News Release
Contact: ccc.undocu@gmail.com https://www.ccc-uss.org November 19, 2020 City of San Luis Obispo Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Funding Received for High-Impact Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program for the 2020-2021 Funding Year San Luis Obispo, Calif.,⸺The Central Coast Coalition for Undocumented Student Success (CCC-USS) is pleased to announce that we have been awarded $10,200 in funding from the City of San Luis Obispo for programming that advances diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) in the City. With this funding, CCC-USS will be convening an Undocu Community Summit in the fall of 2021. The Summit will bring together college dream centers, K-12 educators, organizations, and community members within the city of San Luis Obispo and neighboring communities including north and south county partners. The Undocu Community Summit will be a phased event beginning in Spring 2021 where the coalition will bring together key stakeholders for discussing and developing the full program for the summit. The one-day summit will take place in fall of 2021, either virtually or in-person at a sensitive location such as Cal Poly, Cuesta College, or another educational facility depending on COVID guidelines. Goals of the summit:
Look for updates on this work on our website: https://www.ccc-uss.org About CCC-USS Founded in 2015, the Central Coast Coalition for Undocumented Student Success (CCC-USS) is a collective of advocates and educators that challenge anti-immigrant and oppressive ideologies, institutional practices, and everyday actions that threaten undocumented and historically marginalized communities. Through our work together, our vision is to create social change to ensure educational equity for all students and build capacity to support undocumented students in our region. CCC-USS was founded by staff and faculty from Allan Hancock College, California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), and Cuesta College and includes K-12 representatives and other community partners in San Luis Obispo and Northern Santa Barbara counties.
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![]() UPDATE (11/10): Thanks to your efforts, a special meeting was called for Thursday, November 12th at 1 pm. John via zoom at: https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/8055463100 Attend and speak during public comment requesting the Board of Trustees to censure Trustee Sysak and for Sysak's resignation. ----- Board President Peter Sysak is facing public pressure to resign in light of his racist social media posts. Over 150 Cuesta faculty, staff, students, and SLO County community members attended the November 4th board meeting calling for Trustee Sysak's resignation during a public comments session that lasted over an hour. (SLO Tribune Article here). Trustee Sysak's disparaging comments targeted the undocumented community, trans people, Black people, and Muslims, in addition to supporting known white supremacists groups. It is unacceptable. We continue to support the students, faculty, and staff of Cuesta College and their right to a Board of Trustees that respects them. ACTION: E-mail the Board of Trustees to request a special meeting to publicly address Peter Sysak's behavior and demand his immediate resignation. E-MAILS: psysak@cuesta.edu (Peter Sysak District 4) bgeorge@cuesta.edu (Dr. Barbara George District 2) patrick_mullen@cuesta.edu (Patrick Mullen District 3) angela@mitchella.com (Angela Mitchell District 1) mstrobridge@sbcglobal.net (Mary Strobridge District 5) ASCCPres@cuesta.edu (Student Representative) president@cuesta.edu (Jill Stearns, Cuesta College President) tfrederi@cuesta.edu (Executive Assistant to the Cuesta President) elopez@cccco.edu (Ebony Lopez, Assistant to California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Oakley) TEMPLATE: Dear Board of Trustees, As a member of this community, I e-mail you with deep concern about Peter Sysak’s racist behavior and the damaging impact it has on the BIPOC community in San Luis Obispo county. There is a lack of faith for Cuesta College's ability to continue being a safe and equitable space for students from marginalized backgrounds. I demand a special meeting to address the abundant public concern regarding board President Peter Sysak’s recent actions. Board President Peter Sysak must resign. (You may choose to include any connection with Cuesta or your district) No Prosecution for SLO County & Northern Santa Barbara Protesters Showing up for Racial Justice!10/16/2020 CCC-USS is in solidarity The undersigned are in solidarity with all protesters unjustly charged by San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow.
Read and sign the petition: http://chng.it/HTSMscV57W On Thursday October 15, 2020 charges were brought against additional protesters, 84 days after the July 21 protest and based on an independent investigation stemming from the District Attorney’s office. The recent charges against Amman Asfaw, Marcus Montgomery, and Joshua Powell represent targeted harassment against young Black men that is inconsistent with the values of San Luis Obispo. Since June 1st, the San Luis Obispo police department and District Attorney’s office has attempted to intimidate and violently suppress public organizing that draws attention to and challenges racial injustices. The arrests and charges against Tianna Aratta and Elias Bautista, along with other protesters, show a clear targeting of Black and brown youth activists in our community. The new charges are an explicit political statement meant to silence anti-racist activism in the county. As residents of San Luis Obispo County, we have a social responsibility to hold local law enforcement and the District Attorney’s office accountable for their continued violence and judicial overreach against Black and brown lives. We must insist that all charges be dropped and no new charges are filed, and we must demand that our elected officials invest in communities of color and divest from the use-of-force (weaponized and judicialized) against protesters showing up for racial justice. We stand with all activists and organizers fighting for Black lives. #HandsOff No prosecution for SLO County protesters showing up for racial justice! Call to Action: In addition to signing this petition, submit public comments at the following meetings and/or send a letter or email to the following groups and individuals listed below. Insist these elected officials and task forces take action and voice their public advocacy for all the charges to be dropped against all anti-racist protesters targeted by DA Dan Dow and that no future charges are made. SLO County Board of Supervisors Next meeting is Tuesday, October 20th at 9am; view the agenda Info on public comment included in the agenda. Public comments may also be emailed or mailed in advance of the meeting. Contact supervisors by phone, mail, and email. Find your supervisor. SLO Mayor & City Council Members Next meeting Tuesday, October 20th at 6pm; view the agenda Info on public comment included in the agenda. Public comments may also be emailed or mailed in advance of the meeting. Contact the Mayor and SLO City Council Members by phone, mail, and email. SLO City Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Taskforce Next meeting Thursday October 22nd at 5:30pm Info on public comment included on the website above; agenda not yet posted. Public comments may also be emailed or mailed in advance of the meeting. We also encourage you to contact the individuals below to express your outrage and raise concerns about the operation of the Office of the San Luis Obispo District Attorney. CA State Attorney General Xavier Becerra https://oag.ca.gov/home @AG_Becerra on Twitter State Senator Bill Monning https://sd17.senate.ca.gov/ @billmonning on Twitter State Assembly Representative Jordan Cunningham http://jordancunningham.org/ @Cunning_Jordan on Twitter Congressman Salud Carbajal https://saludcarbajal.com/ @RepCarbajal on Twitter @repcarbajal on Instagram ![]() San Luis Obispo County, Calif., (June 18, 2020) — The Supreme Court has struck down the Trump administration’s attempt to end the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program as “arbitrary and capricious.” This is an important victory that does not result in the immediate termination of DACA, and we join DACAmented individuals in their celebrations today. Still, immigration activists and legal experts across the country emphasize that the fight is far from over. This decision does not provide a permanent answer for DACA recipients and the other 11 million undocumented people in this country. The Central Coast Coalition for Undocumented Student Success continues to work on behalf of undocumented students, students from mixed-status families, and the community at large for an equitable and just world. We acknowledge that these are unpredictable and perilous times. In its relentless drive to target immigrants, this administration heightens xenophobia and discrimination towards the undocumented community and endangers many of their human rights including education, health, safety, and access to social and legal justice. We will continue to fight all systems of oppression that endanger undocumented people. CCC-USS will host a Central Coast Community Virtual Gathering to debrief the decision and celebrate and support one another, and discuss what’s next in the continued fight for immigration justice Thursday June 18, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time Join by Zoom: https://tinyurl.com/CCC-USS-DACA We affirm our solidarity with the Black communities leading the protests against police brutality locally and across the country. We are in solidarity with those who are undocumented and Black, as they face oppressive policing from both law enforcement and I.C.E. It is important to continue elevating Black voices. Read “Reflection on My Identity as a Black, Immigrant, DACAmented, Woman” by Luisa Tembo, Program Assistant for the Women’s Policy Institute (WPI) at Women’s Foundation California and Cal Poly alumna (Class of 2017, Political Science major with Ethnic Studies, Public Policy, and Science and Technology minors). The news today is a reminder that we must still continue to advocate for systemic change through all available avenues, including and beyond the judicial branch. Other online gatherings: We encourage DACAmented and undocumented community to attend Immigrant Risings’ “DACA Continues Gathering” tonight (June 18) at 5:30 p.m. PT Register here. They will hold an online community gathering for undocumented individuals (both with and without DACA) to create space and take care of mental and emotional wellbeing, and will share details about the Supreme Court decision and how it will impact recipients. Attend the “DACA Supreme Court Decision Analysis with Immigrant Legal Defense (ILD) Attorneys” Immigrant Legal Defense (ILD) is analyzing the decision and will have more information on what this means exactly for DACA recipients and the future of the DACA program. Friday June 19, 2020 01:00 p.m. Pacific Time To join the ILD webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83626763885?pwd=OW15SW5JclYrTVVSS1BHSDlUcUk4UT09 Password: 147626 The Central Coast Coalition for Undocumented Student Success (CCC-USS) is a collective of advocates and educators that challenges anti-immigrant and oppressive ideologies, institutional practices, and everyday actions that threaten undocumented and historically marginalized communities.
We are in solidarity with the Black communities leading the protests against police brutality locally and across the country. We are in solidarity with those who are undocumented and Black, as they face oppressive policing from both law enforcement and I.C.E. We call for Justice for George Floyd, beginning with the arrests of all four officers involved in his murder. On Monday June 1st, 2020 hundreds of community members took to the streets of San Luis Obispo to call attention to police violence against Black people. Many of our local high school and college students were among these marchers. Soon after the march began, they were confronted not only by the San Luis Obispo Police Department but also by police forces called in from cities across the Central Coast, county sheriff deputies, county correctional officers, and Cal Poly University Police. Some officers were accompanied by police dogs. Members of the Coalition were present the moment police forces used tear gas, rubber bullets, pepper spray, and flashbangs on unarmed protestors who were assembled on the street and sidewalk. In an effort to support the safety of the protestors, Coalition members were in attendance to provide food and water. Due to police escalations and attacks, members proceeded to inform protesters of their rights and provided medical aid to those harmed by tear gas and pepper spray. This scene has played out nationally as supporters and allies engaged in non-violent strategies against the police brutality and violence that Black communities continue to experience. We are angered by actions taken against Black communities and allies engaged in non-violent strategies throughout the nation. Locally, we demand transparency in the decision making from state and local agencies, elected city officials and city administrators who authorized the use of force on unarmed protesters. The people who made this decision should be held accountable. CALL TO ACTION FOR LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS
In solidarity, The Central Coast Coalition for Undocumented Student Success Fill out this form to sign onto this letter: https://forms.gle/r9BJH5xR1k2DyCJV8 Know Your Rights Training: Learn about immigrant rights, advocacy, and resources
Wednesday May 27, 2020 4:10 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. RSVP by 5/26/20 noon: tinyurl.com/KYR-CentralCoast This training is intended for the immigrant community, students, staff, and allies to learn foundational knowledge to protect and defend the rights of the immigrant community and to demonstrate solidarity with the immigrant community by ensuring they are empowered with the knowledge to be their own first line of defense! UndocuAlly Working Group Web: undocually.calpoly.edu Email: undocually@calpoly.edu The “DACA Decision Campus Action Plan” Template was developed as there is a strong likelihood that DACA’s rescindment will be affirmed by the Supreme Court – immediately impacting students and employees.
It is anticipated that the Court will likely issue its decision sometime between now and June 2020, with a likelihood of an announcement coming soon. The justices could potentially declare that DACA is unlawful as the Supreme Court's conservative majority signaled in November 2019 their likely decision will end the DACA program. In anticipation of the imminent decision, we are working collaboratively to prepare a plan of action template that can be implemented in phases, with the goal to be ready prior to the announcement with the most urgent plans of action. As the nation awaits the Supreme Court ruling on DACA, the lives of many undocumented students, employees and their collective families are in limbo. These individuals are a vital part of our community through their scholarship, labor, and their civic and cultural contributions to our state through their presence and vitality. We urge campus administrators to enhance the ways in which they serve, support, and uphold the rights for undocumented students and undocumented employees in preparation for the DACA Supreme Court decision. We are sharing this information as a toolkit for your campus or department to build upon. CCC-USS template: https://tinyurl.com/dacaplan Message from Central Coast Coalition for Undocumented student Success
Our hearts and thoughts go out to the people who have been affected by this unprecedented event and we appreciate the healthcare workers, local communities, and agencies who are on the front lines working to contain the COVID-19 virus. This guide was developed in response for easy link access to resources and information needed during this time. Please check back frequently to the linked information as there is rapidly changing information. Short url to this guide: https://bit.ly/38TO3mX Your donations provide direct support for students through:
DACA renewal and adjustment of status fees, funding for professional development, and other educational expenses. There is an urgent need specifically for DACA renewals due to the changing legal landscape. www.ccc-uss.org/contribute CCC-USS is a volunteer-led organization dedicated to supporting local undocumented students. The challenges undocumented students and their families face are in many ways different than the challenges faced by migrants seeking asylum at the border, yet they too are impacted by the current climate and laws. Click here to make a tax-deductible donation to CCC-USS . Your donation provides direct support to undocumented students through sponsoring DACA renewals and professional development opportunities, printing Safety Guides for the community, and supporting events such as legal clinics. There are currently local students waiting for assistance. Thank you for your contributions. We have several important updates, resources, and actions to share!GEt Help for daca application renewalsIMPORTA Santa Barbara is offering free DACA renewal clinics*. How to qualify: DACA expiration before February 1, 2021. Call to schedule your appointment at one of these offices: Santa Barbara (805) 604-5060 129 E Carrillo St Month 2:30-6 Santa Maria (805) 453-0609 509 W Morrison Wed-Fri 2-6 Lompoc (805) 886-2199 604 E Ocean Suite E Mon-Wed 2-6 info@importasb.org www.importasb.org IMPORTA is a non-profit authorized to practice immigration law through trained “Accredited Representatives.” by U.S. Department of Justice Update: 8/7/2020 Importa is no longer offering assistance with renewal fees. INFO Alert! USCIS fees to Increase!On Friday November 8, 2019, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued its proposal to increase & add fees. DACA Renewal fee will increase from $495 to $765 The citizenship application fee will increase from $640 to $1,170 & does not include biometrics! Asylum fee will be established And for the first time in history a $50 fee for Asylum The fee plan will be open to public comment for 30 days starting Nov. 14. The money raised through the new proposed fee schedule will be transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Visit the following url to comment: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/11/14/2019-24366/us-citizenship-and-immigration-services-fee-schedule-and-changes-to-certain-other-immigration DACA and the supreme courtThe CSU Board of Trustees and the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration* joined over 164 colleges and universities from across the country in signing an amicus brief (amicus curiae) in the case before the Supreme Court — a “friend-of-the-court” brief which demonstrates unwavering support for the roughly 700,000 young immigrants who came to the United States as children and who hold Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status.
The Supreme Court is ruling on the legality of the Trump Administration’s termination of DACA — not the legality of DACA itself. *Cal Poly and Cuesta College are members The case will be argued at the Supreme Court of the United States on November 12, 2019 with the court potentially handing down a ruling as soon as February 2020, which will determine whether DACA recipients will lose the ability to live, study, and work in the United States. The imminent threat of losing DACA protection places students at risk of losing employment, food security, housing, access to health care, educational opportunities, and the sense of safety and wellbeing. Lower courts have already found DACA to be both legal and constitutional. We urge the justices to confirm the lower court rulings and reject the Trump Administration’s efforts to terminate this successful program. CALL TO ACTION We urge all Central Coast colleges, universities, and k-12 administrators to:
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