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South Asian Network (SAN) is a grassroots, community based organization dedicated to advancing the health, empowerment and solidarity of persons of South Asian origin in Southern California. Founded in 1990, the overall goal of SAN is to inform and empower South Asian communities by acting as an agent of change in eliminating biases, discrimination and injustices targeted against persons of South Asian origin and by providing linkages amongst communities through shared experiences. Together, volunteers and staff have created a multilingual, culturally appropriate approaches to community organizing encompassing community outreach and education, direct service, and policy advocacy in five focus areas: immigration, public health, violence prevention, hate crime/discrimination and civil liberties. Day of Protest It’s International Worker’s Day!!! By Joyti Chand (Civil Rights Unit at SAN)
“International Worker’s Day” or “May Day” is a day to celebrate the social and economic achievements of the International Labor Movement. Throughout the world, millions of working people, unions and communities of color, go to the streets to protest against worker exploitation and abuse. International Worker’s Day commemorates the Haymarket Riot of May 4th, 1886 in Chicago. On this day, Chicago Police dispersed and attacked a group of people attending a meeting in support of striking workers. Recognizing the Haymarket Riots in Paris on July 1889, the Second International declared May 1st as International Worker’s Day. The Second International also initiated an international campaign for an 8 hour work day. The United States does not respect this day as an official holiday and day of solidarity for workers.
Since it’s formation in 1990,
South Asian Network (SAN) has worked with low income immigrants,
survivors of violence and other marginalized members of the South Asian
community, working in the taxi and hotel industries, convenience stores,
and in “Little India” on Pioneer Blvd. Many of these community members
have been displaced from their country of origin because of war,
poverty, lack of opportunities, and state violence. They are working in
difficult conditions and are exploited because of their immigration
status, language problems, age and other barriers. Often times, workers
are working 10-14 hrs/day without meal and/or rest periods, are paid
less than minimum wage, receive no health benefits and are working in
unsafe/unhealthy working conditions. Part III: May Day Protests Report Backs
On Thursday, May 1st, 2008, at 10a.m., SAN and the community marched and rallied on Pioneer Blvd. to demand an end to the exploitation and abuse of workers in our community. This was the first demonstration on Pioneer Blvd., on May Day. The marchers on the streets chanted loudly, “the workers united, will never be defeated!” and “inqalaab zindabad!” When asked about his participation at this historic rally, Ms. Lamu Stadler, a community member said, “We should send this message to the owners who run their businesses around here [on Pioneer] so that they know about the power of [our] unity”. The community then joined thousands of other voices at the larger May Day march in Downtown, Los Angeles. Ms. Uma Thapa from Nepal, former worker and organizer against Ziba Beauty Center, addressed a crowd over 20,000 strong, stating “unfortunately, for all of us working now, our rights continue to be violated…To fight that, we need to come together…As immigrants from all over the world, we demand an end to the violations of our dignity and humanity”. Furthermore, Mr. Sentayehu Silassie, an immigrant from Ethiopia and coordinator with the Los Angeles Taxi Workers Alliance, said that “it was great to see people of diverse backgrounds…It made me feel very good and energized”. Mr. Silassie ended his address to the crowd with an old Amharic expression ofunity meaning “single threads coming together can also tie a lion”. Following these two huge public events, SAN joined CopWatch L.A. in McCarther Park from 5-10:30pm to speak out about the L.A. Police Department’s brutality last year on May Day against the community in the park.
Part III: What are our demands and points of solidarity? South Asian community members continue to suffer from police abuse, anti-immigrant policies, hate crime, no health care and other abuses. On May Day, we are also organizing against these abuses, repression by the State, and are in solidarity with other people of color, immigrants and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer & Questioning people (LGBTIQ). SAN is marching in solidarity with the “Allies Collective” in Los Angeles, CA. This collective consists of grassroots organizations that work with people who are incarcerated by immigration and the police, immigrant workers, LGBTIQ people, women, youth, and other sectors of our communities. We Refuse to Compromise! We call for:
Dream a World with Real Security Bread, Beds and Books not Bars One World
Let’s Be United
The American Dream is a Lie
We Survived Last Year and We’re Back Take Action! Get Involved! Support the Workers! To support workers on Pioneer Blvd. and 7-11 convenience stores, please sign our community petition either on our website or by contacting us directly. To get more information about SAN’s work, you can contact us by mail at 18173 South Pioneer Blvd., Suite I, Artesia, CA 90701 or by phone at 562-403-0488. You can also log onto www.southasiannetwork.org. HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL!!! END POLICE & IMMIGRATION REPRESSION!!!
JUSTICE FOR WORKERS * Allies Collective consists of the following organizations: Garment Worker Center, Homies Unidos, Khmer Girls in Action, South Asian Network and Youth Justice Coalition.
May 1, 2008
Community Petition to Support Worker
Rights
BIG VICTORY
for ZibA Workers!!!
Release of First Ever Southern California
South Asian LGBTIQ Community Needs Assessment Report. * LGBTIQ = Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer
PRESS RELEASE
Release of Historic South Asian LGBTIQ Community Needs Download: South Asian Network Summer 2007 Newsletter (Volume 4, Issue 1)
September 11th 2007
South Asian Web Project
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