United Immigrant Front announces campaign of “civil resistance” in Chicago
 Letter to Editor                                    Â
The event in Arizona last Friday where the governor signed the most racist bill ever, targeting the immigrant community, is a sign that we must take serious steps as leaders in the immigrant community, to prepare to  defend and protect our community from the inevitable attacks that will (come) from the  repressive forces of immigration (ICE) and other entities. We, the members of the United Immigrant Front, call (on)  the immigrant community, the citizens who support  us, progressive religious denominations, ethnic groups with a history of Diaspora, academicians  and professionals, to join our call to initiate, organize and sustain a campaign of civil resistance against unjust and inhumane laws that apply only to members of the immigrant community in the United States.
Today (April 26) we announced the start of such civil resistance in Chicago. In contrast to civil disobedience, which involves the planned and premeditated violation of a law or laws by one or more individuals, with resulting  arrests and criminal trials, civil resistance is a prolonged act which involves an entire community against government agencies applying unjust laws, and against other entities that support the persecution of immigrant families. Therefore, we propose the following:
1. We call for a general economic boycott. We ask that all immigrant families only buy the essentials for survival and only buy products from Mexico or Latin America. The purpose is to affect the economy of those who fund and elect the lawmakers who lack  the courage to act in our defense  in a Congress incapable  of solving the immigration problem.
2. Establish a network of lawyers for the legal defense of immigrant families, including those prisoners in detention centers.
3. Establish a network of safe houses for families displaced by raids and threats of deportation.
4. Establish a network of disease prevention and mental health counseling for  immigrant families.
5. Establish a network of basic food items distribution  for immigrant families in need.
While the United Front promotes civil resistance, it also redoubles its efforts and demand that the U.S. Congress  develop a proposal for immigration reform legislation that is fair and humane. We firmly reject the proposals so far submitted by Congressman Luis Gutierrez which include punitive aspects against our immigrant families. We see these very same aspects reflected in the racist law just signed in Arizona  which immigrant rights organizations around the nation are rejecting today.
We ask all interested parties to contribute resources and / or join our civil resistance . Call  1.773. 988-1408
Letter to Editor
Statement from Omar N. Lopez, United  Front for Immigrant                                                                                                               Rights
