This week's Indy TV show features two Rochester area Immigrant Rights activists. Roberto Resto is with the Rochester Alliance for Immigrant Rights (networked with National Alliance for Immigrant Rights) and Librada Paz is executive director of Rural Migrant Ministries in Brockport, NY. The two activists discuss their personal stories and connections to the dynamics of immigrant labor in the United States, and the work being done by their organizations to advocate for the human rights of all immigrants.

The tone of anti-immigrant forces locally and around the US require that those interested in human rights, understand and take up this struggle. At one point in our discussion, Resto explained the role of language in shaping public perception about immigrants.

"Criminalization of the immigrant begins with the language that is being used. So, in Washington, they use term 'illegal Aliens' when they talk about undocumented immigrants…. If you notice: being illegal means that you're a criminal and being an alien means that you don't belong to the human race."

Watch Indy TV Episode #2: Immigrant Rights on Rochester on our blip.tv Channel.

The cruelty that occurs on fur farms is beyond comprehension. Every year 30 million animals are raised in captivity only to be killed for their fur. These animals are literally being skinned alive, if not electrocuted, drowned, or beaten to death. Thousands of other animals are captured in the wild using “leg crushing traps”. The animal is literally left there to suffer in pain for days before the hunter comes back to beat the animal to death.

Why would anyone want to contribute to such a cruel industry? Today’s technology offers so many fur alternatives that there is truly no excuse for people who wear fur. Somehow people got it into their heads that we can control the animals and force them to do what we want for our own benefit, entertainment, cravings, and vanity.

It’s important to protest fur year round because animals are being viscously murdered for their fur year round. If an animal rights advocate can get one person to stop and think outside the box, then they have done their job as an animal advocate. If we prevent one person from indulging in the bloodshed of fur, we have saved the lives of 40 animals (40 animals which would have been tortured to death in the name of vanity)!

Please join us in protesting fur! This Friday, May 16 from 5PM-7PM, animal rights protesters will be out front of the Held-Projansky Fur Shop located at 2240 Monroe Avenue. Materials will be provided! Please don't park in the plaza parking lot; use any of the side streets. For more information, contact Kristine at furiscruel.kd (at) gmail.com.

Related: Gary Francione Lecture: "Animal Rights vs. Animal Welfare: Making the Case" | infurmation | Neiman Carcass | Fur is Cruel MySpace

Folks from and around Rochester, Ithaca, and Utica met in their respective cities yesterday morning (May 8th) and began their peace march—scheduled to run (or walk) from May 8-17—to Fort Drum located in Watertown, NY. The feeder marches will converge north of Syracuse, NY before moving on to Fort Drum.

According to their website, New York State Marches for Peace, folks from "across the state [are marching to Ft. Drum] to bring support to our active duty soldiers and Iraq Veterans Against the War. This march will be an act of re-birthing civic duty and responsibility to defend our Constitution and strengthen our resolve to stop the damage this unjust, illegal, and immoral war is doing to our families, communities, the world and most of all, soldiers."

Kathy Castania, a local, anti-war activist and one of the organizers of the march, wrote a report back for the Rochester feeder march: The Rochester Feeder March had an “incredibly good start.” With good press coverage at the Storefront, Mike and Brian from IVAW spoke, along with members of Military Families and Vets fro Peace. A heartfelt circle of walkers expressed their hopes for the Walk. The Walk, with media walking along, covered about 12 miles. With “gusto” literatuyre was handed out to many passer-bys and at homes along the way. The evening program had a presentation on PTSD by a conscientious objector from the armed forces and a member of Military Families Speak Out. “We received amazing support and found a very positive attitude on the road. The group of 25 walkers started the day, along with a mini-bus, a u-haul, and two cars. At the end of the day eleven walkers were treated to foot baths at a yoga/healing place.

Check the New York State Marches for Peace website for daily updates about the marches.

Video: NYS Marches for Peace, Ithaca Feeder, May 8th, 2008

Photos: Photo Gallery of Ithaca Feeder March, May 8, by Marty Luster

May 8th Feeder Report for Utica | May 8th Feeder Report Ithaca | March to Ft. Drum Confronts Senator Clinton in Syracuse

Zero Tolerance initiative continues its abuses of people of color. Last night (Tuesday, April 29th) an ARM (Rochester's Anti-Racism Movement) member was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after questioning officers who were racially profiling his 16-year-old brother and assuming him "suspicious of dealing drugs" when he got out of a car on his way into Extreme Graphics with his brother, saw a friend and gave him a cultural handshake familiar among black males.

To read the full article, click the "more" button below.

Additional Information: Minority Reporter Newspaper | Rochester's new "Zero Tolerance" initiative | $2.5 million set aside to fund "Zero Tolerance" | Community Speak Out Against "Zero Tolerance" | A Conversation With Tim Donaher, Monroe County Public Defender

An audience of around 50 people attended the May Day rally for workers and immigrant rights at the Liberty Pole on May 1st. A slew of speakers made connections between the immigrant rights movement, the anti-racism movement, and the anti-war movement both regionally and nationally. The rally took place despite a wave of terror launched by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) who, days before the rally, raided a Mexican restaurant in Buffalo, NY taking into custody some sixty workers as well as another three farm workers from Wayne County, NY on May 1st, according to the Rochester Alliance for Immigrant Rights.

After the rally there was to be a May Day picnic and outdoor social that had to be relocated because of rain. The Anti-war Storefront on Monroe Avenue generously donated their space for the picnic to take place. Approximately 40 people attended; there was food, hula-hooping, sidewalk soccer, music, dancing, and radical readings from authors such as Emma Goldman, Voltairine de Cleyre, the Haymarket Martyrs, the Industrial Workers of the World, and others.

Photos: Rochester Against War May Day photo gallery | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6