AN OPEN LETTER TO BARACK OBAMA: REPEAL THE MODERN-DAY SLAVE LAW

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 04/29/2009 - 00:34

Dear President Obama: 

As you begin to take on the issue of immigration reform, we call on you to provide the leadership necessary to repeal the modern-day slave law that has devastated the lives of so many working people in this country: the Employer Sanctions Provisions. We write on behalf of communities of citizen and immigrant workers who are organizing to improve our conditions. We have seen how even before the economic crisis came to a head, because of Employer Sanctions, conditions for working people in the U.S. had grown worse than ever.
 
Employer Sanctions was part of a law passed under the Reagan Administration during the immigration reform in 1986. This law is a sanction on employers in name only. In reality, "Employer Sanctions" criminalizes immigrants by creating an underclass of labor with no rights or protections under the law. Ever since the first chattel slave laws in this country were abolished, there have been new laws that have adjusted to current economic conditions in order to reinstitute slavery in new forms.(1) As we see today, it doesn't take physical chains to enslave workers. Like the slave laws before, under Employer Sanctions undocumented workers are stripped of the freedom to sell their own labor.
 
The result of this modern slave law is deteriorating conditions for everyone. Because of this law, the underground economy is expanding, dividing native-born, documented and undocumented workers. It has created cutthroat competition and keeps workers from organizing together, causing all workers' wages to plummet and making life unbearably hard. Good jobs have become bad jobs, and unionizing is undermined time and time again because documented workers are forced to compete with an underclass of labor that has no rights. Not only workers, but even law-abiding businesses can no longer survive.

Some are proposing stronger Employer Sanctions Provisions, claiming that this slave law is a good law just enforced badly. They advocate for stronger, harsher punishments for employers. But we have seen that stronger enforcement will only push the underclass further underground, not eliminate it. It will push conditions down further and faster, making it impossible for workers to survive--creating increased mass unemployment, while forcing others to be completely overworked. This law should not be amended, it should be abolished.
 
All undocumented workers should be provided with a means to adjust their immigration status, but not at the expense of criminalizing others who come afterward. The proposed legalization and guestworker programs will open a path for some undocumented to get papers. However, these measures are like paroling a few pardoned criminals out of jail while incarcerating thousands more. This will create another layer of slave labor. It will only further the effects of employer sanctions, expanding the underclass and continuing the deterioration of conditions for all workers.
 
You have announced that in May you will begin discussing immigration reform proposals. We are calling on you, as the Chief of State to this nation, to:
 
1. Repeal Employer Sanctions Provisions
2. Legislate Equal Rights for All Workers
3. Create an on-going mechanism for undocumented workers to adjust their status.
 
Repealing employer sanctions will be a bold step towards justice and send a strong message that our country is finally ready to eliminate slavery once and for all. This will pave the way for workers to come together, native-born and immigrant, to organize for a better life for us all.

Signed:
Break The Chains Alliance
and endorsing organizations
Chinese Staff & Workers' Association - New York, NY
National Mobilization Against SweatShops - New York, NY
Border Workers Association - El Paso, TX
Chicago Workers' Collaborative - Chicago, IL
Somali Justice Advocacy Center - Minneapolis, MN
Border Agricultural Workers Project - El Paso, TX
Tonatierra Community Development Organization - Phoenix, AZ
 
(1.) Examples of this include the Northern "free states" before the Civil War where slaves from the South fled to escape slavery, but needed a document declaring they were freed slaves in order to work; the Jim Crow laws; the Chinese Exclusion Act; the Bracero Program.

Contact the Break the Chains Alliance at

info@breakthechainsnow.org

Comments

peace and prosperity

Submitted by agha dilbar gardezi (not verified) on Mon, 10/26/2009 - 05:45.
Subject: Peace and Prosperity
Dear President Barrack Obama
the Great Leader of the World
I Agha Dilbar have sent Mr. President 100 registered research Letters (1000 new ideas to develop America and to Change the World for Peace and Prosperity) through Embassy of USA Islamabad till today and also direct sent these registered Letters to Whitehouse Washington DC 20500.These letters have been written on the guidelines of CHANGE WE NEED. And these letters are about the Common Men Problems of respected American Peoples and their Solutions. To end, Economic Recession, Unemployment and to Finish War, all round the World for Peace and Prosperity. In these letters I have sent one thousand new scientific Planning /Suggestions, about every walk of life for Peace through Friendship Progress and Prosperity all over the World.
Dear Barrack Obama, the Great Leader of the World, my Friend, my Brother, Provide an opportunity to Agha Dilbar to pay an Official Visit to America, that we two brothers can sit together and by halting this horrible war(In this war 1-million peoples have died from 9/11 till today, if this war continues, it will become the 111- World War.200-Million people would die, if 111-World War is triggered) can take out 6.5 billion people of the World from abyss of destruction and then put them on the road to Progress and Prosperity.
Dear President Barrack Obama considers, from 9/11 till today, America has conducted many war operations in connection with War on Terror, resulting the circle of war has spread hundred times. Millions innocent persons have died. Many More have been rendered homeless. One Lak (10000) war affected youth joined the army of Al-Qaida and Talban by the help of anti American countries have begun gorilla war in a horrible manner. It is the result of wrong war strategy. I Agha Dilbar desire to solve all above mentioned problems in a meeting with President Barrack Obama by adopting new revolutionary planning by bringing an end to present gorilla war in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the result the World can enter in a peaceful, advanced and progressive world, May it be so.
I Agha Dilbar have a new War Strategy to achieve success through Table Talk between Talban, Pakistan and American Govts. 90% of Talban that are fighting against Pak Army belong from Swat and Tribal Areas of NWFP. I can provide America all realistic facts in such manner that their implementation could convert these Talban into Patriotic Citizens of Pakistan. In this War Strategy Pakistan Gov will never send his Heavy Artillery, Tanks, Cannons and Air craft in war. In this way 5-million persons will never Displaced. In the end Talban by their will handover, their Weapons to Pakistan Gov, they will come to Table Talk and Suicide Bombing will come to an end in Pakistan. Through this War Strategy Pakistani and American Govts can save expenses on war. Through this planning American and Pakistani Govts can utilize their saving on war budgets for development of Schools, Hospitals, Colonies, Markets, Roads, Bridges, Dams, Canals and Industries of Swat and Tribal Areas of NWFP that are war affected. On account of present war strategy, Billion Dollars are being wasted yearly.
This war can cause Fall of America instead of continuation of war; my best suggestion for America must keep his Supper Power on the World and should conquer the World instead of war, but by his No-1 scientific technology spending on agriculture, trade, education, scientific development and tourism, all round the World. Making an end to Economic Crisis in America.
A new Global Package is being offered for your kind honor. America will have to make complete and final announcement that in future all Multinational American Companies to get free land on 20-years lease and will set up under the BOOT agreement (in undeveloped and poor countries) factories, mills five star hotels, schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, air companies, shipping companies, latest railway, bus transport and steel mills. All these companies will be bound to handover without any cost to under developed and poor countries well as their machinery and transport after 20-yaars. A new suggestion in connection with Global Peace is offered that in return of export American Agriculture and Industrial Products, will give his 50% prophet to the exporting countries and utilize as Aid on the development of agriculture, industry, trade, education and tourism. This suggestion, making an end to American Economic Crisis and get full support to enhance his Foreign Public Relation
. May it be so?
To make successful American Foreign Policy on Global Level the following planning is put before:
a) America will have to provide free scholar ships at least to ten top master students (in each country) of medical and science in underdeveloped and poor countries of the world
b) Highly educated and well trained one hundred cultural groups (each group contains 100 persons) will have to arrange one hundred cultural shows for three months in big cities of underdeveloped and poor countries.
c) America will have to arrange exhibitions through his Embassies for his latest products, in the underdeveloped and poor countries .All these mentioned above industrial exhibitions will be arranged continuously for two months. In the above mentioned exhibitions present products will be sold except export order booking. In mentioned above exhibitions, American Cultural Programs will have to arrange and American Traditional Dishes will be kept for sale. In these exhibitions American Tourism Stalls will also be set of.

Following rules and regulations will be undertaken for the progress and prosperity of American students.
a) Among metric, fsc, bsc, (engineering).mbbs, llb, ca and diploma holders in all institutions, all those receiving degrees at the state level, ten each from girls and boys by cash prizes will be announced on behalf of the gov during invitation on lunch.
b) For above mentioned top ten intelligent students boys and girls each, tours for different historical and healthy sites will be arranged free of cast.
c) Talent schools of international level will be set up over the country at the district level, in which students of extra-ordinary sports talent taught from class one to fsc level.
d) American states gov will announce free transport, free lunch during education to all school, college and university students.
Minimize the aforesaid differences, which I will deliver to president
the increasing distress and hatred between the Muslim world and America is the major cause of week relationship on public and government level. As a sincere friend I have practical suggestions to Barack Obama in my official visit to America.
I request the government of America to allow me to describe (first of all my briefing with president’s advisors). My one thousand plans & ideas for changing the world before one to one meeting with the president Barac obama.thanks
I Agha Dilbar have sent Ten Million research Peace Letters to International Community from 9/11 incident till today. This letter is my Great Peace Mission plan which is continued. Present Global Economic Crisis is the result of War on Terror. This Crisis if further accelerates could initiate a 111-World War. Please hear my Voice of Truth; I can save the World, for my Great Peace Mission, with the help of President Barrack Obama, Peace and Prosperity.
The Government of America will announce to provide free home facility to employees after 20 year of service as per following rules and regulations.
 
1. For providing free home facility to their employees after retirement the government will deduct 2 ½% amounts for their monthly salaries. 
2. The government of America will deduct 2 ½% amounts of salaries to the employee and will deposit the same in government treasury which shall be paid to the housing company on monthly basis. 
3. The housing company shall provide beautiful home to the government or non government employee after 20 year of service. 
4. The people not acquiring home after 20 year of service shall be paid in whole by deducted total amount from their salaries during their employment
 
Mr. Barack Obama you are not only the Leader of America, you are Great Leader of the World. In this connection I am waiting for your Email response, dated 2.10.2009.
Please Confirm.
Thank you, God blesses you and God bless America.
Agha Dilbar (founder)
International Revolution Movement
64-neelum block ait Lahore (Pakistan)
Phone:   0092427830084,0092427830084
Cell 03224628349
Email aghadilbar4@gmail.com

This Open Letter has been sent One Lak (100000) to International Community for the welfare of Humanity till today. I Agha Dilbar authorize Newspapers, Magazines, Internet, to Publish and Radio, T.V. Channels to broadcast this letter all round the World