[URPE] Sunday, October 28 12:30 PM: The Politics of Immigration: Questions and Answers; Oakland, CA

[Robin Chang]

The Politics of Immigration: Questions and Answers with David Wilson
Special Public Dialogue Session with Reception

Sunday, October 28 12:30 PM
The Institute for the Critical Study of Society
www.tifcss.org 510-595-7417
6501 Telegraph Avenue, cross street Alcatraz, Oakland, CA

In the spring of 2006, a tidal wave of resistance was triggered by HR4437,
a bill conceived and designed to punish unauthorized immigrants. Millions of
immigrants, students and supporters staged walkouts, slowdowns, and
demonstrations, while untold others observed a national consumer
boycott to demonstrate their solidarity.

This unprecedented show of force, and the ensuing anti-immigration
backlash--in the form of punitive raids, detentions, threats and
promises of tougher legislation--pushed the topic of immigration to
the front and center of U.S. politics.

Polls show the public increasingly divided, with the debate framed as
a choice between "deport them all" and "give everyone amnesty." But
dialogue is possible as we dig deeper. Why are people leaving their
homes? Why are they coming here? What is the impact of our current
enforcement policies? What kinds of alternatives exist?

As part of a series of public dialogue sessions being held across the
nation, David Wilson, co-author (with Jane Guskin) of The Politics of
Immigration, will facilitate a public discussion to analyze the issues
around immigrants and immigration: to look at the facts and myths
around immigration, the arguments in favor of a rational policy, how
to connect this information to people's own experiences, and how to
help them respond more effectively to the misconceptions and mischief
being spread by politicians, pundits and the media.

David L. Wilson is a co-editor, with Jane Guskin, of Weekly News Update
on the Americas; he has contributed articles on Latin American issues
to Monthly Review, Extra!, and New York's El Diario-La Prensa. He and Guskin
coauthored  The Politics of Immigration
http://thepoliticsofimmigration.org, released in July by Monthly
Review Press; it is now in a second printing.
The authors were  recently interviewed on KPFA's Against the Grain.
www.againstthegrain.org

"The book is a great reality check, a good teaching tool, and a
powerful weapon against racism." -David Bacon

"This book gives powerful meaning to the slogan 'No Human Being is
Illegal'.  I hope it will be widely read"-Howard Zinn