Beltway Area Indymedia

Today, Tuesday, July 30th, the immigrant community of Prince William County announced their response to the racist, anti-immigrant law passed by the Prince William County Board of Supervisors on July 10, 2007. Determined to force the Board of Supervisor's to rescind the xenophobic, unconstitutional legislation, which would deny county services to those who could not prove their legal status, and force county police to check the immigration status of anyone detained, representatives from the immigrant community today announced their plan to move forward Today's announcement came after a series of community meetings, drawing more than 3,500 people, in which the voices of the immigrant community were heard.

The ten point plan, laid out today included the following courses of action to demand that the human rights of all residents of Prince William County be respected:

(1)An economic boycott, which all people of conscience are encouraged to join, of all non-immigrant owned businesses in Prince William County will take place from August 27th to September 3rd. During this time, nothing will be bought in the county by those taking part, except from immigrant-owned businesses, which will not be boycotted. This is not intended to target anyone specifically in the county, but the community has been forced to take this action, as politicians ignore the community.

(2)On Sunday, September 2nd, a massive, peaceful, nonviolent march will take place in the county. Further details will be announced later.

(3)A caravan of immigrant families and workers will be traveling to other localities where immigrants have been targeted, including Culpeper, Loudon County, the District of Columbia, and Maryland, to show solidarity with, and build unity with, other immigrant communities. Specific details will soon be announced.

(4)An informational campaign to educate the community about issues of immigration will take place.

(5)Among those who are able, a voter registration drive will take place, before the county's next elections.

(6)On October 9th, immigrants in Prince William County will not show up to work. This is intended to show the contributions of immigrants to the county's workforce. The work stoppage will continue as the community sees necessary.

(7)Legal action will be taken to attempt to rescind the unconstitutional, anti-immigrant resolution.

(8)An emergency telephone line has been set up to report abuses against immigrants. The number is 703-369-7427.

(9)The immigrant community will present the violations of human rights that are occurring in Prince William County to international human rights institutions.

(10)A phone call and email campaign will take place where members of the community will demand that the Prince William County Board of Supervisors respect human rights, and rescind their racist legislation.

Several members of the immigrant community, including immigrants, immigrant business owners, representatives of Mexicanos Sin Fronteras and the Woodbridge Workers Committee, spoke about the importance of community unity, and the need to have this legislation rescinded. They also The immigrant community of Prince William County is on the move. Join them!