Mpls City Council Meeting and Press Conference

The MN Immigrant Rights Action Coalition and the May 1st Coalition are planning the 4th Annual March for Immigrant Rights on May 1st, 2009. We have solicited permits for a march down Lake St. and a rally on Nicollett Ave, and they have both been denied.

Just as we did two years ago, we are asking the Minneapolis City Council to pass a resolution to support our march on Lake St. PLEASE CALL today to let your city council member, they mayor and the chief of police that we have right to march for immigrant rights on International Workers Day.

PLEASE ATTEND the City Council Meeting this Friday (TOMORROW) at 9:30 am at City Hall room 317, 350 S 5th St in Downtown Minneapolis, and join us for a PRESS CONFERENCE in front of City Hall at 10:30 am after the meeting. The press release is below.

Contacts:    Brian Payne, 612-859-5750, brianpayneyvp@gmail.com
                   Erika Zurawski, 612-702-4169, erika.zurawski@gmail.com


MAY 1st IMMIGRANTS’ RIGHTS MARCH AND RALLY PERMITS DENIED
Organizers Speaking with Mayor and City Council for Support

What:           Press Conference

Who:            Organized by MIRAc and The May 1st Coalition

Where:         City Hall, 350 South 5th St., Minneapolis

When:           Friday, April 14, 2009, 10:30am.

Community members have requested permits for a march and rally for immigrants’ rights on May 1st, 2009.  The permit requests include a march starting at 4:00pm at Lake and 13th and a rally from 5:30-8:00pm at Nicollet and 29th.  Despite the fact that organizers have gotten permits for marches and rallies the past three years in similar areas and at similar times, this year police have denied both permits.

Two years ago Minneapolis City Council passed a resolution supporting the May 1st march, encouraging Minneapolis police and the Mayor to approve permits.  Organizers are going to the Minneapolis City Council meeting on Friday at 9:30am to request that the City Council to pass a similar resolution.  Organizers are also contacting the Mayor to ask for his support to get permits in order to allow for first amendment rights to freedom of speech and to ensure the safety of marchers.

Brian Payne of the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Coalition (MIRAc) says, “This is a clear violation of our First Amendment rights to freedom of speech.  We appreciate the Minneapolis City Council’s support in the past to guarantee the right of the community to express our political views publicly, and look forward to their continued support.  We sincerely hope that the Mayor will do so as well.”