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| Los Angeles DREAM Team Fast : Daily Journal |
Released 16 September 2004 By Fast Members
Day One | Day Two | Day Three | Day Four | Day Five | Day Six | Day Seven | News Clips | Day Nine | Day Eleven | BREAKING the FAST Ceremony |
For pictures and more information about the Los Angeles DREAM Team, please visit, www.nakasec.org (menu tab - DREAM Fast Vigil) for more information and pictures from the Los Angeles fast effort.
DREAM Fast Vigil DAY 1
September 13, 2004 (Monday)
Jane E. Chung
jane@nakasec.org <mailto:jane@nakasec.org>;
Program Associate
National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC)
Tel: 323/937-3703
[Los Angeles] At the corner of Jefferson Street and Hoover Boulevard, with the University of Southern California as the backdrop, over 40 supporters, allies, students, and community leaders gathered for a press conference to kick off the DREAM Fast Vigil Campaign.
Moderated by EunSook Lee of the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC), speakers included Dae Joong Yoon, Korean Resource Center, Angelica Salas from Coalition for the Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), Ben Monterrosso of Service Employees International Union, Moises Escalante of the Interfaith Committee for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, and Byron Perez a member of CHIRLA Wise Up!, and an impacted student.
Media outlets that covered the press conference were Univision, Telemundo, Hankyoreh Daily, the Korean Daily, the Korea Times, Radio Seoul, and KBS LA.
The DREAM Fast Vigil Campaign was initiated by the Coalition for the Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, Korean Resource Center, and the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) and endorsed by 19 organizations based in California. It is coordinated nationally by the United We DREAM Campaign and the New American Opportunity Campaign with Oregon, Maryland, and New York engaging in similar fast actions.
The key purpose in this campaign is to highlight the urgency and the need for accountability around the DREAM Act and the Student Adjustment Act, bi-partisan legislations, which would allow undocumented immigrant students the chance to pursue higher education and obtain legal status. Despite the overwhelming grassroots activity on the local and national levels around these student legalization legislations for the past two years, there has been no significant movement in Congress since October 2003, when the DREAM Act passed the Senate Judiciary Committee.
To re-affirm our confidence and the importance of these bills, a core group of fasters will be fasting for a two-week period. They will be joined by others who have committed to fasting for 24-hours, 48-hours, or for a full week. Others who have expressed interest but could not fast on-site have pledged off-site fasting with similar time periods.
Following the press conference, the fasters received a medical check, wrote personal letters to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) and President Bush, and distributed flyers to the heavy traffic of students that passed through the site. It was also the time to begin building bonds amongst the fasters. Throughout the day, the fasters drank fresh fruit juices and water and sought peaceful times reading magazine and playing board games.
As the fasters wait for “Day 2” of the campaign, community members and allies are continuously pouring in their support to keep up their spirit of the DREAM Act and the Student Adjustment Act alive.
Current list of organizational endorsers:
ActionLA, ArtsCorpsLA, Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC), Californians for Justice, Central American Resource Center (CARECEN), Committee of Human Rights for Undocumented Immigrants, Hermandad Mexicana, Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride – Los Angels Coalition, Korean Immigrant Workers Advocate (KIWA), M.E.Ch.A de USC, Multi-ethnic Immigrant Worker Organizing Network (MIWON), Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), National Immigrant Solidarity Network, Service Employee International Union (SEIU), South Asian Network (SAN), Students’ Coalition Union, UNITE HERE Local 11, United University Church, Young Koreans United of Los Angeles (YKU of LA).
Current list of individual endorsers:
Maureen Santinan, Cynthia Castillo, Dr. Kee Whan Ha
============================
DREAM Fast Vigil: DAY TWO
September 14, 2004 (Tuesday)
Alvaro Huerta
e-mail: ahuerta@chirla.org <mailto:ahuerta@chirla.org>;
CHIRLA
2533 W. Third St. Ste. 101
Los Angeles, CA 90057
P) 213-353-1333
F)213-353-1344
Los Angeles, CA - Across the street from an institution of higher learning, the Los Angeles DREAM Fast and Vigil participants continued their efforts to inform the public about the significance and necessity of passing the DREAM Act.
Waking up with daily stretch exercises, the fasters prepared for a second day of the Campaign. However, a member of the two-week fasters had to end his vigil as he became ill and could not continue. His condition was not serious and due to his advanced age, the decision to end his fast was best for his health. The remaining fasters continued to hold steady and spent the day reading, playing board games and engaging in conversation with local university students who are increasingly becoming interested in the Campaign's 'Tent City' and supporting our efforts.
Wise Up! members arrived to stay with the fasters and to provide information to passing students. The day also involved creating a set of visually exciting banners (in Korean, Spanish and English) that attracted the interest of many of those passing by the busy intersection of Hoover Street and Jefferson Boulevard. Team-building activities and reflection exercises helped to galvanize the group. A few USC professors stopped by to discuss the historical and philosophical origins of fasting as a powerful method of transmitting a message.
Supporters who have expressed interest but could not fast on-site have pledged to fast off-site in solidarity with the on-site fasters.
Six new endorsers, including the California Immigrant Welfare Collaborative (CIWC), the Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights and the Asian Law Caucus, joined the original 19 endorsers on the second day of the two-week fast. Along with the organizational endorsements, endorsements from supportive individuals keep pouring in. Each new endorsement reinforces the resolve of the fasters as they persist in their struggle to let Congress and the Administration know that the DREAM Act must be made law immediately.
Media interest includes the Los Angeles Times, which is considering doing a story on the Campaign. We will provide additional information on this as we learn more. We are also searching newspapers with articles carrying the story. Pacifica Radio's "Enfoque Latino" show was on hand to interview participants and plans on returning to cover the fast. Our media coordinators are doubling their efforts to draw media attention by releasing statements and updates each day of the Campaign.
Day Three of the campaign will see the fasters preparing pickets and banners that depict symbols of higher education and the DREAM act. The Association of Latin American Students (ALAS) from Santa Monica Community College will join the fasters in solidarity.
===========================
DREAM Fast Vigil: DAY 3
Jane E. Chung
Program Associate
National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC)
Tel: 323/937-3703
e-mail: jane@nakasec.org
Web: http://www.nakasec.org/
[Los Angeles] Day 3 of the DREAM Fast Vigil kicked off with the theme "Higher Education Day." The highlight of the day came through paintings that fasters drew that tied higher education to the DREAM Act. Fasters also drew pictures depicting their thoughts and feelings. These will be hung as part of the existing visuals at the fasting site throughout the 2 weeks. The fasters are also engaged in daily journals and writing daily letters to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and to President Bush.
The fasters were also joined by two new 24-hour solidarity fasters. Noraney Compo from the Immigrant Rights Coalition at UCLA joined as a student in support of the student legalization legislations. Noraney commented on Day 3 saying, "I'm feeling pretty good. Today a parent stopped by our information booth and found out about the DREAM Act. She wanted to get involved and said she will come back to support us. It is important that we get support and interest from everyone."
The interest from the campus grows daily as students, parents, and teachers are stopping by the information booth to take information and wishing the fasters luck. There were also those students that had noticed the campaign on previous days and stopped by the information desk for the first time to ask about progress.
Han Jin Kim, a 22-year student at UCLA and a 1-week faster said, "I'm feeling pretty full to see all the people here in Los Angeles and across the country working for this cause. I'm feeling optimistic to see students and just people stopping by our information booth asking questions and wishing us luck. I don't have time to think about my hunger because I am hopeful."
Hopeful is also what Mrs. Chang (wants to withhold whole name) also felt today. Mrs. Chang is a mother of an undocumented student. She had heard about the fasting campaign through the Korean media and wanted to participate. "Anything that I can do as a mother I will do for my daughter. I feel like I am making a difference. Because of work I cannot come out everyday. But I am going to come out again, with my daughter, on Sunday."
The fast action has been gaining media attention. Today covered the Korean Daily, Hankyoreh Daily, and Radio Seoul came out to support the fasters as well as interview students and Ms. Chang. As fasters gear up for Day 4 of the DREAM Fast Vigil, they are all hoping for escalated support and action around the student legalization legislations.
========================
DREAM Fast Vigil: DAY 4
September 16, 2004 (Thursday)
Corner of Hoover and Jefferson (In front of USC)
From: "Horacio Arroyo" <harroyo@chirla.org>;
Fasters hold "General Supporter Day"
Students and Supporters Enter Day 4 of 2-week Fast
September 16, 2004 (Thursday)
Los Angeles – The Los Angeles DREAM Fasters remained active and energized on Day 4 of the campaign. The theme for Day 4 was “Supporter Day” and various groups joined the fasters in a show of solidarity and positive support.
Hemi Kim of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center gave an enlightening presentation on immigrant access to healthcare and the importance of Prop 72 as it affects immigrants’ access to health insurance. Also on hand to show their support and to provide some words of encouragement were El Rescate and the Hometown Associations, two groups who serve large immigrant populations.
One visitor, Carlos M., came from as far away as Hollywood. As a teacher’s assistant at Hollywood High School, he was determined to bring the message of the DREAM Fast Vigil back to his students. The same is true of a few students from Cal State Los Angeles, members of the Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (MEChA), who came by to stand in solidarity with the fasters and to discuss the history of immigrant rights.
The Fasters also exercised their sense of humor. They have decided to adapt a few popular songs with their own personal lyrics, and incorporated the DREAM Act message as well. “I am hungry, I fast, stop living in the past. The dream act got to be passed, tell Frist we mobilized a critical mass. Bring the bill onto the floor or we’ll knock at your door. The students have a DREAM; their hard work has to be redeemed. Thousands graduate every year, many of them crying in tears. Many of them are in tears, can’t continue their careers. Jane wants to be a nurse but now has to sell a purse…it’s a two-week fast campaign, with much support to gain, helping the struggle or we’ll all be in trouble. Dream act be passed, the dream act be passed.”
And a spontaneous game of charades or a walk around the block kept the fasters in motion.
Media attention on the fasters continues to grow. Horacio Arroyo, a fast coordinator from CHIRLA Wise Up!, and Neidi Dominguez, a student supporter of the Fast Vigil, were interviewed on “Nuestra Voz,” a Spanish-language program on KPFK, Pacifica Radio. Meanwhile, the USC campus newspaper has approached the group to find out more about the campaign. One professor at USC has even taken his whole media class to chat with the fasters.
========================
DREAM Fast Vigil: DAY 5
Jane E. Chung
Program Associate
National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC)
Tel: 323/937-3703
e-mail: jane@nakasec.org
Web: http://www.nakasec.org/
Citizenship Day
DREAM Act Fasters Highlight the Importance of Voting
September 17, 2004 (Friday)
Corner of Hoover & Jefferson (in Front of Usc)
Fasters with Guest Speaker from APIA Vote!
New Endorsement From California State Assemblymember Mark Ridley-Thomas.
[Los Angeles] Day 5 kicked off with exciting additions to the DREAM Fast Campaign. California State Assemblymember Mark Ridley-Thomas (48th District) officially endorsed the DREAM Fast Vigil Campaign adding to the growing endorsements that come in daily. Moreover, Surim Esther Hong, an 18-year old student and a native of Chicago, flew in to Los Angeles to join the fasters. “I am currently doing a two-week fast. I began in Chicago and I wanted to fly out to Los Angeles to be part of the movement and support the people over here. As a Korean American it is important for me to be advocating for this cause. This issue affects our community and I think my involvement will further educate our community.”
September 17th was national Citizenship Day and with many activities to escalate voter registration and voter education work at various locations including a naturalization ceremony at the Los Angeles Civic Center, DREAM Act fasters conducted a little voter empowerment work of their own.
Kathay Feng, a representative from APIA Vote! and a staffer with the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC) gave a presentation on the different propositions that will be on the ballot this November and also educated the fasters on Voting Rights history. “The information was really helpful. Information on registered Korean American voters, the different propositions, and history of how people gained the right to vote was informative. This ties into my efforts for the DREAM Act really well. Education is something that I value very highly. Obstructing the path to education, I think, is inhumane. People have to use the power of their vote to change things.”
Day 5 also saw two new 24-hour fasters, an 18-year old Korean American student, J. Lee (wishes to disclose her name) who will attend college through the California in-state tuition AB 540 program this fall and a 16-year Belmont high school student, Adilene Flores. Adilene Flores said, “I’m doing this because the DREAM Act is important for immigrants. I’m glad that I got to be a part of this effort. It felt great and I am definitely feeling hopeful. The DREAM Act needs to pass. To help make it pass, I’m going to be coming out tomorrow as well.”
==========================
DREAM Fast Vigil: DAY 6
Parent Support Day
SEPTEMBER 18, 2004 (Saturday)
CORNER OF HOOVER & JEFFERSON (NEXT TO USC)
[Los Angeles] On Day 6, Fasters and volunteers gathered their belongings to move across the street from their original fasting site. After getting used to 6 days of staying in the grassy area of the corner of Jefferson and Hoover, fasters and volunteers had to move because of the Emmy Awards. Still, fasters made the usual accommodations and kicked off day 6 with a blast.
The day’s agenda was geared towards demonstrating the support of the Parent and Adult community towards the DREAM Act campaign. From the morning towards the afternoon, fasters had the opportunity to meet parents and other adults who passed by and took interest in the event. QUOTE. Several parents accompanied the fasters and participated and participated in the teambuilding activities. CHIRLA youth organizers also had the opportunity to visit the DREAM Act Rally in Orange County which was sponsored by the O.C. DREAM Team Coalition which echoed the support for activities being organized here in Los Angeles and the bigger national campaign, and within the Orange County cities like Santa Ana.
Meanwhile back in Los Angeles, the 1 and 2 week fasters were accompanied by Adilene Flores from Belmont High School, Esther Surim Hong from Chicago, Laura Zavala, Byron Perez, Cynthia Pina from CHIRLA Wise Up! A lot more student support was given by IDEPSCA’s Teens In Action who are also involved in the DREAM Team Coalition.
Towards the end of the afternoon, fasters and supporters had gotten a chance to pass out information to students and adults and had met parents who are involved in different organizations that make up the DREAM Team Coalition. By the end the day, we got media coverage from KPFK and university campus newspaper.
New 24-hour fasters
Adilene Flores
J. Lee
Gladys Negrete
Teresa Herrera
Maria Zavala
Pedro Espinosa
Cynthia Contreras
Neidi Dominguez
Sheila Camereno
Jose L. Montelongo
What you can do to participate!
1. Call Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN), 1-800-369-0315, and urge him to support the DREAM Act!
2. Call the White House and urge President Bush, 202-456-1111, to pass the DREAM Act!
3. Endorse the campaign as an organization or an individual! (For more information, contact Jane Chung at 323-937-3703)
4. Fast for 24-hours! (For more information, contact Horacio Arroyo at 213-201-4449)
5. Come out and support the fasters! 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
==========================
DREAM Fast Vigil: DAY 7
SEPTEMBER 19, 2004 (SUNDAY)
CORNER OF HOOVER & JEFFERSON (IN FRONT OF USC)
[Los Angeles] A block away from the site of the Emmy Awards, fasters and supporters held a little ceremony of their own - celebrating the contributions of immigrants, the diversity of our communities, and highlighting the dreams of undocumented immigrant students.
Supporters from the Korean Immigrant Workers Alliance (KIWA), Multi-Ethnic Immigrant Workers Organizing Network (MIWON), HanNuRi - Korean American Cultural Troupe, as well as student activists from Santa Monica College's Association of Latin American Students (ALAS) made a powerful presence at the fasting site.
In the morning, updates on other fasting efforts in Oregon and New York were provided, in which the Los Angeles fasters and supporters drew inspiration and motivation. Everyone also spent time talking about the DREAM Act, the importance of the legislation, and this 2-week fast action to escalate awareness and general support from community members. Following this building bonds session, students from ALAS led a powerful rally and picketing inside the USC campus.
ALAS is known for their tremendous strength in organizing and offering support for undocumented immigrant students at Santa Monica College. They are also part of the Los Angeles DREAM Team Coalition where they participated in numerous rallies, marches, and most recently played an active role in collecting over 2,000 DREAM Act petition letters including one from their school president. Alma Catalan, age 20, and a member of ALAS said, "I am participating today because I am one of many students that are hopeful that the DREAM Act will pass this year. I think even if the DREAM Act does not pass this year, we will feel like we accomplished something through this fast action. We are making a lot of people aware of this legislation. We are making a strong impact day to day and that is the most important thing to get the DREAM Act passed, if not this year, then in the near future."
Many community members showed a lot of interest on the DREAM Act, with many taking out their cell phones and making a call to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist on the spot. This was a positive sign, following coverage from the Los Angeles Times. Univision and Telemundo came out today to continue their coverage on the DREAM Fast Action.
Day 7 of the DREAM Fast Vigil also saw the completion of one of the 1-week fasters, Han Jin Kim. A 22-year student at UCLA, Han Jin Kim was involved with the DREAM Act since the summer of 2002 through the Korean Resource Center (KRC). He felt empowered to be part of this effort and urged his comrades to keep the spirit alive throughout next week.
With Han Jin Kim's completion, Day 7 also saw newcomers to the DREAM Fast Action. Cliff Sukjae Lee, a former teacher with a charter school in Philadelphia, joined the fasters today as a 1-week faster. Also, 24-hour fasters Laura Zavala, Rocio Zavala, Jorge Zavala, Alma De Jesus, Alma Catalan, Juan Navarrete, Yazmin Otero, Abel Plata, and Maria Chan contributed to the growing list of fasters that are participating in this action.
What to expect on Day 8 - Interfaith Day
Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights as well as supporters from the United University Church will offer their support for the DREAM Act and the Student Adjustment Act.
New Endorsers (Total - 44)
-Individuals
Howard Johnson, Travis Stevens, Joyce Ride, Sharon Tool, Karen Barnard, Donald L. Smith, Mary Murkowki, Susan H. Craig, Susan Stouffer, Carlos Stouffer, Daniel Huynh
2-week Fasters
Dae Joong Yoon, Korean Resource Center (KRC)
Jennifer Park, Korean Resource Center (KRC)
Surim Esther Hong, Korean American Resource Center (KRCC) - A native of Chicago, Esther is conducting part of her fast in Los Angeles and Chicago.
New 1-week faster
Cliff Sukjae Lee, Korean Resource Center (KRC)
New 24-hour fasters
Alda De Jesus, Association of Latin American Students (ALAS) - Santa Monica College
Alma Catalan, Association of Latin American Students (ALAS) - Santa Monica College
Juan Navarrete, Association of Latin American Students (ALAS) - Santa Monica College
Yazmin Otero, Association of Latin American Students (ALAS) - Santa Monica College
Abel Plata, Assocation of Latin American Students (ALAS) - Santa Monica College
Laura Zavala, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA)
Jorge Zavala, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA)
Rocio Zavala, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA)
Donna Buell - Has fasted for 4-days and will be participating on and off throughout the two weeks
Maria Chan, teacher (Off-site)
Total number of fasters to date: 26
What you can do to participate!
1. Call Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN), 1-800-369-0315, and urge him to support the DREAM Act!
2. Call the White House, 202-456-1111, and urge President Bush to pass the DREAM Act!
3. Endorse the campaign as an organization or an individual! (For more information, contact Jane Chung at 323-937-3703).
4. Fast for 24-hours! (For more information, contact Horacio Arroyo at 213-201-4449).
5. Come out and support the fasters! 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM - Corner of Hoover and Jefferson.
Jane E. Chung
Program Associate
National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC)
900 S. Crenshaw Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90019
Tel: 323/937-3703
Fax: 323/937-3526
jane@nakasec.org
http://www.nakasec.org
=============================
News Clips Covering the DREAM Fast
La Opinion (09.20.2004)
Universitarios indocumentados luchan por su sueño (College Students Fight for the Right to DREAM)
Los Angeles Times (09.19.2004)
'Dream Act' offers hope for Immigrant Students
The New York Times (09.19.2004)
Immigrants Los in the Din: Security vs. the DREAM
Hoy (09.20.2004)
Apoyo a DREAM Act en Santa Ana
Hoy (09.20.2004)
Estudiantes en Huelda de Ambre (Students participate in Hunger Strike[Fast])
USC Daily Trojan (09.20.2004)
Demostrators Fast for DREAM
================================
DREAM Fast Vigil, Day 9
Labor Union Day
Labor, LA Community College Board, and
California State Assemblymember Mark Ridley Thomas (District 48)
Speaks Out in Support of DREAM Act!
[Los Angeles] Day 9 of the Fast Vigil kept emotions high with visitations from the LA Communtiy College Board, SEIU, UNITE HERE, and Assemblymember Mark Ridley Thomas. Moreover, Dae Joong Yoon and Jennifer Park, 2-week fasters, as well as Cliff Sukjae Lee, a 1-week faster, were joined by many supporters from the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN), MECHA de USC, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of los Angeles (CHIRLA), and the Korean Resource Center (KRC).
In the afternoon, busloads of participants from the Los Angeles National Week of Action activities dropped by the fasting site to offer their support. Before coming to the fasting site, the Los Angeles National Week of Action began with a mock convention at Buffet Land followed by a press conference where Dae Joong Yoon of KRC and Byron Perez from CHIRLA spoke on the efforts of the DREAM fasters. Once at the fasting site, a march and rally was held to further escalate the presence of the fasters at the outskirts of the USC Campus.
After the march, representatives from labor unions spoke in support of the DREAM Act. A hotel worker from UNITE HERE and Roberto de la Cruz from SEIU offered their words of support to the young students in their struggle. Their personal experiences gave true face to the many struggles of immigrants.
Following their speeches, guest speaker, Warren Furutani, who sits on the Board of Los Angeles Community Colleges spoke to the fasters on the importance of education. Highlighting the fact that education is the equalizer, he stated that a person should not be denied the access to education no matter what their age, race, religion, or ethnicity is. Warren Furutani also concluded his remarks by stating that the Los Angeles Community Colleges stands behind the fasters and noted that a resolution in support of the fast will be voted on tomorrow, Wednesday, September 22nd.
The excitement continued with the presence of Assemblymember Mark Ridley Thomas. A long time community ally, he provided inspirational words and praise to the young people's efforts in the fight for education. Coming from years of experience in partaking in non-violent movements, his support came to be a big help to the fasters as they too are pushing this effort as a non-violent action to move the student legalization legislations on Congressional floors.
The fasters were also greeted by Eddie Tafoya, Field Deputy from Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard's office. It was important for the fasters to have some from Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard's office visit the fasters as she is one of the co-introducers of the Student Adjustment Act, the House version of the DREAM Act.
So far the efforts of the fasters were covered by a wide range of media outlets including the LA Times. Today, Cliff Sukjae Lee and Horacio Arroyo were interviewed by KPFK radio station. The fasters will plow on to Day 10, Political Accountability Day, where they hope that requests made to various offices in the City, State, and Federal elected officials would be heard and visitations would be made.
What to expect on
Day 10 - Political Accountability Day
Fasters wait to see if legislative aides from various City, State, and Federal elected officials' offices will come to talk with them on their plight for high education.
2-week fasters
Dae Joong Yoon
Jennifer Park
Surim Esther Hong (currently in Chiago fasting)
Inbo Sim, off-site
Hee Joo Yoon (lunch only)
1-week fasters
Cliff Sukjae Lee
Terry Burke, off-site (see his Journal here)
Nadia Del Callejo, off-site
24-hour fasters
Georgie Noguera
Francisco (currently on his 3rd day)
What you can do to participate!
1. Call Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN), 1-800-369-0315, and urge him to support the DREAM Act!
2. Call the White House, 202-456-1111, and urge President Bush to pass the DREAM Act!
3. Endorse the campaign as an organization or an individual! (For more information, contact Jane Chung at 323-937-3703).
4. Fast for 24-hours! (For more information, contact Horacio Arroyo at 213-201-4449).
5. Come out and support the fasters! 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM - Corner of Hoover and Jefferson.
For more information on the DREAM Act, please the Center for Community Change
=============================
DREAM Fast Vigil, Day 11
September 23, 2004 (Thursday)
[Los Angeles] Fasters and supporters spent the day resting in preparation for September 25th, the completion of the DREAM Fast Vigil Campaign. However, exciting news came from Washington D.C. as Congressman Howard Berman (D-CA) endorsed the DREAM Fast Campaign and stated that he would fast on the 24th, Friday, which is the National Day of Solidarity for the DREAM Act.
Press converages continued today with Fox 11, a Catholic weekly newspaper "The Tidings," Eastern Group Publication, Radio Korea, and UC Berkeley's "UC Accord." This adds onto a long list of positive media coverages the fast action has been getting since the launch on September 13th. "It's great that media is continuing to come out. Today is kind of a 'slow' day, but still we had several media come out and interview the fasters. This gave us a chance to even keep the discussion on the DREAM Act on the table and keep the spirit alive," said Cliff Sukjae Lee, a 1-week faster.
Along with the press coverages, Day 11 also saw new fasters; Rossely Amarante, Susan Melgarejo, and Esther Kim, who all came out in support of the DREAM Act and help make an impact in the movement of the bill. We also had those that fasted off-site; Shiu "Raju" Chand and Geetha Veliah from the South Asian Network and Sonya Gwak from Philadelphia have all participated in a 24-hour fast.
What to expect on Day 12, September 24, 2004
24th is the National Day of Solidarity where hundreds of individuals will fast in support of the DREAM Act!
Also, during the evening, organizers, fasters, and supporters will hold a small vigil to look back at the 2-weeks and discuss ways to bring closure to this successful campaign.
2-week fasters
Dae Joong Yoon
Jennifer Park
Esther Surim Hong (off-site in Chicago, part of the time she was in Los Angeles fasting)
Inbo Sim (off-site)
Hee Joo Yoon (off-site and lunch only)
1-week fasters
Han Jin Kim
Cliff Sukjae Lee
Francisco
Terry Burke (off-site)
Nadia Del Callejo (off-site)
New 24-hour fasters
Rossely Amarante, Susan Melgarejo, Esther Kim, Shiu "Raju" Chand, Geetha Veliah, Sonya Gwak
What you can do to participate!
1. Call Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN), 1-800-369-0315, and urge him to support the DREAM Act!
2. Call the White House, 202-456-1111, and urge President Bush to pass the DREAM Act!
3. Endorse the campaign as an organization or an individual! (For more information, contact Jane Chung at 323-937-3703).
4. Fast for 24-hours! (For more information, contact Horacio Arroyo at 213-201-4449).
5. Come out and support the fasters! 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM - Corner of Hoover and Jefferson.
For more information on the DREAM Act, please visit:
www.communitychange.org/unitedwedream/index.asp <http://www.communitychange.org/unitedwedream/index.asp>
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