With Your Help, We Won:
✸ VICTORY! Marching for immigrant rights ✸
Credit: Kristi Petrillo
Asian Americans United, Earth Quaker Action Team, Juntos, New Sanctuary Movement, and POWER
When President Trump announced his travel ban against immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries in January, our community responded boldly. Several Bread & Roses grantees (listed above) were at the forefront of these efforts. Marches outside Philadelphia International Airport on Jan. 29 and 30 drew thousands of people. The executive order was revoked and redrafted by early March.
✸ VICTORY! Addressing racial bias in law enforcement ✸
Reconstruction Inc., Youth Art & Self-empowerment Project, Asian Americans United, Juntos, and New Sanctuary Movement
The world is waking up to the ways that people of color are routinely victimized by law enforcement and the criminal justice system. This year, a number of Bread & Roses grantees (listed above) helped create the People’s District Attorney Platform. In our city that arrests twice as many people on average than other big cities, the district attorney has massive power over who is protected and who is prosecuted. The coalition urged candidates for district attorney to adopt the platform, which includes ending targeting of Black and Brown communities, committing to resentencing young people facing life without parole, and increasing transparency and accountability.
✸ VICTORY! Demanding affordable housing ✸
Philadelphia Coalition for Affordable Communities
The cost of living in our city is on the rise, pushing many people out or forcing them into homelessness. With a grant from Bread & Roses, the Philadelphia Coalition for Affordable Communities is fighting back. This year, they succeeded in convincing the Philadelphia Land Bank to double the number of properties allocated to affordable housing in their 2017 strategic plan.
✸ VICTORY! Organizing around ICE raids ✸
Credit: Harvey Finkle
New Sanctuary Movement
New Sanctuary Movement (NSM) used a grant provided by Bread & Roses to host several trainings across Philadelphia for Sanctuary in the Streets. This new program is helping our community respond rapidly to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. NSM held its first action in February, when a person was detained by ICE agents. More than 60 people convened to hold a prayer vigil outside the Philadelphia ICE office. New Sanctuary Movement’s continued presence is shining a spotlight on the draconian immigration policies of the current administration.
✸ VICTORY! Building youth leadership for girls ✸
Girls Justice League
With a grant from Bread & Roses, dozens of girls came together at the Girls Justice League’s second annual Turning Points Conference in February. Led by girls from 8th to 12th grade, the conference featured discussions on education policy, reproductive rights, the school-to-prison pipeline, and other critical issues. This summer, Girls Justice League welcomed its first executive director and hosted 16 summer justice fellows for an eight-day series of workshops, activities, and direct actions.