Parents seeking asylum in the US and separated from their children by immigration authorities will launch a national education and defense campaign in partnership with a broad front of national and local organizations convening in Fresno.

The Fresno event is the kickoff event of a nationwide civic mobilization called “Town Hall Summer” that will convene a series of events in California, Arizona, Texas, and Florida to defend basic human rights, the health of our planet, healthcare as a human right and the vitality of our democracy.

Town Hall Summer is sponsored by Global Exchange, the San Francisco based human rights organization. It has the active support of dozens of national and local organizations including: 350.org, Alianza Américas, Drug Policy Alliance, California Nurses Association/  National Nurses United, California Trade Justice Coalition, Democracy Initiative, Law Enforcement Acion Partnership, Mi Familia Vota, Californians for Justice, ACLU of Northern CA, Planned Parenthood of Mar Monte, Youth Leadership Institute, SustainUS, ACT for Women and Children, CHIRLA (Fresno), Centro La Familia, Californians for Pesticide Reform, Fresno Center for Non-Violence and many more.

The Town hall will include entertainment, skills workshops, voter registration, and presentations by the representatives of national organizations and local their local partners. Some national organizations are sending speakers including:

  • Neil Franklin, Law Enforcement Action Partnership
  • Cristina García, Alianza Americas
  • Amy Arlund, California Nurses Association/ National Nurses United
  • Tianna,  SustainUS and Powershift Network
  • Will Witschko, California Trade Justice Coalition
  • Armando Gudino, Drug Policy Alliance

When and Where:

July 21st, from 11:00 AM to 3:00PM , at the Mosqueda Community Center, located at 4670 E Butler Ave, Fresno, CA 93702.

Why:

This will be the first of a series of events that Global Exchange and its partners will be organizing throughout the US, including Arizona, California, Texas and Florida in the lead up to the election and beyond.

According to Marco Castillo, Town Hall Summer’s lead organizer,  “We have had enough of our federal government pushing policies that result in the violence of family separation and mass incarceration; Policies that lead to irreversible environmental destruction, criminalization of minorities, disregard for public health and healthcare as a right and the loss of labor rights. We need massive mobilization and unprecedented civic participation to change course.” 

We are starting this campaign in Fresno to give voice to people –like parents whose children have been snatched away by U.S. government agencies.  

Please join us in standing up for ourselves — and each other.

Please visit twww.townhallsummer.org for details on upcoming events and actions.

More information: contact Marco Castillo at 646.826.9834 or marco@globalexchange.org