Flagstaff, Arizona

Flagstaff, AZ

We arrived in Flagstaff, Arizona with the intention to meet with Luis Fernandez, professor of Criminology at Northern Arizona University, and to find out what’s happening around immigrant rights in Flagstaff.

Upon our arrival we took some time to hear from Luis, who is a longtime activist and former professor of Jenny Dale at Grinnell College. Luis shared with us the vision of the border as more than a fence, more than a wall, but as a reality that follows migrants as they move forward in their journeys. It’s in Maricopa County with Sheriff Arpaio, it’s in Waukegan with the deputized police force, and it’s in Chicago with the Polimigra.

Later in the evening we met with Jo and Richard from No More Deaths (NMD) Flagstaff. They started the group in January 2008 and are working to support the NMD closer to the border. Their work has included providing volunteers through the long winter months and working to fundraise to support the work of NMD. We discussed ways to keep volunteers engaged in their hometowns after spending time at the border with No More Deaths. How do we help people make the connection between what is happening on the border with the realities of their local communities?

Also present at the meeting were Joel and Katie from the Repeal Coalition. Their goal is to repeal all anti-immigrant legislation starting at the local, then state and national levels. They shared with us their plans for moving forward on this, beginning in the community of Flagstaff.

We look forward to continuing communications and strengthen our relationships with these groups to better connect Chicago and Arizona in the immigrant rights movement.


http://www.myspace.com/repealcoalition
http://www.nomoredeaths.org/