The following is an open call for action from the Solidarity City Network. MMP supports this initiative and we will be visiting our respective councillors. We hope you will too. Pass this on to fellow Torontonians!
An Open Letter from the Solidarity City Network
Lets make Toronto safer for undocumented people
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Dear fellow Torontonian!
In just two weeks, you could help make history. If you act now, Toronto could become the first city in Canada that publicly opens up all its services for immigrants without papers. All you have to do is contact your local councillor.
Last week, the Community Development and Recreation Committee of Toronto City Hall heard from the Solidarity City Network and passed Motion 18.5. This motion will commit Toronto providing city services to undocumented people. Not only that, it will commit City council to advocate on behalf of undocumented Torontonians at the provincial and federal level. (read it here).
The motion now goes to Toronto City Hall on February 20th, 2013. This is where you come in. You can make Toronto keep its promise. You can visit, call, or even write to your local city councillor, and insist that they vote for this motion on February 20th.
Everything you need to know about contacting your councillors is right here. Sign up!
But we need you to do a little more. After you’ve contacted your Councillor, we need you to show up at City Hall on February 20th, with your kids, your friends, and everyone you can bring along. Together, we can join the wave of sanctuary cities emerging across the United States and Europe.
To make sure you hear details of February 20th, sign up here.
In 2006, Toronto City Hall promised to make city services available to the over 200,000 undocumented immigrants that live here. Yet for Maria who was not allowed into three shelters, Danielle who was randomly stopped by Toronto police and handed over to immigration enforcement and Andrea who couldn’t get her children in to any Toronto schools for two years – these promises never came true. Our actions over the next two week can change that.
We are all counting on you.
Hussan, Karin, Anna, Nav
from the Solidarity City Network
The Solidarity City Network (Facebook link) comprises of Health for All, Immigration Legal Committee of Toronto, Justice for Migrant Workers, Law Union of Ontario, No One Is Illegal – Toronto, Parkdale Community Legal Services, Roma Community Centre, Social Planning Toronto, South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario, South Asian Women’s Rights Organization, Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office and Workers Action Centre. To join the network, or to support our Access Without Fear campaign or to add your organizational support behind the CDRC recommendations, please write to solidaritycitytoronto at gmail dot com.