Boston College May Day Coalition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 25, 2006

Boston College Students Show Solidarity with Immigrants
By: The Boston College May Day Coalition

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts — Students, Faculty and Student
Organizations have formed the Boston College May Day Coalition (BCMDC)
in support of the nationwide movement for immigrant rights.

The BCMDC seeks support from all individuals: students, faculty, and
staff alike. Expressly, we encourage everyone in the Boston College
community to:
a. Boycott class or work on May 1
b. Refrain from making any purchases throughout the day
c. Express solidarity with the movement by wearing white shirts or white ribbons
d. Endorse our campaign, whether as an individual or as an
organization by spreading the word to all your friends, classmates,
professors, and organizations
e. Join us on O'Neill plaza at 11:30 a.m., and continue to Harvard for
an organized rally at 1:30 p.m., followed by a march to the State
House for a statewide rally.

BCMDC's platform is rooted in a desire to work for social justice and
equality. Those in the Boston College community committed to the same
ideals need a coalition to express their solidarity with society's
marginalized communities. Our aim is to raise awareness among students
and faculty of the immigrant rights movement. Only then will our
elected officials address the unfair treatment of immigrants.

Our concrete goals are to:

1) Create a dialogue to raise campus awareness of the country's unjust
immigration policy; and
2) Express solidarity with immigrants who suffer oppression under U.S.
immigration policy.

In anticipation of the general boycott scheduled for May 1, and in an
effort to expand dialogue and understanding about this critical issue,
student leaders have scheduled the following events and activities:

1. An immigration roundtable discussion with experts and civic leaders
on April 26, 2006, at Boston College Law School.
2. A white ribbon campaign on May 1, 2006, to express support for and
solidarity with all immigrants.
3. In interfaith religious service on May 1, 2006, at Boston College Law School.
4. A letter-writing campaign to urge Congress to pass sensible
legislation that does not criminalize undocumented workers and honors
the contributions that all immigrants make to the United States.
5. An undergraduate vigil scheduled for May 1st at noon on O'Neill
plaza, followed by participation in the Harvard University rally and a
march to the State House to attend the MIRA Coalition press conference
and statewide rally.

The Boston College May Day Coalition is also part of the larger Boston
Student May Day Coalition, which will convene and march, for the first
time as a unified organization, at the Harvard University walkout on
May 1.


List of Endorsers:

AHANA Leadership Council
Organization of Latin-American Affairs
Asian Caucus
Brazilian Club of Boston College
South East Asian Students Association
Chinese Students' Association
Philippine Society of BC
South Asian Students Association
Vietnamese Students Association
UGBC President-Elect Santiago Bunce
JUSTICE
Women's Health Initiative
Global Justice Project
BC Sociology Department
College Democrats (pending)
Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Leadership Council
4Boston Leadership Council
Ecopledge

BC Latin American Law Students Association
BC Asian Pacific American Law Students Association
BC Black Law Students Association
BC Third World Law Journal
BC South Asian Law Students Association
BC Law Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild
BC Law St. Thomas More Society
Community Economic Development Law Group
Grad. School of Social Work Student Collective
Environmental Law Society
International Law Society
Jewish Law Society

Harvard May Day Coalition
Northeastern May Day Coalition
The Executive Board of the Asian Community at Tufts
Boston May Day Coalition