Thursday, September 15, 2005

Evacuees continue to face racism in San Antonio


Southwest Workers Union offers our solidarity and support to local community and grassroots organizations impacted by the disaster in the Gulf Coast. For the evacuees in San Antonio to folks across the Gulf, we continue to see the victims of environmental and economic injustices that plague this country. Tens of thousands of ‘evacuees’ are subjected to a lock-down system that more closely resembles jails than relief centers. Incarcerated and silenced, evacuees are tagged, given background checks, hidden behind police barriers, concrete walls and media-free arenas.

At the same time, Halliburton has won numerous governmental contracts, oil corporations are earning record profits and Bush is proclaiming a cleanup and recovery efforts that evades environmental protection laws and minimum wage regulations. The City of San Antonio have enclosed these residents in contaminated old warehouses, next to the dangerous tracks of Union Pacific and far away from the ‘downtown’ tourist areas. SWU demands that every person here in San Antonio be housed in safe and healthy environments.

SWU is collecting donations for evacuees and offering office space for displaced community organizations.

El grito de independencia - Defend human rights


On the day of the grito de independencia, SWU continues to launch the white ribbon campaign for human rights, dignity and justice in our communities and along the border. The white ribbon is a counter to the racist vigilantes, the minutemen, that promote hatred, violence and division in our communities. Today, SWU with Fuerza Unida submitted a letter to President Vicente Fox to demand a proactive approach to supporting a peaceful border region and respect for migrants.

For a ribbon or more information call SWU 210.299.2666