To our undocumented community: We see you, we hear you, and we are prepared to fight with and for you

We are archiving all of the letters of support and statements from allies, educators, and Central Coast organizations. If you have a letter you would like to add to the archive, please email us at ccc.undocu@gmail.com

October 16, 2019
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San Luis Obispo, Calif.—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. Through our work together, we create social change to ensure educational equity for all students and build capacity to support undocumented students in our region.

On Tuesday October 15, 2019, an image targeting undocumented communities circulated on social media. The posting shows individuals that appear to be dressed in stereotypical gang attire, use of related gestures, and includes a racial slur. It is important to emphasize that the offensive term “illegal alien” used in the posting is not only inaccurate but also dehumanizing and discriminatory. The word “illegal” is not a noun, as a result, a human being can never be illegal. In addition, the use of the word “alien” to describe (im)migrants is rooted in U.S. exclusionary policies and practices that have historically denied human rights, discriminatively scapegoated groups of people, and justified violence and mistreatment.

These actions cause harm to our undocumented students, their families, and our community by perpetuating false narratives about undocumented people and the Latinx community. The impact of this dehumanizing language and the use of other people’s lives and experiences as a costume is abhorrent and far reaching. Actions like this contribute directly to the oppression of members of the Cal Poly and San Luis Obispo communities. More specifically, Latinx students, undocumented students, and students with undocumented family members have the right to an educational environment free from intimidation and harassment. These students report higher levels of anxiety, especially in the current political climate. Treating these situations as one-off incidents or acts of ignorance is also part of the problem—the problem is rooted in White supremacy.

Again, this is more than an “incident.” It is more than a “learning opportunity.” The Cal Poly administration has an obligation to name this behavior as racist and to actively change the persistent toxic campus culture and climate. We strongly encourage Cal Poly to move beyond a strategy of deflection and instead, hold those responsible to actionable consequences for the harm they have caused. Now more than ever, it is necessary to take action proportional to the seriousness of the toxic normalization of racism and xenophobia at Cal Poly that this act represents.
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We stand in solidarity with all students, staff, and faculty of Color who have been harmed, threatened, and/or discriminated against during their time at Cal Poly. We commit to actions that challenge the roots of white supremacy at Cal Poly and in our communities. We will not be deterred or sidetracked from what Dr. King called the "fierce urgency of now.”

In solidarity,
Central Coast Coalition for Undocumented Success

Community Alert
Likely intended targets of ICE raids:

• Anyone who has missed an immigration court date
• Anyone who has received a final order of removal, from an immigration judge or at the border

Precautionary:

• ​Anyone who could be in gang database
• Anyone with a misdemeanor or felony conviction

If someone you know might be in one of the categories above,
they should call: 1-800-898-7180 and enter their 9-digit A# into the system for their case status. If the system indicates that an order of removal has entered, they need a qualified immigration lawyer. NOW.

Please also be aware that ICE Raids might include “collateral” detainments where immigrants who happen to be on the scene, even if they are not the targets of the raids, could be detained.

Source: Matt Cameron, Esq
@matt_cam on twitter

CCC-USS is helping organize allies to join local actions for #LightsForLiberty a national movement to demand an end to the human concentration camps at the border and the terror in our local immigrant communities.
 
Friday July 12:
>>Santa Maria • 6 PM – 7:30 PM
Central Plaza Park (Corner of Main & Broadway)
>>Arroyo Grande • 6 PM – 9 PM
Heritage Square Park (Nelson St at Short St)
 
Saturday July 13:
>>San Luis Obispo • 12 PM – 2 PM
SLO Superior Court, 1050 Monterey St
 
Caravan from San Luis Obispo to Lights for Liberty Santa Maria Rally/Vigil
Friday July 12th
 
ALLIES: Show up and support the Central Coast’s most vulnerable community!
 
Santa Maria will join the national movement to demand an end to the human concentration camps at the border and the terror in our local immigrant communities. The peaceful rally will include a prayer and sidewalk march.
 
Caravan To Santa Maria Leaves: Friday July 12 at 5:15pm
From: Madonna Plaza Shopping Center
281 Madonna Rd c, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
(Parking Lot in front of Ulta Beauty)
 
Santa Maria Rally:  6:00 pm
Central Plaza Park
(Corner of Main & Broadway)
 
Caravan Route:
Madonna Plaza Shopping Center - Ulta Beauty parking lot to:
101 South
Exit Broadway in Santa Maria
Broadway south 1.8 miles to Central Plaza Park
 
Text for more info/questions: (805) 628-2283
www.ccc-uss.org

Posters for Allies: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1VJt2Ky_IITLrQWFPJ_ppw2EX04lEolCd?usp=sharing

Asylum Refugee Humanitarian Aid Donors
Thank you to the Central Coast community for donating much needed supplies for immigrants at the transit centers at the southern border! Because of your donations we were able to ship over 100 lbs of much needed supplies to Las Cruces, New Mexico transit and relief center and drive 150 lbs of additional supplies to Deming and Las Cruces transit and relief centers.
 
Please join our mailing list to receive updates and for our upcoming townhall debrief to hear what we learned about the humanitarian need at the southern border.
 
Donors:
Caleb Nichols
Terri K
Simone E.
Antonio A.
Carolina Z.
Maria K.
Que D.
Cross Cultural Centers, Cal Poly
Maggie Liu
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Raha and sibling
Jane L.
Amelia Meyerhoff
Anonymous
Anonymous
Gabriela Guillen
Jan Kline
Melissa Quintero
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Leilani Hemmings Pallay
Eden
Anonymous
Patricia P.
Cal Poly School of Education Multiple Subjects Faculty
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Father Ian
Jeanine S. and Jason B.
Judy Newhauser
Wesley Bisheff
Owen, Hugo and Rilo
Paula W.
David Settino Scott
Denise Fourie
Julie Frankel and Melinda Forbes
Kari Mansager and family
Nancy Rucci & Jeffery Land
Hanna Vacanti
Donna, autumn and hope
Kathy Myers