What: Unity March
When:  Friday, December 7 — assembly starts at 4:30pm
Where:  Kilili Beach to American Memorial Park
Why:  To protest PL 15-108, the new local labor law; to express support for the extension of federal immigration law to the CNMI; and to call on U.S. Congress to retain the provision that would grant improved status to long-term alien residents in the bill to federalize immigration
Who:  All members of the community are invited to join this march
 
All members of the community, of all ethnic backgrounds, nationalities, religions, and occupations, are called to join in the historic and peaceful Unity March on Friday, December 7, beginning with an assembly at 4:30pm at Kilili Beach, and ending at American Memorial Park.   Unity March demonstrators will call for just and rational local labor laws, for the extension of federal immigration law to the CNMI, and for improved immigration status for long-term alien residents.
 
Traffic Advisory
Motorists are advised to exercise caution when driving on Beach Road between Kilili Beach and American Memorial Park from 4:30pm and 9pm, as there are expected to be hundreds of demonstrators, including children, walking along the street and pathway up to Quartermaster Road.   Before 7pm, the Department of Public Safety will be closing the northbound lane of Beach Road just after Quartermaster Road, and Unity Marchers will move into the streets up to American Memorial Park.
 
Transportation
Transportation will be provided to and from the march for those who need it.   Pick-ups will be at San Antonio basketball court and Garapan basketball court, beginning at 4pm. 
 
People who are unable to march the entire length of the street from Kilili Beach to American Memorial Park are encouraged to ride in the Unity March convoy, or to simply head straight to the American Memorial Park to meet with other demonstrators and participate in the closing ceremony.    
 
Local Musicians to Perform
Local musicians Steve Sablan and Floyd Lim from the Big Beats have volunteered to perform throughout the march to keep up the spirits of the demonstrators.   Other musicians have also been invited to perform.
 
In the Evening, Rain or Shine
All participants are asked to bring water and flashlights.  Umbrellas are also advised.  The Unity March will take place rain or shine.
 
Placards and Banners
Placards and banners have been prepared for the march.  Participants are also invited to bring their own placards and banners indicating the message(s) they wish to convey, the organizations they are representing, etc. Organizers only ask that all signs promote the spirit of unity and peaceful expression.   
 
Expected Participants
Bangladeshi Community,
Bicol Association,
Business owners,
Carolinians,
Chamorros,
Children,
Chinese Community,
Dekada,
Federal and local government officials,
Foreign national workers,
Human Dignity Movement,
Investors,
Japanese Community,
Korean Association,
Local attorneys,
Micronesians and other Pacific Islanders,
MOVER,
Off-island supporters,
Permanent residents,
PILCOWA,
Refugees,
Retirees,
Social workers and advocates,
Students,
Teachers,
Thai Association,
United Filipino Organization,
U.S. citizens,
Various professional associations,
Various religious groups, and
Many other individuals and organizations of diverse backgrounds, all unified by a desire to improve the immigration and labor system for the fair protection and long-term benefit of all workers and businesses in the CNMI.   
 
To Contribute
Businesses or individuals interested in making in-kind donations of water, trash bags, banners, placards, paint supplies, and other materials may contact Ed Propst at 483-7361.  
 
To Volunteer
Individuals interested in volunteering to assist at the aid stations, to pass out water, ribbons, etc., or to assist with ensuring traffic safety, particularly trained individuals such as security guards, JROTC/ROTC officers, and the Boy Scouts may contact Conrad Ocampo at 286-8625.   The Red Cross will be providing logistical support for aid stations.   
 
Individuals interested in volunteering to drive participants to and from the Unity March may contact Wendell at 483-9494.
 
For More Information
Please contact Ed Propst at 483-7361; Tina Sablan at 483-3935; Boni Sagana at 484-0507; or Stephen Woodruff at 235-3872.    
 
***
 
Thanks very much!
 
Tina Sablan

What: Unity March

When:  Friday, December 7 — assembly starts at 4:30pm

Where:  Kilili Beach to American Memorial Park

Why:  To protest Public Law 15-108, the new local labor law; to express support for the extension of federal immigration law to the CNMI; and to call on U.S. Congress to retain the provision that would grant improved status to long-term alien residents in the bill to federalize immigration                                                                                    

Who:  All members of the community are invited to join this march

***

All members of the community, of all nationalities, cultural backgrounds, religions, and occupations — are invited to participate in the CNMI’s first Unity March on December 7, 2007, beginning with an assembly at 4:30pm at Kilili Beach across from Ada Gym and ending at American Memorial Park.

The Unity March will be a peaceful demonstration of solidarity against the harmful, punitive, and anti-business provisions of the newly-enacted local labor law, Public Law 15-108.  The new local labor law, which will become effective in January 2008, threatens to severely impact the local economy, workers in the private and public sectors, businesses, and families. 

Demonstrators will also march to express support for the extension of federal immigration law to the CNMI, and for improved immigration status for long-term alien residents of the CNMI.  Improved status for long-term alien residents will help create a freer labor market, encourage rising wages and better working conditions, provide a bigger, more stable and more reliable pool of qualified resident workers for businesses, reduce workers’ vulnerability to labor abuses and exploitation, and keep families together.  Improved status for long-term alien residents, combined with a sound and fairly-enforced federal immigration program tailored to local needs, would do much to stabilize the local economy and put the CNMI on a path to genuine recovery. 

All members of the community have a stake in the immigration and labor issues facing the CNMI, whether they are citizens, permanent residents, or aliens, and therefore, all members of the community are encouraged to join in the march.   Supporters in Tinian and Rota are also invited to hold a Unity March in their respective islands on the same date and time.  

Unity March participants are asked to bring water and a flashlight.  Also, as a symbol of peace and hope, please wear white to the event.

For more information about the Unity March, please text or call Boni Sagana at 484-0507, Tina Sablan at 483-3935, Ed Propst at 483-7361, or Steve Woodruff at 235-3872.

We hope to see you there.

– Tina Sablan

Dear people of the Commonwealth,

More and more we are beginning to realize that our declining economy, failing public services, and deteriorating social and natural environment stem from years of misgovernance: unstable policies, unaccountable leadership, weak law enforcement, a lack of transparency, and a culture of fear and complacency among our people.

Misgovernance is so profoundly ingrained in our community that some of us have difficulty imagining that the affairs of government can be conducted in any other way. But we must imagine a different way, and we must all be involved in realizing that vision Read the rest of this entry »