Author: mopress

The United Farm Workers and the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation are proud to support the grassroots efforts of the “Cesar E. Chavez National Holiday Coalition”. Go to petition page at:

http://www.ufwaction.org/campaign/chavezholiday/ UFW Founder Cesar E. Chavez, stood as one of the heroic figures of the 20th century who inspired millions in our nation into action for economic and social justice, civil rights and political empowerment. He led the historic non-violent movement for farm workers’ rights and was dedicated to building a movement of poor working people that extended beyond the fields and into cities and towns across the nation.

The legacy of Cesar E. Chavez, like the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., serves to educate, inspire, and empower people from all walks of life. Cesar Chavez is a role model for all Americans and the generations to come.

Ask Congress to designate March 31 as Cesar E. Chavez Day to ensure Chavez’ legacy is recognized and celebrated throughout our nation with a federal paid holiday and a day of service and learning in our public schools.

MALDEF FILES SEGREGATION SUIT ON BEHALF OF LATINO CHILDREN

Lawsuit alleges ESL used as a proxy to discriminate against minority students in Dallas public school

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – Today, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), the nation’s leading Latino legal organization, filed suit in federal district court against the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) and the principal of Preston Hollow Elementary School alleging civil rights violations by segregating and discriminating against
Latino schoolchildren.
The Latino parents represented by MALDEF, Organizacion para el Futuro de los Estudiantes
(OFE), allege that Preston Hollow illegally uses its English as a Second Language program to
segregate Latino and minority students from Anglo students, irrespective of their language
abilities. The documents in the case show that Latino students who are proficient in English are,
nonetheless, channeled into classes masked as “English as a Second Language.” Preston Hollow
organizes its general education classes and even combines some grades to ensure that Anglo
students, who comprise just 18 percent of the school, sit in majority white classrooms.

“Fifty years after Brown v. the Board of Education, it is a shame that segregation continues to plague our schools,” said David Hinojosa, MALDEF staff attorney and lead counsel in the case.

“Using ESL as a proxy to segregate schoolchildren can not be tolerated. This lawsuit is intended to send a message that there is no justification for any school to treat Latino students any differently than white students,” Hinojosa added.

Ms. Lucresia Mayorga Santamaria, lead plaintiff and mother of three children attending Preston
Hollow, stated “The school attempted to omit Latino children from the school brochure because
they did not want the surrounding neighborhood to get the wrong impression. Well, I hope they
all get this impression: we will not stand by any longer because our children deserve the same
opportunities as all other children of Preston Hollow.”

Calling on the leadership of Dallas ISD to now answer Latino parents’ calls for justice, Mr.
Hinojosa added, “We condemn efforts such as these to keep white students together for the sake
of deterring white flight. We call on the superintendent and the Dallas Board to swiftly end the
segregation at Preston Hollow.”

Founded in 1968, MALDEF, the nation’s premier Latino civil rights organization, promotes and protects the rights of Latinos through advocacy, litigation, community education and outreach, leadership development, and higher education scholarships.

Press Release Received via email April 18, 2006

The Center for Public Policy Priorities has posted a resource page for activists who want to help document the failures of public benefits enrollments resulting from privatization. Here’s the skinny:

INFORMATION YOU SHOULD INCLUDE IN YOUR REPORT

√ Date that you are reporting the problem/complaint
√ Name of person or agency/CBO sending the report

√ If agency/CBO, include information about client (if client gives permission to share)

√ Benefits sought by client (if general system or customer service problem, please say so) √ Description of the problem/complaint (be as specific as possible, i.e., client submitted required renewal information on time, but contractor has no record of it)

√ Impact on client or your agency (i.e., client couldn’t fill prescription for child; had to go to food pantry for food, etc.)

√ Date(s) that problem occurred

√ Where did the problem occur? (e.g., local office, 211, call center, Internet – be very specific)

√ Any response from state or its contractor: List name(s) of any person(s) you spoke to and the dates you spoke to them

√ Did client file an appeal? (If so, give date of appeal)

√ Was the problem resolved? If so, how and when?

“For more than twenty years, the Center for Public Policy Priorities (CPPP) has been a nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization committed to improving public policies and private practices to better the economic and social conditions of low- and moderate-income Texans.

“The center pursues this mission through independent research, policy analysis and development, public education, advocacy, and technical assistance.”

Dear Friends:

I have just returned from a trip to Springfield, Missouri, where I visited with Ramsey. He is continuing to regain his strength, and has begun
recalling eleven years of pain and suffering in Leavenworth, due to a lack of medical attention.

Enclosed is a letter recently sent to the warden at the United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners. Know that a report from Dr. Pete Garcia was attached to the letter.

****************************************

April 7, 2006

Mr. Robert McFadden, Warden
United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners
1900 West Sunshine
Springfield, MO 65807

Re: Ramiro R. Muniz #40288-115

Dear Mr. McFadden:

I write this letter on behalf of my husband and myself, and our families. As you are aware, my husband, Ramiro R. Muniz, was recently sent to the United
States Medical Center in Springfield, Missouri as a result of a serious life threatening illness. Prior to his transfer to Springfield, he was at the United States
Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas, a maximum-security prison.

Enclosed is a letter and medical report written in 1995 by Dr. Pete Garcia, Orthopedic Surgeon in Corpus Christi, Texas. This report was sent to the Warden
at the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth to describe my husband’s poor health. Mr. Muniz suffers from a herniated disc and knee injuries. Dr. Garcia
indicated that he was in need of surgery to avoid the pain from this condition. Although the letter and report were sent in 1995, records will show that Mr. Muniz was denied medical treatment for those injuries. He went through great pain and suffering
for eleven years.

While at the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth in 1996, Mr. Muniz suffered a serious fall and hurt his hip. The pain endured was excruciating, and in his
injured condition he had to walk in the snow to make an appointment with medical staff and again to receive a medical examination. Leavenworth records
will reflect that Mr. Muniz was never sent to the U.S. Medical Center in Springfield, Missouri.
Instead, he was given aspirin and Motrin. He endured great pain and suffering for a serious hip injury, and now requires a cane for walking.

Today Mr. Muniz is housed in the United States Medical Center in Springfield, Missouri as a result of complications from a life threatening surgery
performed in August of 2005. While at Springfield he has begun recalling the trauma experienced from being denied medical treatment at Leavenworth for extremely painful injuries.

I am trying to understand why my husband had to endure great suffering for eleven years. He suffers from a herniated disc, injured knees, a
deteriorated hip, and he is 63 years old. He went through great pain and suffering even though
records will show that he is a peaceful man. He had no incident reports throughout the eleven years that he was at Leavenworth.

We are aware that my husband’s hip has deteriorated and requires replacement if he is to walk without the assistance of a cane. We ask that you allow him
time before undergoing hip replacement surgery. This time will allow him to recuperate from the mental
and emotional trauma experienced through the recent life threatening surgery, and help him gain strength that he has lost from being on a liquid diet for over six
months.

Perhaps surgery for his knees can precede his hip surgery. If this is possible, then please consider this option. Understand that hip surgery is not being
avoided. We merely ask for time in which to recuperate from the trauma of his last surgery.

Many congressmen support our efforts to seek humanitarian support for a man who has suffered greatly, in spite of the fact that he has been a model
prisoner for the past eleven years. The staff at Leavenworth was well aware of his good conduct, yet
did nothing to help him lower his security level.

My husband is in no condition to be placed in a penitentiary. This move would pose a threat to his life considering his poor health, which has worsened
from being denied medical treatment. If Mr. Muniz does not receive assistance from the Bureau of Prisons, we want to know why. Our families, friends, congressmen and supporters await your response.

Thank you for any assistance that you can provide.

Sincerely,

Irma Muniz

cc:

Mr. Michael K. Nalley, Regional Director
North Central Region Bureau of Prisons
Gateway Complex Tower II, 8th Floor
4th and State Street
Kansas City, KS 66101-2492
913-621-3939
Fax: 913-551-1130

Mr. Michael Junk, Designator
North Central Region Bureau of Prisons
Gateway Complex Tower II, 8th Floor
4th and State Street
Kansas City, KS 66101-2492
913-621-3939

The Honorable John Cornyn
United States Senator
517 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-2934

The Honorable Ken Salazar
United States Senator
2300 15th Street Suite 450
Denver, CO 80202
202-224-5852

The Honorable Solomon P. Ortiz
United States Congressman
3649 Leopard Street
Corpus Christi, TX 78408
361-883-5868

The Honorable Ruben Hinojosa
United States Congressman
107 South St. Mary’s Street
Beeville, TX 78102
361-358-8400

The Honorable Henry Cuellar
United States Congressman
1149 E. Commerce
San Antonio, TX 78205
210-271-2851

The Honorable Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa
Texas State Senator
2821 SPID Suite 291
Corpus Christi, TX 78415
361-225-1200

The Honorable Lloyd Doggett
United States Congressman
300 East 8th St., #763
Federal Building
Austin, TX 78701
512-916-5921

Ms. Michelle M. Law
Attorney at Law
Springfield, MO

Mr. Orlando Narvaez
Attorney at Law
Corpus Christi, TX

Mr. Dan Alfaro
Attorney at Law
Corpus Christi, TX

Mr. Albert Huerta
Attorney at Law
Corpus Christi, TX

Mr. Dick DeGuerin
Attorney at Law
Houston, TX

Mr. Joe Ortiz
National Civil Rights Director
American GI Forum
Corpus Christi, TX

Mr. Manuel Gonzalez
Civil Rights Chairman
League of United Latin American Citizens
Corpus Christi, TX

Mr. Nelson Linder
NAACP
Austin, TX

Ms. Ruth Epstein
American Civil Liberties Union
Austin, TX
Please visit freeramsey.com for background information on the incarceration of Ramsey Muniz.