Mujeres en Liderazgo is a group of Women from the Latino Community that was born out of a leadership workshop in the Waite House in September 2008. During the workshop, the group engaged in a community action activity that identified many differe…nt community needs; and the need with the most priority was: access to a valid MN driver’s license to ensure public safety. However, the group did not think that anything else would happen. Little did they know that this would be the beginning of a long and rigorous journey. With the support of the community, different organizations, religious groups, and the media, the “Mujeres en Liderazgo” made the decision to follow through and finish what they had started during the workshop.

Mujeres en Liderazgo and MIRAc are honored to be receiving this year’s NLG Social Justice Award! Please join us Saturday April 17th 2010 from 6pm and 10pm at William Mitchell College of Law.

http://www.nlgminnesota.org/node/96

St. Paul, Minnesota — In a packed House hearing, the “Drivers License Bill” (HF1718) was presented today at the State Capitol.

The bill, which would allow access to drivers licenses regardless of citizenship status, was proposed by Mujeres en Liderazgo (Women in Leadership), a group of women organizers in South Minneapolis, who have been organizing in their community for the past 2 years.

The Mujeres chose not to push a vote today, knowing that Governor Pawlenty, who ran on an anti-immigrant campaign, would ultimately refuse to sign the bill.  Instead they gave a powerful presentation to build support for next year, when a new governor could present the opportunity for their hopes to become a reality.

“Our goal for the today was to educate the representatives about this bill and show them how it affects our communities.  We know that it will not pass into law this year, but it is important to show that we will continue to fight for it and that they need to listen.”  Said one organizer.

The campaign has exceeded all expectations stirring a huge outpouring of support from the community during their hearings and lobbying at the capitol this month.

The Mujeres have held a flurry of events in the past 8 days including an important victory at the House Transportation and Transit Policy Committee on March 10^th, a hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee on March 16^th, and several days of lobbying in support of the bill.

Proponents of the bill have turned out in large numbers at the hearings, and have made hundreds of calls to the senators and representatives urging them to support the bill.

Approximately 70 community members and allies, were in attendance for the house hearing on March 10^th, and though they were given less than 24 hours notice for Tuesday’s senate hearing, the Mujeres managed to mobilize about 40 supporters to attend the meeting.

Testimonies at the three hearings in support of the bill included John Keller, Executive director of the Immigrant Law Center and Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year 2007, Bruce Nestor, past president of the Minnesota chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, community members, and women from Mujeres en Liderazgo.

Those in favor of the bill argue that “it will result in more licensed and insured drivers in our streets, creating safer communities for everyone.”  They also highlight the ways daily lives of many members of the undocumented community are negatively affected by not having access to a license; pointing out: “it is a human rights and justice issue for many Minnesotans”

But the bill has not been without criticism from anti-immigrant extremists, including groups which have ties to violent nativists, and white nationalists (see links below).

Ruthie Hendrycks [from the anti-immigrant hate groups MinnSir (Remember the tea party against amnesty?) and FIRE] got wind of the bill just before today’s hearing and sent out a frantic action alert to her followers.

During the senate hearing Republican senator Mike Parry went on an angry tirade, shouting: “Immigrants have no rights!”  Afterwards he was strongly reprimanded by the committee chair.

Jovita Morales of Mujeres en Liderazgo commented on the campaign:

“This campaign has definitely been a victory; we have all learned so much in such a short time.  Today we showed the strong community support that this bill has, and this is just the beginning.  We are determined to continue this fight next year with even more strength, and we are going to win.”

The house hearing for the “Drivers License Bill” to allow access to drivers licenses for all, regardless of citizenship status is tomorrow!

Where:  State Office Building Room 10 (next door to the capitol)

When:  Thursday March 18th 4:30pm!

After a heated debate, the bill was tabled during yesterday’s senate hearing.  That means it will be rescheduled at some point, but the house hearing is still on for tomorrow.

With about 36 hours left we have to get a STRONG push to make sure the bill passes the house committee.  That means PHONE CALLS and a large presence at the hearing tomorrow.

Ruthie Hendrycks from the anti-immigrant group MinnSir (Remember the tea party against amnesty?) just got wind of the bill last night and sent out an urgent action alert to her followers.  We can expect them to be making frothing, racist anti immigrant calls to the representatives so we have to make sure to counter them with lots of calls in support.

With your help, the Mujeres en Liderazgo are poised for a victory that will bring this legislation for human/equal rights one step closer to being law.

Please come pack the hearing room tomorrow March 18th at the State Office Building room 10 and make calls to the following representatives:

Here is a sample script:

“Hello, my name is_________ and I am calling about the bill that will be in hearing tomorrow called HF1718 about drivers licences. I am in support of this bill specifically because I am interested in accountability and safety in our streets. I believe that we are all safer when we all know and follow the same driving laws, with insured cars. I called myself a ‘concerned Minnesotan’ blahblahblah “And I would always end by saying thanks for your work with the community and your honest attention to this matter. ” Also, if they didn’t ask me for any information I would ask them ‘is there any information you would like from me?”

Will Morgan 651-296-4212

Michael Nelson 651-296-3751

Terry Morrow 651-296-8634

Jerry Newton 651-296-5369

Roger Reinert 651-296-4246

~Thank You For Your Support!!!~

We were notified this afternoon that the Drivers License bill will have a Senate Finance Committee hearing tomorrow, Tuesday March 16th at 12:30pm in capitol room 15!

This is a separate hearing from the house hearing that will take place Thursday March 18th at 4:30pm

Lets flood the senators with phone calls today and tomorrow morning!

We also need to PACK the senate hearing tomorrow at 12:30pm to show support for this bill.

Here is the list of senators to call:

(Thank you for your support in these urgent times!)

Steve Murphy- D- 28 651-296-4264 Capitol 325

Jim Carlson –D- 38 651-297-8073 Capitol.G-9

Michael Jungbauer –R- 48 651-296-3733 Capitol. 121

Terri Bonoff- D- 43 651-296-4314 Captiol 325

Scott Dibble- D- 60 651-296-4191 Capitol 111

John Doll- D- 40 651-296-5975 Capitol .G-9

Michelle Fischbach- R- 14 651-296-2084 State Office Building 145

Joe Gimse- R- 13 651-296-3826 State office building 105

Kenneth Kelash- D- 63 651-297-8061 Capitol 320

Amy Koch- R- 19 651-296-5981 State Office Building 115

Keith Langseth- D- 09 651-296-3205 Capitol. 122

Mee Moua- D- 67 651-296-5285 Capitol 120

Rick Olseen- D- 17 651-296-5419 Capitol G-24

Gen Olson- R- 33 651-296-1282 State Office Building 119

Julianne Ortman- R- 34 651-296-4837 State Office Building 125

Mike Parry R- 26 651-296-9457 State Office Building 115

Ann Rest- D- 45 651-296-2889 Capitol 205

Kathy Saltzman- D- 56 651-296-4166 Capitol 306

Katie Sieben- D- 57 651-297-8060 Capitol 321

Rod Skoe- D- 02 651-296-4196 Capitol 303

Thank you!

After an important victory on Wednesday, the Mujeres en Liderazgo were given 6 days notice on the next hearing for the “Drivers Licenses for All” bill.

The next hearing is scheduled for 4:30, Thursday March 18th- For a bill that would allow access to drivers licenses for all.

We Need/appreciate your Urgent support for this campaign under such short notice!

For more info check here: http://tc.indymedia.org/2010/mar/drivers-license-bill-passes-house-committee

Please call the representatives below, and come out to the hearing on Tuesday!

*Remember that we are really trying to keep the message focused on improving safety in our communities and on our roads by increasing the number of licensed and insured drivers. We are trying to stay away from the immigration/documentation argument because this will be used against the campaign by some politicians.

Michael Beard (R) 35A 651-296-8872

Randy Demmer (R) 29A 651-296-9236

Connie Doepke (R) 33B 651-296-4315

Mary Liz Holberg (R)36A 651-296-6926

Doug Magnus-R- 22A 651-296-5505

Will Morgan –D- 40A 651-296-4212

Michael Nelson-D- 46A 651-296-3751

Jerry Newton- D- 49B 651-296-5369

Roger Reinert- D- 7B 651-296-4246

Peggy Scott-R- 49A 651 296-4231

Dan Severson R- 14A 651-296-7808

Lyndon Carlson D- 45B 651-296-4255

Loren Solberg D 3B 651-296-2365

Other things we need:

· Your presence on Thursday, 3/18 at 4:30pm

· Help w/ transportation 3/18

· Help w/ Childcare 3/18

· Help w/ visits to representatives on Monday 3/15 – Thursday 3/18

· Outreach

· Media

Please let us know if you are able to help w/ any of the tasks listed above!

“The “Drivers Licenses For All” campaign is picking up speed after an important legislative victory.

On Wednesday, HF1718, a bill that would increase access to drivers licenses was introduced, voted on, and passed in the Transportation and Transit Policy Committee in the House of Representatives

The bill was proposed by Mujeres en Liderazgo, a group of women organizers in South Minneapolis, who have been organizing in their community for the past 2 years.

On March 4^th, the Mujeres held a successful day at the capitol to lobby support for the bill, and numerous supporters made calls to the state representatives during the week leading up to the hearing.

Wednesday, they brought their demands to the state capitol.

Approximately 70 community members and allies, showed their support by holding up their bright green ‘DRIVERS LICENSES FOR ALL” signs as they filed into the room for the hearing.  After hearing testimonies from the Mujeres as well as National Lawyers Guild attorney Bruce Nestor, the decision was made:  The bill would pass.

Jovita Morales of Mujeres en Liderazgo commented on the victory:

“Our victory yesterday was due to the participation of the community, including visits and phone calls that were made by community members and allies to support the bill.  When the politicians looked out in the room yesterday and saw a room full of people, they could not deny the strength and importance of this campaign.”

This bill would increase the types of primary documents that one may present when applying for a drivers license in Minnesota, opening up access to those members of our community that do not meet the current standards, due to the requirement of a social security number.

If this bill becomes a law, the end result will mean more licensed and insured drivers in our streets, thus, safer communities for everyone.  The daily lives of many of our community members are negatively affected by not having access to a license; it is a human rights and justice issue for many Minnesotans.

The bill will now go on to the Senate Finance Committee, and will then go back to the House Transportation & Finance Committee.

Stay tuned for more action alerts!”

http://tc.indymedia.org/2010/mar/drivers-license-bill-passes-house-committee

[From TC Daily Planet]

“About 30 activists gathered at the Waite House Community Center in Minneapolis on February 25  to strategize ways to move forward with a bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to obtain a driver’s license.  Mujeros En Liderazgo (Women in Leadership), an organization dedicated to social and immigration issues, organized the meeting. Only a handful of states have passed similar laws, while a larger number require proof of immigration status to be presented by drivers license applicants.

Maria Cisneros emphasized the problems that lack of a driver’s license can create. “If a child gets sick, and they don’t have access to the emergency room or they can’t get a job, this is a loss to the economy,” she said. “Someone who is affected by domestic violence may not report to the police because they don’t have a driver’s license or I.D. This affects single mothers and their children, from not being able to take children to the doctor or to get to work to support their children.”..”

http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2010/02/28/drivers-license-bill-undocumented-workers

[From FightBack! News]

“Saint Paul, MN – The struggle for immigrants to be able to get drivers licenses in Minnesota is gaining steam. The group leading the struggle is Mujeres en Liderazgo (Women in Leadership), a grassroots group of Latina immigrant women. They want the Minnesota legislature to allow anyone who lives in Minnesota to get a drivers license, regardless of their immigration status.

A bill has been introduced in the state legislature, House File 1718, which will have its first hearing on March 10. Mujeres en Liderazgo has built a coalition to support the bill, along with various other immigrant rights activists and supporters. They are mobilizing to go the capitol to show the massive community support for the bill at the March 10 hearing…”

http://www.fightbacknews.org/2010/3/4/immigrants-minnesota-fight-right-drivers-license

Here is the flyer for the campaign.

Licencias_de_Conducir_para_Todos[1]_0