding signs of Mickey Mouse wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat with the hashtag #BadMickey. They waved mock movie posters parodying Disney films and sang Disney tunes with lyrics about the impact Iger’s collaboration with Trump has on families.

“Folks here in Colorado, in our communities, are afraid to leave the house to drive their kids to school because they’re afraid of being picked up by ICE and not making it back home. Disney’s relationship with President Trump is an endorsement of these policies that hurt families,” Robel Worku, Colorado People’s Alliance, told shareholders in the meeting.

With Iger on the advisory council, Disney is tangled with the Trump agenda, tethering its brand and reputation to an anti-immigrant, anti-refugee, anti-women administration and contradicting the Walt Disney Company’s stated values of inclusion and diversity.

“As an immigrant kid from Iran, I grew up in the U.S. and Disney movies became part of my picture of America. They taught me a sense of possibility; the importance of family and community; and sharp lines between right and wrong,” said Mehrdad Azemun, campaigns director for People’s Action, speaking inside the shareholder meeting.

“By its association, Disney is complicit in Trump’s Muslim ban and his anti-immigrant, anti-refugee agenda,” said Azemun. “Disney can’t pick and choose which of Trump’s policies they support and which they don’t. The only solution is for Bob Iger to leave Trump’s business council.”

Some of the half-million petitions signers said they will cancel family trips to Disney theme parks and avoid Disney films until Iger parts ways with Trump.

“My family is a Disney family, but families like mine deserve better, and we will not support a company that helps this hateful administration enact discriminatory policies against vulnerable communities,” said Jennifer Epps-Addison, President and Co-Executive director of Center for Popular Democracy, and a signer on the petition.

Serving on Donald Trump’s closed-door economic advisory board is risky business for major corporations. Uber CEO Travis Kalanick resigned from Trump’s Advisory Council in February after an online campaign led more than 200,000 customers to delete their Uber accounts.

Photos and tweets from the rally: #BadMickey, #QuitTheCouncil, and #LetHimGo @WaltDisneyCo

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2lExjaI

Flickr photo album: https://www.flickr.com/photos/freepress/sets/72157677778525363

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.

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A Half-Million People Demand Disney CEO Leave Trump’s Business Advisory Council

copaadmin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 8, 2017

Contact: Lizeth Chacon, (720) 938-6588

lizeth@coloradopeopleslliance.org

A Half-Million People Demand Disney CEO Leave Trump’s Business Advisory Council

Activists plan rally outside Disney shareholder meeting in Denver

Will Iger side with hate, or with families?

DENVER – Community members and activists will protest outside the Walt Disney Company shareholders meeting in Denver on Wednesday, demanding that Disney CEO Bob Iger step down from Trump’s Business Advisory Council.

A coalition of organizations representing millions of people have come together to hold Disney accountable to families. They have collected petitions with a half-million signatures from throughout the country telling Iger that by teaming up with Trump’s collection of troubling characters, he is also aligning Disney with racism, anti-immigrant policies and endorsing the administration’s Muslim ban.

Disney has entertained generations of families. Now Iger is selling out those families, customers and workers in exchange for big corporate tax breaks. Disney is one of the corporations that would benefit most from Trump’s corporate tax cuts – and families stand to lose the most.

In Denver, Disney shareholders have a chance to join more than a half-million people nationwide and tell Iger to be a prince and walk away from Donald Trump.

 

Follow the rally: #BadMickey and #QuitTheCouncil  @WaltDisneyCo

Facebook link: http://bit.ly/2lExjaI

 

What: A rally outside the Disney shareholders meeting in Denver

Why: To demand that CEO Bob Iger leave Trump’s Business Advisory Council.

When: Wednesday, March 8, at 9 a.m.

Where: Sculpture Park, Denver Performing Arts Complex, Champa Street and Speer Boulevard.

Visuals: Disney-themed signs urging Iger to quit Trump’s business council.

 

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.

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Trump’s ‘Revised’ Ban: New Bigotry Same as the Old Bigotry

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The following is a statement from our national partner, Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM):

Trump’s ‘Revised’ Ban: New Bigotry Same as the Old Bigotry

The Revision Remains as Repulsive as the Initial Ban

(WASHINGTON)—President Trump’s ‘revised’ travel ban remains as repulsive as his initial plan, chock full of as much bigotry against immigrants, particularly Muslims and all refugees, as the first ban.

“The Trump administration has tried to dress up the revised ban with nicer words but they don’t hide the fact that the refugee program has been suspended, meaning thousands of people desperately seeking to flee war-torn countries, violence and poverty will not be welcome in the United States,” said FIRM spokesperson Kica Matos. “This ban still sends an ugly message to the rest of the world that America’s new ‘normal’ is keeping people out of a country that has always upheld the tradition and symbolism of the Statue of Liberty.”

“Donald Trump today has viciously attacked this tradition with darkness and hate.  To be clear, refugee families fleeing war, natural disaster, ethnic cleansing and tyranny will die as a result of this order,” Matos said. “The people Donald Trump sentenced to die today – will do so for no good reasons.  Adding to the appalling reality is that this immoral act is being done in the name of symbolic politics because the refugee program itself has always had a form of extreme vetting.  Every American of compassion and love should be filled with disgust today.”

“By targeting refugees from six Muslim-majority countries, the Trump administration is walking a very dangerous line on religious freedoms,” Matos added. “Our country was founded by people escaping religious persecution and the freedom to practice your religion is a value held sacred by all Americans.”

“There is no room in America for such extreme hatred,” Matos said. “We will fight to protect our families from hateful policies and we urge all lawmakers to stand up against what is clearly a bigoted piece of policy.”

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The Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM) is the nation’s largest immigrant-rights coalition, with grassroots organizations in more than 40 states fighting for immigrant rights at the local, state and federal level. For more information, go to www.fairimmigration.org or follow us on Twitter @Re4mImmigration.

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Coloradans: Protect licenses for Dreamers, push for a just renewal process

copaadmin

*Seguido en español*

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 1, 2017

Contact: Ana Rodriguez, (720) 722-4272

ana@coloradopeopleslliance.org

 

Coloradans: Protect licenses for Dreamers, push for a just renewal process

DENVER, CO– Today, March 1, 2017, Colorado People’s Alliance (COPA) members are leading an action in support of the I Drive Colorado campaign urging their fellow Coloradans to join efforts to protect licenses for Dreamers and a just renewal process for all drivers. They will meet at the west steps of the Capitol at 3pm then march to the intersection of Lincoln and Colfax to bring their message to motorists.

When the SB-251, the “Colorado Road and Community Safety Act” was signed into law in 2013, 142,000 Coloradans became eligible to obtain a driver’s license, buy car insurance, and provide an identification document to law enforcement for the first time. However, while SB-251 created a process for undocumented Coloradans to obtain a license, the legislation unintentionally excluded some people and made renewals inaccessible to many Coloradans.

Under the original SB-251 bill language, individuals who at some point received a valid social security number through a temporary immigration program but have since had that program rescinded are excluded from receiving a license. This drafting error that has excluded many since the program’s start would leave even more Coloradan’s out of the program if the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) program were eliminated.

Eder Torres, a COPA member describes his fear if this drafting error is not fixed. “Losing DACA would rob me of my ability to provide from my family and to reassure my children that I won’t be taken from them, but it should not also mean that I will lose my ability to take them to school safely with my Colorado license.”

A recently introduced clean-up bill HB17-1206 titled the “Eligibility for the Colorado Road and Community Safety Act,” would fix that unintended error and streamline the renewal process so that it is just and accessible to all drivers.

“It’s not just about Dreamers either, everyone I know who has a license through the SB-251 program is worried about whether they will be able to renew in time or at all if we are required to make an appointment all over again.” Torres continued, “We already had a hard enough time getting our appointments in the first place because there are only 3 offices in the entire state where we can get a SB-251 license. We should be treated like all other Colorado drivers and be able to renew online or any DMV office.”

There are 42,000 Coloradans with an SB-251 license who will have to renew. Unless HB17-1206 is enacted, all those motorists will have to compete with first time applicants for the 90 in-person appointments available in the entire state every work day.

That’s why COPA members are urging their fellow motorists, especially those with an SB-251 license, to join their fight to protect licenses for Dreamers and streamline the SB-251 renewal process. Eder Torres’s final message to every Coloradan who wants to keep driving on safer roads is this: “Join us in urging our legislators to approve this legislation to ensure that all Dreamers can keep driving safely even if DACA is taken away, and to ensure that all driver can renew their license without unnecessary delays.”

I Drive Colorado campaign is a coalition led effort committed to ensuring equal access to licenses and IDs. for Coloradans who are immigrants We’ll organize until the spirit of the law is fully implemented. The Colorado People’s Alliance (COPA) is a member of the I Drive Colorado coalition. COPA is a member led multi-issue racial justice organization.

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PARA PUBLICACION INMEDIATA

1 de marzo, 2017

Contacto: Ana Rodriguez, (720) 722-4272

ana@coloradopeopleslliance.org

Coloradenses: Protejan las licencias para Dreamers, apoyen un proceso de renovación más justo

DENVER, CO– Hoy, primero de Marzo del 2017, los miembros de La Alianza del Pueblo de Colorado (COPA, por sus cifras en inglés), liderarán una acción en apoyo de la campaña Yo Manejo Colorado para urgir a todo Coloradense que se unan a los esfuerzos para proteger las licencias de los Dreamers y un sistema de renovación justo para todo motorista.

Cuando la SB-251, “La Acta de Seguridad en las Carreteras y Comunidades de Colorado” fue hecha ley en el 2013, 142,000 Coloradenses se hicieron elegibles para obtener una licencia, comprar seguro de auto, y proveer identificación a un oficial de policía por primera vez. Mientras la ley SB-251 creo un proceso por el cual Coloradenses indocumentados pudieran obtener una licencia, la ley involuntariamente excluyo a algunos e hizo la renovación inaccesible para muchos Coloradenses.

Bajo el lenguaje original de la ley SB-251, las personas que en algún momento recibieron un número de seguro social válido a través de un programa de inmigración temporal, pero quien desde entonces han perdido la protección de ese programa porque fue rescindido, están excluidas de recibir una licencia. Este error al crear la ley que ha excluido a muchos desde el inicio del programa, pero dejaría aún más Coloradenses fuera del programa si se eliminara el programa de Acción Diferida para los Llegados en la Niñez (DACA, por sus cifras en inglés).

Eder Torres, un miembro de COPA describe sus miedos si no se elimina este error en la ley. “Perder la DACA me quitaría la habilidad de proveer por mi familia, y de asegurar a mis hijos que no me separaran de ellos, pero no debería también perder mi habilidad de llevarlos a la escuela seguramente con mi licencia de Colorado.”

La HB17-1206, una propuesta legislativa recientemente introducida para eliminar los errores de la ley original, y titulada “Elegibilidad para La Acta de Seguridad en las Carreteras y Comunidades de Colorado” eliminaría este problema relacionado con los números de seguro social y crearía un proceso de renovación más justo y accesible para todos los conductores.

“No solo se trate de los Dreamers, toda persona que yo conozco que tiene una licencia por el programa SB-251 está preocupado porque no sabe si podrá renovar o renovar a tiempo si nos requieren hacer una cita otra vez.” Continuo Torres, “ya tuvimos suficiente dificultad en obtener una cita la primera vez porque solo hay 3 oficinas en todo el estado done podemos sacar la licencia Sb-251. Debemos ser tratados como todo otro conductor en Colorado y poder renovar en línea o en cualquier oficina de departamento de vehículos.”

Hay 42,000 Coloradenses con una licencia SB-251 quienes tendrán que renovar pronto. A menos que se haga ley la HB17-1206, todos los motoristas tendrán que competir con los solicitantes por primera vez para las 90 citas en persona disponibles en todo el estado cada día.

Por eso los miembros de COPA están urgiendo a todo motorista, especialmente los que tienen licencia SB-251, que se unan a la lucha para proteger las licencias para los Dreamers y para mejorar el proceso de renovación para el programa SB-251. El mensaje final de Eder Torres para todo Coloradense quien quiera seguir manejando en carreteras seguras es este: “Únanse en urgir a nuestros legisladores que aprueben esta legislación para asegurar que todo Dreamer pueda seguir manejando con seguridad aun si nos quitan la DACA, y para asegurar que todo conductor pueda renovar su licencia sin retrasos innecesarios.

La campaña Yo Manejo Colorado es un esfuerzo liderado por una coalición comprometida a asegurar el acceso igualitario a licencias e identificaciones para Coloradenses inmigrantes. Vamos a organizar hasta que el espíritu de la ley se aplique plenamente. La Alianza del Pueblo de Colorado (COPA, por sus cifras en inglés) es miembro de la coalición Yo Manejo Colorado. COPA es una organización de justicia racial con varias áreas de enfoque dirigida por sus miembros

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