Here is a quote from the organizers of the rally supporting immigrant’s rights:

We are glad to report that last night the Tomball City Council overwhelmingly rejected proposals to close the day laborer site, make English the City’s official language, and prohibit undocumented workers from working or renting or owning businesses there. Racists from the Border Watch, Minute Men, and Tea Party suffered a huge defeat last night, and this is a historic victory for workers and democratic-minded people of all backgrounds. As you may know, the rejection of these anti-immigrant proposals was widely publicized in the Houston area media. The Houston Chronicle’s article on the meeting can be found at
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/7190647.html.

By Paul Hill

HOUSTON – The Houston Chronicle and Channel 13 (ABC) news have posted an article and video documenting the destruction of priceless art works at TSU last week. The scene of the crime was the main administration building where many beautiful murals adorn the walls. Two of these world class art works were unceremoniously destroyed last week.

You can find the Houston Chronicle article at http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7189008.html
Please take time to view this video from Channel 13 (ABC) news. It takes about five minutes or less and will fill you in on what is currently happening at TSU. http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7646677

You may be aware that TSU has a world class art museum (The University Museum) which is the showcase for some of the art of Dr. John Biggers. Dr. Biggers’ work is well known throughout the world. Some of his students embarked on a project in which they painted beautiful murals on the halls of Hannah Hall at TSU. This project started in the 1960s and depicts the struggles of the times as seen through the eyes of Houstonians. The murals are historical and are a Houston treasure. I have viewed the murals myself and they are indeed stunning.

If you are so moved, please contact the Texas Governor’s office to express your displeasure with what has happened. The opinion line is (800)252-9600. The phone number is (512)463-2000 and the fax number is (512)463-1849. You can also ask that the murals be designated as an historical site.

You can also contact the TSU Board of Regents to express your displeasure by calling (713)313-7900 or send an e-mail to Griffin_ka@TSU.EDU . You can fax a letter to (713)313-7901 or mail it to:

Karen Griffin
Executive Director/Office of Board Relations
Texas Southern University
3100 Cleburne St., Hannah Hall 104
Houston, TX 77004

Thanks for your support. Your voice counts!

By James Thompson

HOUSTON – The Houston Chronicle posted an editorial today advocating the passage of HR 4645 which would lift the travel ban and would facilitate the sales of agricultural products to Cuba http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/7188965.html . The article correctly points out that this legislation would create agricultural jobs in Texas. For very rational reasons, the article notes that Texas agricultural leaders are supporting the passage of this landmark legislation.
The article states with regard to lifting the travel ban and ban on agricultural sales to Cuba “That sounds like a win-win to us. Without getting bogged down in the endless argument over whether to continue economic sanctions against Castro to the bitter end, this much seems apparent. There’s an opportunity here to do two things: to offer Americans expanded access to a country of great interest to so many for cultural and historic reasons; and a chance to help American farmers open up a new market.”
The article concludes, “…polls show that more than two-thirds of Americans support ending the travel ban to Cuba. The added benefit of expanding markets for Texas rice and beef producers only strengthens the case for doing so. We urge approval of HR 4645 to achieve this worthwhile objective.”
Contact your Congressperson to express your opinion on the matter. Your voice is important.
PHill1917@comcast.net

By Raskonikov Radek

TOMBALL, Texas – Today I went to support the exploited immigrant workers in Tomball. Every week, a few Minute Men, Border Watch and Tea Party members come and terrorize these workers. They shouted horrible things at them and even used violence against the workers. About 20 courageous people came to support the workers and oppose the cowards on 9/4/2010, just two days before Labor Day. There were also two television stations (Univision and Fox News) who were reporting on it. We were there in solidarity to both protect the workers and drive the Minute Men and their pals out. The racists never came to the day laborer site. They instead lined up across the street in an HEB parking lot on a busy main road. The right wingers had sent a spy who was sniffing us out and waiting for us to leave. We did leave, in fact, in order to counter the anti-immigrants at HEB. A few of us remained with the workers in case the racists came to the day laborer site.

We outnumbered them and had far more unity. They were so demoralized they used children in their vicious attacks. They called for all immigrants to be put into concentration camps. We protested them for an hour and had formed a large collective body. The right wingers were scattered all over the place and lacked unity or solidarity. The spirit of revolt was strong amongst us, whereas the anti-immigrants were merely repeating racist anti-immigrants slurs that required not the least bit of thought.

In order to drive the fascists out, we will protest them each week in Tomball. We should outnumber them since any person of conscience who hears such terrible things and sees such disgusting people will want to march in the streets to demand that they leave. The workers need your help. Without you, the immigrant workers will continue to be exploited and the racists will continue to carry out their criminal activities. Unite with the Tomball workers to stop the anti-immigrants and drive racism out of Tomball.

The next action will be held on Saturday morning, September 11, beginning at 8 AM. This action will be held in front of the HEB store at Tomball Parkway (Highway 249) and Main Street (FM 2920).

These actions are being Organized by the Latin American Immigrants Rights Organization And the Progressive Workers Organizing Committee. If you have questions or would like more information, please call (832) 692 – 2306, (281) 935 – 9258, or (832) 282 – 6997.

via Talking Union by dsalaborblogmoderator on 8/30/10

By David Green

Over 10, 000 Detroiters marched down Washington Boulevard from the UAW-Ford National Programs Center to Grand Circus Park on Saturday, August 28th to demand jobs, peace, and justice. The march was organized by United Auto Workers (UAW) President Bob King and Operation PUSH founder and director Reverend Jesse Jackson. It commemorated the 47th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s March on Washington.

The dais at Grand Circus Park was teeming with dignitaries—politicians, clergy of every denomination, and union leaders. Among the elected officials present were Representatives John Conyers, Jr., John Dingell, Maxine Waters, and Marcy Kaptur and Senator Debbie Stabenow. Michigan Democratic Party gubernatorial nominee Virg Bernero briefly addressed the audience and committed himself to placing the interests of Main Street over those of Wall Street. Among the union leaders who spoke were UAW President Bob King, newly-elected President of the Service Employees International Union Mary Kay Henry, Farm Laborers Organizing Committee President Baldemar Velasquez, and American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council 25 President Al Garrett.

Detroit DSAer marching on August 28

Speaker after speaker pounded away at the themes of creating jobs (through a second economic stimulus bill), withdrawal of American forces from Iraq and Afghanistan, fair trade, and a moratorium on foreclosures. In his remarks, Bob King noted that a government’s budget reflects its values. He charged that the Senate was acting “immorally” in delaying extension of unemployment benefits for workers while simultaneously proposing to make permanent the Bush tax cuts benefitting the wealthiest segment of our population. He added that simply eliminating these tax cuts for the wealthy and ending our $150 billion annual expenditure on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan would pay for a second economic stimulus.

Rev. Jesse Jackson

Reverend Jackson emphasized the need for citizens to carry over the rage expressed at this march into the November 2nd election. He issued a challenge to Detroit voters: If Detroit turns out 400,000 voters on election day, then progressive candidates will sweep statewide races, progressive members of the Michigan Congressional delegation will be re-elected, and we can pursue a job-creating agenda. “But,” cautioned UAW President King, “we must keep marching.” We must maintain pressure in the streets even as we strive for electoral victories. This is how real change is accomplished.

For this reason, both President King and Reverend Jackson urged Saturday’s participants to join the March for Jobs in Washington, D.C. on October 2nd.