If you're looking for more information about immigrants' rights struggles in the US and Oregon, ROP encourages you to look into these sources:
First, sign up for ROP's Immigration Fairness Network by emailing amanda@rop.org or by calling the office at 503-543-8417. We will send you regular updates about local, state, and national immigration issues, and send out calls for action when needed.
Check out the work of David Bacon, a leading author and activist for immigrants and labor rights. His work highlights the reality of immigrant workers and the global causes of immigration to the US.
In 2009, tensions around immigration have heightened in communities across rural Oregon and the country. And, as in years past, immigration fairness is a priority for ROP in 2009. Follow the link below for an overview of ROP's Immigration Fairness workplan for this year.
Sometimes you never know what a quick phone call or two (or 36) might make happen.
With just a few calls to our communities' sheriffs, ROP members are creating a ripple effect and letting local law enforcement know that fair and humane treatment of immigrant community members is a priority to rural and small town Oregonians...
Every once in a while in our organizing we need to step back and take a look at how our movement is doing and how we are doing ourselves. How are you doing? What is giving you hope right now? What connections are you building that nurture and inspire you?
ROP board member Steve Milligan and longtime ROP friend Jerry Atkin recently took their frustrations, their sadness, and their hope to the streets (actually, on the bus!). They joined a multistate caravan from the Northwest to San Jose to protest deportation and promote just immigration reform. And they came back inspired, moved and feeling connected to that larger, long-term movement community we all belong to.
Read on to hear more about ROPers connecting with our movement building community.
ROP is joining a multistate caravan to California this week to protest deportation and demand immigration reform now.
Real people's lives are being impacted right now by our broken detention and deportation systems.
* My friend who is a high school counselor is spending this week in Tacoma in court because one of her students is in the process of deportation to a country he's never been to and only has distant relatives who live there.
* 300 farmworkers lost their jobs in Polk County recently
* 350 workers were recently detained in Laurel, Mississippi.
* And nearly 60% of immigrants detained this past year were handed over by local law enforcement, though most do not have a criminal conviction.
This system is hurting families every day. And ROP leaders Steve Milligan & Jerry Atkin are hitting the streets this week to speak out (or, getting on the bus that is!).
A collection of Know Your Rights and Beyond Know Your Rights links, materials, and resources to support work for immigrant rights in your local community.
I was one of the lucky ones to take part in the Reform Immigration for America Campaign Summit in Washington, DC last week on behalf of the Rural Organizing Project. Ten of us from Oregon joined with delegates from 36 states. The strongest message I came home with is this:
We (everyone of us) have to exercise our power, turn up the heat, get organized and put the pressure on! Our elected officials can only act boldly if they believe their constituents are demanding it.
One of my most meaningful experiences happened before I got there - on my flight between Denver and DC. I found myself sitting next to a 60-something gentleman who was quite interested in my reason for visiting his home base. When I mentioned immigration reform, he immediately began presenting his views about the “illegals.” I could feel my stomach begin to churn.
Yesterday more than 700 advocates descended on Capitol Hill to tell Congress: "We cannot wait any longer. America needs to reform immigration now."
Among those hundreds was ROP's very own newly elected board chair, Kathy Paterno from member group Human Dignity Advocates in Crook County. Kathy is representing ROP as a member of the delegation from Oregon that includes CAUSA, PCUN, and Mujeres Luchadores Progresistas who are in Washington D.C for four days to attend the largest convening of immigration reform advocates and allies of the year.
Sometimes you never know what a quick phone call or two (or 36) might make happen.
Every once in a while in our organizing we need to step back and take a look at how our movement is doing and how we are doing ourselves. How are you doing? What is giving you hope right now? What connections are you building that nurture and inspire you?
I was one of the lucky ones to take part in the Reform Immigration for America Campaign Summit in Washington, DC last week on behalf of the Rural Organizing Project. Ten of us from Oregon joined with delegates from 36 states. The strongest message I came home with is this: 
Yesterday more than 700 advocates descended on Capitol Hill to tell Congress: "We cannot wait any longer. America needs to reform immigration now." 