The We Reject Racism/Rechazamos El Racismo campaign by No More Deaths and Tierra Y Libertad Organization was launched in May 2010. Through the campaign, participants are building a network of people committed to anti-racism, resisting anti-immigrant practices like SB1070, and aiding our friends, neighbors, and each other in this time of many personal and political struggles.
Who we are
The We Reject Racism campaign began as a strategic collaboration between Tierra Y Libertad Organization (TYLO), a barrio-based group on the Southside of Tucson that promotes community self determination and works collectively for the respect of land, people, and culture, and No More Deaths (NMD) a predominately Anglo organization that has worked in Northern Sonora and Southern Arizona with migrants who have recently been repatriated or are currently in the process of crossing. The groups came together through long-time friendships between core members and a shared desire to broaden the reach of each group through their different economically and culturally defined bases.
Why this approach
The goals of the We Reject Racism campaign are to open up the bounds of the immigration debate and produce avenues for undermining and mitigating the policies and practices which seek to two produce two different communities and classes of belonging. This campaign began largely as a reaction to HB2008, SB1070 and HB2281; however, participants remain committed to transformative organizing work and continue to adjust the campaign to support both current and potential efforts toward that end. As such, we are currently re-envisioning our work to respond to the new demands and opportunities present for our community. We will continue to update this page (and our facebook page) with current projects. You can read more (below) about the work in which we engaged for our first year.
In 2011 the campaign continues much of the work developed in response to SB1070 and has been focused on internal capacity building and re-structuring to revitalize our resistance. We find ourselves geared up for new (but related) struggles in which we will be fostering community forums to maintain discourse about the growing assault on communities and family, establishing solidarity networks to be mobilized in support of individuals experiencing injustice from this assault--injustices ranging from deportation to exploitative employers.
Here's how you can get involved:
Send an email to
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Coming Together: An Innovative Response to SB1070 in the summer of 2010
The campaign’s practices focused primarily on three different themes: visual resistance – marking the anti-racist city; normalizing non-compliance with racist policies; and mitigating the impacts of such policies in the form of “protection networks.” Marking the anti-racist city took the form of coordinated house-by-house and business-by-business canvassing that TYLO, NMD, and other neighborhood-based organizations took part in. Through one-on-one conversations with residents and shopkeepers, the campaign distributed yard signs that displayed visible opposition to anti-immigrant laws, and worked with these same contacts to elicit pledges of noncompliance to SB1070. Campaign participants also engaged each household to consider being part of a neighborhood protection network—intended to both broaden concern about the law to non-targeted individuals as well as mitigate impacts for those directly targeted.
One of the primary goals of the We Reject Racism campaign was to attempt to open up the bounds of the debate surrounding SB1070. In doing so, the campaign sought to move away from typical immigrant rights argument of one where “good immigrants” should gain a pathway to legalization to one that is explicitly anti-racist. This is reflected in the name of the campaign itself—focusing on a structure of racism rather than framing opposition in terms of citizenship or SB1070 exclusively. Since many of the practices mandated in SB1070 had long been in operation in Tucson, we believed it was necessary to move beyond response simply to the bill or to attacks on immigration and instead to build an active, anti-racist community.
What were the tactics and how did they work?
Visible Resistance: The visible resistance tactic supported the achievement of two related goals: First we opened up a space for presenting a different perspective on SB1070, one that challenges the popular narrative that the majority of Arizonans support the law. Second, we were able to demonstrate to some families that instead of “auto-deporting” they should stay and help to fight this legislation, and in doing so they would not be alone. (Photos of signs in businesses with workers)
Normalizing Noncompliance: Through door-to-door outreach, we were able to educate our neighbors of the myriad ways they could resist the law. We also developed a network of supporters for directly targeted peoples; encouraged and facilitated local businesses to voice their contention with the law; and demonstrated to community members that they were not alone in their concerns and anxieties (a response heard regularly during door-to-door canvassing). Click here for a list of businesses who signed on to noncompliance with SB1070.
Protection Networks: This is by far the most evolved and on-going aspect of the campaign. The protection networks take three different forms:
- Family Stabilization Plans
- Legal Fights & Stop Deportation Campaigns
- Support Networks & Red Fronteriza
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Read more... [Previous Work]
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We Reject Racism Internship |
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The We Reject Racism Working Group seeks 2 interns for the summer season. Interns will be responsible for researching pathways for members of We Reject Racism to become court-appointed representatives for plaintiffs in immigration proceedings. This will involve researching the certification process for both the organization and individuals, reaching out to organizations that already hold this status, teaching members of the working group about the certification process, and helping us begin the actual process. Interns may also be asked to help with logistical and organizational tasks related to our stop deportation and community protection campaigns. Applicants should have experience and interest in law (especially immigration law), community organizing, or teaching, and should be comfortable and capable working on projects without close supervision. This would be a great opportunity for students considering law school.
This internship is unpaid. Housing is not provided, but we can help you find a place to rent if you are relocating for this internship. Applicants ideally will be able to start in June and work until September.
To apply please send a short essay to
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explaining your interest in the position and what experiences have prepared you to take on this sort of work. Please also send contact information for 2 references. Optional question: If you were a muppet which muppet would you be and why? |
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