EISD denies free speech, community participation

The Edgewood Independent School District of San Antonio, TX took the unprecendented step of banning a time for citizens to be heard that the open meetings of the Board of Trustees, elected by the community to run a public institution funded by the community. In response to overwhelming criticism from the community due to the board's rejection of worker, parent and student concerns, the entity decided to simply bar not only our signs, but our voices from public meetings.

Yesterday, SWU members attended the open meeting with gags in our mouths that read 'EISD violates freedom of speech' to silently send a clear message to the board and the superindendent. SWU will continue to struggle against the national roll-back of civil liberties and human rights that workers and communities face.

Thousands Scheduled to Protest in 4 Border Cities

¡Ya Basta! Stop Vigilante Terrorism NOW!

In response to the racist attacks on our communities by criminal vigilantes comes the 5th Annual Border Wide Mobilizations with four simultaneous actions along the U.S./Mexico border on October 8th, 2005. The Mobilizations are organized by the Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice (SW Network) and the grassroots affiliated organizations in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, California, Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Tamaulipas. We have survived through and struggled against 11 years of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), a broken and racist immigration system, and now we face another symptom of border injustice: vigilante terrorism. Simultaneously in four border areas on October 8, 2005 thousands will gather to demand justice on the border and around the world. Participants are invited to join the SW Network, its affiliate organizations and allies, united under the common call for a fair and just economy and border, with living wage jobs and safe working conditions for all workers on both sides of the border; respect for all
people¹s civil rights and comprehensive immigration reform; and an end to all criminal vigilantes terrorizing our communities.

We struggle for:
o A just BORDER that permits free movement of people, not just goods and capital
o A BORDER based on equality, trust, solidarity, and friendship
o A BORDER that eliminates racist practices and violent persecution of people who cross the border seeking a just livelihood
o A BORDER that respects the sovereign and spiritual right of indigenous people
o A BORDER that protects the flora and fauna and natural resources

Southwest Workers Union, along with Fuerza Unida and UPI is coordinating the action in Eaglepass/Piedras Negras. A delegation will be leaving from San Antonio early Saturday morning.