Sept 18 Rally: Updates and plans

[pappu]

September 18 Rally: Updates and what you should know

This is a historic rally and happening for the first time by High-skilled immigrants in DC. Don’t forget to tell your children and grandchildren that you were part of a movement that brought about a major change in the high-skilled legal immigration system in this country.

Please get in touch with others from your state or nearby states on various threads on this forum and car pool or come on some buses we are arranging. There are plans to help you get skymiles or other members are ready to help you by providing you accommodation in their homes in DC area. Please see relevant threads and connect with the people organizing that action item. Immigration voice will help you in whatever way possible to ensure that this rally is a success. All you need to do is just show up.

Here is some information on our Rally planning. You can plan your schedule accordingly.

Sept 15, 16 (Saturday and Sunday)

If you arrive on Saturday or Sunday in DC and wish to help, we will need lot of help in giving final touches to the rally work. The work ranges from banner and poster preparation to taking charge of some rally day coordination work like being a marshal for the rally. Nixstor is coordinating this effort in DC. If you wish to help, contact him with your name, phone number, email and when you are coming. Get more details from http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/sh...ad.php?t=12587 (IV DC Area chapter meet up in Mclean, VA on 08/25/07)

Sept 17, Monday - LOBBY DAY.

Sept 17 is the official lobby day for Immigrationvoice. However, if you are not available on 17th, then the 18th afternoon or 19th would also be fine for you to meet your congressman/congresswoman and senators.

Depending on your convenience and availability during these 3 days, we would like to help you setup an appointment with your congressional representatives in House and Senate.

Please email us your details at lobbyday@immigrationvoice.org and one of our volunteers would setup an appointment for you. PLEASE DO NOT POST YOUR DETAILS TO MEET THE LAWMAKERs HERE ON FORUMS AND THREADS. WE WANT TO BE ORGANIZED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND WE CANNOT COLLECT INFORMATION FROM DIFFERENT THREADS AND FORUMS POSTS. SO PLEASE SEND US EMAIL to lobbyday@Immigrationvoice.org with information described below. We would prefer to arrange meetings and centralize this process so that we can avoid redundant meetings and also have IV members go to different offices in same proportion.

Please email these 6 items about yourself as follows to lobbyday@immigrationvoice.org

1). Name (First name and last name).
2). Total Number of individuals with you including yourself.
3). Zip code of your residence.
4). State you live in.
5). Phone number (preferably cell-phone so that you can be reached on lobby day if needed).
6). Date/time preference for the meeting based on your availability and travel plans. Choose between 17th, 18th afternoon and 19th.

Once we get a meeting arranged for you, we will email you back with meeting details as well as direction on lawmaker meetings and drop-off material that would help you make the case for skilled legal immigration reform.

Please proactively email us your details as soon as possible so that we can get this arranged for you on time.


Please note that no anonymous members can be helped in this action item. We will verify your information by calling you before we set up appointments for you..

Dress for these meetings: It should be either formals or state Tshirts. You can buy these state of residence Tshirts from IV merchandise website- http://www.cafepress.com/immivoice. Please note this is an extremely important action item for the success of our effort. Immigrationvoice urges its members to act quickly and update their profiles and let us know in the profile information, if you are coming for the rally.

September 17, evening

On September 17 evening, ImmigrationVoice will be organizing an event for our members. It will be an opportunity for everyone to meet and get to know each other. Immigrationvoice is also working on other details like inviting some lawmakers. All IV members, lawmakers, staffers, industry leaders and other like minded organizations are expected to attend this event. The event is scheduled from 5pm-7:30pm on Sept 17th at the Rayburn House Office Building Rm. B-339. We will server dinner at this event.

Sept 18, Tuesday

All members are requested to assemble at the Washington Monument at 9 AM. From 9 AM till 11 AM, we will have registration of all participants. It would be great if members attending the rally can come in IV Tshirts and caps. You can buy them from from IV merchandise website- http://www.cafepress.com/immivoice

Immigrationvoice will provide all the banners and placards for the rally to participants. There will be marshals (with blue caps and blue ribbon on left arm) during the rally to assist the members, maintain discipline and guide the members during the route of the rally. If you wish to volunteer for this, contact Nixstor with your full contact details. We are working on providing portable restrooms at this location. The rally route is from Washington Monument to Capitol Building. We would start by 11:30 AM and reach the capitol building by 1 PM. Please make sure to bring your water bottles with you for the rally. We will have sound system, stage and the portable restrooms at the West Front Grassy location.

Note: ImmigrationVoice has all required permissions for this rally from the Police.

A press conference is also scheduled at this time at the Capitol Hill from 10am-12noon on September 18th, 2007.

9 AM: Registration begins at the North East Quadrant of the Washington Monument for rally participants.
11:30 AM: Rally starts for Capitol Building through Constitution Ave
1 PM: Rally reaches the West Front Grassy area at the Capitol Building. Addressed by the US lawmakers

At capitol building, we have arranged for a stage and sound system to be used to address the rally. We are working on getting lawmakers to address us. Members are requested to wear IV Tshirts for the rally if possible. They can also get and carry professional equipments like laptop bags (engineers), books (professors/PHDs), White Doctors coat (medical doctors) etc. If you are bringing a flag, only bring US Flag.

Expected time for termination of the rally is 3pm.

If any member wishes to use the time in late afternoon to meet lawmaker offices, pls indicate that to us. We will help you with the appointments.

Sept 19, Wednesday

On September 19, Wednesday, if you are staying back in DC and wish to meet lawmaker offices, we will assist you in continuing the lobby day program.

We are working very hard on making this rally a huge success. We will help you in every way possible. All you have to do is just show up. This is the least we ask from you for this cause.

Please watch this thread for more information and updates.

[pappu]

Originally Posted by *

=====================
Note:
ALL PERMITS ARE IN PLACE FOR THE RALLY- METRO POLICE, CAPITOL POLICE and NATIONAL PARKS.
NO ANTI IMMIGRANTS WILL HAVE PERMITS FOR A RALLY THE SAME DAY
IF ANYONE DISRUPTS OUR RALLY THEY WILL BE ARRESTED
OUR RIGHTS TO RALLY HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED.

========================================
http://murthy.com/a_sep18.html
http://murthy.com/bulletin.html

NOTE : For individuals who have concerns about participating in this event, we at the Murthy Law Firm would like to allay some of those fears. The right to gather peacefully is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, in the Bill of Rights. It specifically allows peaceful demonstrations and the freedom to gather as a measure to address injustice. It states, in relevant part, that "Congress shall make no law … abridging … the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." [See http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/...cs/billeng.htm for the full text of the Bill of Rights. The U.S. Constitution, in its totality, is available at http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/...consteng.htm.]

Question 1. What is First Amendment? Does it apply to me? I'm on H-1 / H-4 / EAD / and have applied for I-485, etc.
Constitutional rights of an individual are applicable to everyone, including foreign nationals.

Question 2. Will I get arrested and/or deported for participating in the rally?
No, participating in rally with proper permits from city police and other authorities is legal. You cannot be arrested or deported for simply participating in the rally.

Question 3. Will participation in the rally negatively impact my current nonimmigrant status or future green card application?
No, exercising your civil rights does not impact your nonimmigrant status or future green card application. There are certain procedures and processes for rejecting or denying petitions and applications, it is not done on whims and moods of agencies or USCIS employees. There is a process driven by federal regulations and rejections and denials are backed up by reasons described in federal regulations and the laws. Participating in rallies, meeting with your lawmakers, exercising your civic duties, and enjoying your civil rights granted by the Constitution are not grounds for denial or rejection of petitions and applications or any other adverse action on immigration petition or application.

Question 4. Can my employer take action against me for participating in the rally? Do we have any obligation to inform my employer if I participate by taking a day off?
No, an employer cannot simply take action against you for having exercised your Constitutional right granted by the first amendment. Whether you inform your employer about your plans for your vacation or day off is up to you and your relationship with your employer. Usually employers do not care what their employee do with their time off from work, as long as those activities are legal.

Question 5. What kind of identification do I need to carry? Will my driver's license be enough?
Yes. Your driver's license or a state-issued identification card is enough for ID purposes.

Immigration Voice Lobby Day in Washington DC on Sept 17-19.

Dear Members,

If you are planning to attend the rally in Washington DC on September 18th. While you are in DC, it would be a great opportunity to meet with your congressmen/congresswomen and senators and talk to them about the issues we are asking congress to address.

Immigration Voice is organizing a lobby day on 17th, 18th and 19th September. Depending on your convenience and availability during these 3 days, we would like to help you setup an appointment with your congressional representatives in House and Senate.

Please email us your details at lobbyday@immigrationvoice.org and one of our volunteers would setup an appointment for you. We would prefer to arrange meetings and centralize this process so that we can avoid redundant meetings and also have IV members go to different offices in same proportion.

Please email these 7 items about yourself as follows to lobbyday@immigrationvoice.org

1). Name (First name and last name).
2). IV user ID
3). Total Number of individuals with you including yourself.
4). Zip code of your residence.
5). State you live in.
6). Phone number (preferably cell-phone so that you can be reached on lobby day if needed).
7). Date/time preference for the meeting based on your availability and travel plans. Choose between 17th, 18th afternoon and 19th.

Once we get a meeting arranged for you, we will email you back with meeting details as well as direction on lawmaker meetings and drop-off material that would help you make the case for skilled legal immigration reform. Please proactively email us your details as soon as possible so that we can get this arranged for you on time.

Important: Please note that no anonymous members will be helped in this action item. We will verify you first before we further disclose any info and set up appointments for you. So please email all information we have asked and we will then share further information with you.


Thanks.
Immigration Voice.

[glus]

Seems good to me.

[sgupta33]

Thank you IV core and other members for all your hard work! This sounds great! I have already sent in my details so that meetings can be arranged with lawmakers.

[makemygc]

Great Planning..as usual...

[pappu]

/\\/\\//

check the lobby day details added to it

[newuser]

Thanks for the update. See you all on Sep 18th.

[venkygct]

Thanks for the update. I have already sent my details to lobbyday email id.

[rkanth12]

Originally Posted by venkygct

Thanks for the update. I have already sent my details to lobbyday email id.

I mailed my details. How can one identify who is Logic Life, Aman, Pappu
and other heroes. Do they have any tags with their real names and handles?
Please confirm.

[zilmax007]

Great effort IV. Your hardwork gives all of us fruitful results.

[pappu]

Sept 18:
9 AM: Registration begins at the North East Quadrant of the Washington Monument for rally participants.
11 AM: Rally starts for Capitol Building through Constitution Ave
12:30 PM: Rally reaches the Capitol Building. Addressed by the US lawmakers

[jonty_11]

awesome efforts by IV. Lets all come together to make it a huge success....
Please attend the rally or contribute in any which way you can....

[gbarquero]

Originally Posted by pappu

Sept 18:
9 AM: Registration begins at the North East Quadrant of the Washington Monument for rally participants.
11 AM: Rally starts for Capitol Building through Constitution Ave
12:30 PM: Rally reaches the Capitol Building. Addressed by the US lawmakers

Any special instructions to follow during this period?

[paskal]

Originally Posted by rkanth12

I mailed my details. How can one identify who is Logic Life, Aman, Pappu
and other heroes. Do they have any tags with their real names and handles?
Please confirm.

waldenpond, logiclife and pappu will all be in DC- so here's your opportunity!
i assure you that you will not miss them- remember that those 3 are larger than life

[swadeshi]

Originally Posted by paskal

waldenpond, logiclife and pappu will all be in DC- so here's your opportunity!
i assure you that you will not miss them- remember that those 3 are larger than life

I would really like to meet them, so can we request a introduction?