Farm workers fast for AgJobs bill

 being blocked by President Bush
 
    Dozens of farm workers and supporters will begin a 5-day fast rotating through five Salinas Vally cities in support of the AgJobs bill allowing undocumented field laborers to earn permanent legal status.  A dozen fasters will be on site throughout the day.  Every evening at 7 p.m. more than 100 fasters and supporters will gather for a candlelight vigil.
  
    The bipartisan federal AgJobs bill now before the U.S. Senate–S. 1645 and H.R. 3142, by U.S. Sens. Larry E. Craig (R-Idaho) and Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), and U.S. Reps. Chris Cannon (R-Utah) and Howard Berman (D-Calif.)–would allow undocumented farm workers to earn the legal right to permanently stay in this country by continuing to work in agriculture. Also strongly backed by the agricultural industry, AgJobs has the support of 63 co-sponsors in the Senate, including 26 Republicans.  A Senate floor vote on the measure has been blocked in the past by President Bush.  The Senate is now currently in session and this week farm workers will be joined by activists in more than 70 cities throughout the country who are pressing for immigration reform before the November election.
 
    AgJobs has been endorsed by more than 400 hundred organizations representing a broad cross-section of employer associations, religious organizations, immigrant advocates, civil rights groups and unions from across the nation. The editorial boards of the Wall St. Journal, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee, Salinas Californian, La Opinion, Miami Herald, New York Times and other newspapers around the U.S. have editorialized for the measure.
 

Day/date                     Location

Mon., Sept. 20             Greenfield: UFW office, 239 El Camino Real 
                                    7 p.m. candlelight vigil; faster’s on site from 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
                                    Local contact person: Jose Corona: 831-212-7162
 
Tues., Sept. 21            Soledad: Our Lady of Solitude/Nuestra Señora de Soledad, 235 Main St.
                                    7 p.m. candlelight vigil; faster’s on site from 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
                                    Local contact person: Belin Macias: 831-750-4007
 
Wed., Sept. 22             Gonzalez:  Central Park 207 Fifth Street (cross St.: Center)
                                     7 p.m. candlelight vigil; faster’s on site from 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
                                     Local contact person: Jose Corona: 831-212-7162
 
Thurs., Sept. 23           Salinas: Courthouse, 240 Church Street
                                    7 p.m. candlelight vigil; faster’s on site from 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
                                    Local contact person: Antonio Lopez: 831-970-1735
 
Fri., Sept. 24                Watsonville: La Plazita, 358 Main St.
                                    7 p.m. candlelight vigil; faster’s on site from 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
                                    Local contact person: Martin Lobato: 831-750-4014
 

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