stopracism
03-29-2010, 06:37 AM
Francis Kai-Hwa Wong Promotes Illegal Immigration in Michigan
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/stopracism/francis_kai_hwa_wong.jpg
Francis Kai-Hwa Wong
Francis Kai-Hwa Wong promoted a benefit concert in Michigan in which proceeds went to the Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrants Rights, an organization that promotes illegal immigration.
Here is a flyer from the Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrants Rights in which Immigration and Customs Enforcement are called “Terrorists” for enforcing immigration law.
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/stopracism/ice_meeting.jpg
This is Francis Kai-Hwa Wong’s column from annarbor.com:
13th Avenue of Sacred Song to Benefit Washtenaw Interfaith Organization for Immigrant Rights
December 3, 2009
http://www.annarbor.com/passions-pursuits/13th-annual-evening-of-sacred-song-to-benefit-washtenaw-interfaith-coalition-for-immigrant-rights-wi/
Last year around this time, my neighbor Laurie organized a good old-fashioned caroling party (a medieval English tradition) for all the neighbors and kids to go tromping through the snow and sing Christmas carols around the neighborhood.
I was so excited. It had been years since I had gone caroling, one of my favorite things in the world to do. In college, I used to go caroling every year all around downtown San Francisco with the UC Berkeley Glee Club - singing in hospitals, restaurants, street corners, underground BART stations, alumni functions, Ghiradelli Square. I know all the words (but weirdly, only the harmonies) to all the standard (and a few not-so-standard) Christmas songs.
One of the things I love about Christmas caroling is the opportunity to stand in the sacred for just a few moments in this secular world of ours to sing praise and glory without having to play it cool. It really does not matter if the words swelling and circling around us are “Baruch Adonai” or “He shall purify” or “Sweet little holy chile’, we didn’t know who you wuz,” it is not often that we have opportunities in polite society to express feelings of passion or adoration.
Plus I have a certain weakness for men who sing.
So this benefit concert of Sacred Song coming up Saturday night caught my eye. Incredible names here, and I am touched by the sensitivity that would note explicitly (for a fundraiser!), “No one will be turned away.”:
The 13th Annual Evening of Sacred Song: A Celebration of Peace, Community, and Spirit, will take place on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009 at 7:00 pm at Temple Beth Emeth /St. Clare Episcopal, 2309 Packard Road (at Jewett). $15.00 pre-concert price, $20.00 at the door. Admission is free for children under age 12. Tickets are available from members. No one will be turned away.
Sacred Song, a multi-ethnic choral group, sings both a cappella and with accompaniment on guitar, flute, bass, keyboard, ukelele, and percussion. Since 1995, the group's annual December concerts have affirmed the values of social justice and spiritual inclusiveness. Sacred Song members include: La’Ron Williams, D. Yarrow Halstead, Dale Petty, Laura Machida, Gae Winn, Cassandra Montgomery, Robin Wilson, Mary Wilson, Edie Lewis, Faye Askew-King, MaryAnne Perrone, Barbara Stahler-Sholk, Sam and Max Deschamps, as well as guest performers Dana Piper and Julia Bayha. Post-concert Reception
All proceeds after expenses will be donated to: The Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights (WICIR)
The Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights (WICIR) is an organization comprised of members from numerous community and faith-based organizations advocating for the rights of immigrants, documented and undocumented. It has assisted children whose parents have faced deportation, provided translation services and representation for those often long-time members of this community who have had interactions with the immigration customs enforcement bureau (ICE). The WICIR network has sponsored a series of community meetings to educate the public on the implications of ICE raids for both documented and undocumented families in our area. It also supports the development of sanctuary congregations to provide refuge and protection to immigrant families.
Since 1995, Sacred Song has offered annual December concerts in Ann Arbor that benefit local social justice organizations. These evenings gather the community and provide a time to share and generate energy together, giving voice to the sacred power within. The singers, who live locally, believe that the conditions of our current times can be improved if we open to the spirit of loving sister- and brotherhood within us all.
For more information, call 734-761-7962 or e-mail: machida@comcast.net.
Frances Kai-Hwa Wang is a second-generation Chinese American from California who now divides her time between Ann Arbor and the Big Island of Hawaii. She is editor of IMDiversity.com Asian American Village, lead multicultural contributor for AnnArbor.com, and a contributor for New America Media's Ethnoblog. She is a popular speaker on Asian Pacific American and multicultural issues. Check out her Web site at franceskaihwawang.com, her blog at franceskaihwawang.blogspot.com, and she can be reached at fkwang888@gmail.com.
Here is a letter of complaint sent to annarbor.com
To Whom It May Concern,
We are writing regarding Francis Kai-Hwa Wong’s promotion of a benefit concert for The Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrants Rights. The Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrants Rights promotes illegal immigration. Here is there mission statement:
“Our mission is to provide a culturally sensitive and supportive urgent response to raid detainees and their families, to impact local governmental policies to empower and protect our immigrant community members, and to work toward national Comprehensive Immigration Reform that provides a pathway to citizenship for all undocumented workers and people.”
The Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrants Rights calls US agents “terrorists” for enforcing immigration law and their members advocate for the use of fake drivers licenses for illegal aliens. Francis Kai-Hwa Wong and Annarbor.com should put legal immigrants and Americans first. You should not promote organizations that create lawlessness, lead to Americans losing their jobs, and put us at greater risk for crimes such as terrorism.
This letter was sent to the following people:
Matt Kraner, annarbor.com President
mattkraner@annarbor.com
Jan Bacungan, annarbor.com Administrative Assistant
janbacungan@annarbor.com
Francis Kai-Hwa Wong, annarbor.com Multicultural Contributor
Fkwang888@gmail.com
Laurel Champion, annarbor.com Executive Vice President
laurelchampion@annarbor.com
Tony Dearing, annarbor.com Chief Content Editor
tonydearing@annarbor.com
David Martel, annarbor.com Marketing Director
davidmartel@gmail.com
Amalie Nash, annarbor.com News Director
amalienash@annarbor.com
Stefanie Murray, annarbor.com Community Director
stefanieMurray@annarbor.com
Bob Needham, annarbor.com Entertainment Director
bobneedham@annarbor.com
Jim Deakins, annarbor.com Project Manager
jimdeakins@annarbor.com
++
These are L13th Avenue of Sacred Song members:
La’Ron Williams
D. Yarrow Halstead
Dale Petty
Laura Machida
Gae Winn
Cassandra Montgomery
Robin Wilson
Nancy Harknett
Mary Wilson
Edie Lewis
Faye Askew-King
MaryAnne Perrone
Sam and Max Deshchamps
Barbara Stahler-Sholk
Here is a letter written by Barbara Stahler-Sholk:
From: Barbara Stahler-Sholk at watercolorbarb3@sbcglobal.net
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 2:03 PM
To: Anglin, Mike; Easthope, Christopher
Subject: Please put on the 4/7 city council agenda the issue of immigration raids in Ann Arbor and other places in Washstenaw County
Dear Mr Anglin and Mr Easthope,
Thank you very much for serving on City Council.
I have just left telephone messages for you both and I thought I would also send you emails. I am a constituent of yours-- I live in Ward 5, next to the Bach School and I have voted for both of you.
I would like to request that you put the following issue on the Monday, April 7 City Council Meeting.
As a long-time resident of Ann Arbor and a member of the Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights (WICIR), I am outraged about the fact that in the last few weeks, agents from the federal agency, ICE (Immigrant and Customs Enforcement of Homeland Security) have been coming into our city and county and conducting immigration raids and in an illegally violent manner which is targeting mostly but not exclusively our Latino community which contributes greatly to our city and county. So far, we have documented 13 cases which involve numerous people and often with their families. These people are having their human rights violated and I feel this is something that cannot be tolerated in our community.
WICIR has formed in the last few weeks in emergency response to these egregious acts. We are a coalition of 17 churches, faith-based, university and grass roots organizations. The five areas on which we are concentrating our efforts are immediate response, political action, community education, legal counsel, and fundraising. Please see the email below and the attached letter to the Immigration Office in Detroit which describe the Council and situation in more detail. For your information, the group that visited the Detroit immigration office was not allowed to post bond for the immigrant in custody. (Please note that the organization is now called Washtenaw Interfaith Council for Immigration Rights and not Washtenaw County Interfaith Council for Immigration Rights).
I would like to request that this issue be brought to the attention of City Council and I would like City Council to consider what actions can be taken. I hope that you will put this emergent issue on the April 7 agenda.
Thank you very much for your consideration.
I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Barbara Stahler-Sholk
425 5th Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
(734) 741-0573 (home)
(734) 717-9589 (cell)
watercolorbarb3@sbcglobal.net
++
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/stopracism/barbara_stahler_sholk.jpg
Barbara Stahler-Sholk (third from left)
Barbara Stahler-Sholk is a demonstrator in Ann Arbor Michigan. She is married to Richard Stahler-Sholk. Richard Stahler-Sholk is noted for his activism and global approach. His new book is Latin America, Social Movements in the Twentieth Century: Resistance, Power, and Democracy.
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/stopracism/francis_kai_hwa_wong.jpg
Francis Kai-Hwa Wong
Francis Kai-Hwa Wong promoted a benefit concert in Michigan in which proceeds went to the Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrants Rights, an organization that promotes illegal immigration.
Here is a flyer from the Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrants Rights in which Immigration and Customs Enforcement are called “Terrorists” for enforcing immigration law.
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/stopracism/ice_meeting.jpg
This is Francis Kai-Hwa Wong’s column from annarbor.com:
13th Avenue of Sacred Song to Benefit Washtenaw Interfaith Organization for Immigrant Rights
December 3, 2009
http://www.annarbor.com/passions-pursuits/13th-annual-evening-of-sacred-song-to-benefit-washtenaw-interfaith-coalition-for-immigrant-rights-wi/
Last year around this time, my neighbor Laurie organized a good old-fashioned caroling party (a medieval English tradition) for all the neighbors and kids to go tromping through the snow and sing Christmas carols around the neighborhood.
I was so excited. It had been years since I had gone caroling, one of my favorite things in the world to do. In college, I used to go caroling every year all around downtown San Francisco with the UC Berkeley Glee Club - singing in hospitals, restaurants, street corners, underground BART stations, alumni functions, Ghiradelli Square. I know all the words (but weirdly, only the harmonies) to all the standard (and a few not-so-standard) Christmas songs.
One of the things I love about Christmas caroling is the opportunity to stand in the sacred for just a few moments in this secular world of ours to sing praise and glory without having to play it cool. It really does not matter if the words swelling and circling around us are “Baruch Adonai” or “He shall purify” or “Sweet little holy chile’, we didn’t know who you wuz,” it is not often that we have opportunities in polite society to express feelings of passion or adoration.
Plus I have a certain weakness for men who sing.
So this benefit concert of Sacred Song coming up Saturday night caught my eye. Incredible names here, and I am touched by the sensitivity that would note explicitly (for a fundraiser!), “No one will be turned away.”:
The 13th Annual Evening of Sacred Song: A Celebration of Peace, Community, and Spirit, will take place on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009 at 7:00 pm at Temple Beth Emeth /St. Clare Episcopal, 2309 Packard Road (at Jewett). $15.00 pre-concert price, $20.00 at the door. Admission is free for children under age 12. Tickets are available from members. No one will be turned away.
Sacred Song, a multi-ethnic choral group, sings both a cappella and with accompaniment on guitar, flute, bass, keyboard, ukelele, and percussion. Since 1995, the group's annual December concerts have affirmed the values of social justice and spiritual inclusiveness. Sacred Song members include: La’Ron Williams, D. Yarrow Halstead, Dale Petty, Laura Machida, Gae Winn, Cassandra Montgomery, Robin Wilson, Mary Wilson, Edie Lewis, Faye Askew-King, MaryAnne Perrone, Barbara Stahler-Sholk, Sam and Max Deschamps, as well as guest performers Dana Piper and Julia Bayha. Post-concert Reception
All proceeds after expenses will be donated to: The Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights (WICIR)
The Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights (WICIR) is an organization comprised of members from numerous community and faith-based organizations advocating for the rights of immigrants, documented and undocumented. It has assisted children whose parents have faced deportation, provided translation services and representation for those often long-time members of this community who have had interactions with the immigration customs enforcement bureau (ICE). The WICIR network has sponsored a series of community meetings to educate the public on the implications of ICE raids for both documented and undocumented families in our area. It also supports the development of sanctuary congregations to provide refuge and protection to immigrant families.
Since 1995, Sacred Song has offered annual December concerts in Ann Arbor that benefit local social justice organizations. These evenings gather the community and provide a time to share and generate energy together, giving voice to the sacred power within. The singers, who live locally, believe that the conditions of our current times can be improved if we open to the spirit of loving sister- and brotherhood within us all.
For more information, call 734-761-7962 or e-mail: machida@comcast.net.
Frances Kai-Hwa Wang is a second-generation Chinese American from California who now divides her time between Ann Arbor and the Big Island of Hawaii. She is editor of IMDiversity.com Asian American Village, lead multicultural contributor for AnnArbor.com, and a contributor for New America Media's Ethnoblog. She is a popular speaker on Asian Pacific American and multicultural issues. Check out her Web site at franceskaihwawang.com, her blog at franceskaihwawang.blogspot.com, and she can be reached at fkwang888@gmail.com.
Here is a letter of complaint sent to annarbor.com
To Whom It May Concern,
We are writing regarding Francis Kai-Hwa Wong’s promotion of a benefit concert for The Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrants Rights. The Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrants Rights promotes illegal immigration. Here is there mission statement:
“Our mission is to provide a culturally sensitive and supportive urgent response to raid detainees and their families, to impact local governmental policies to empower and protect our immigrant community members, and to work toward national Comprehensive Immigration Reform that provides a pathway to citizenship for all undocumented workers and people.”
The Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrants Rights calls US agents “terrorists” for enforcing immigration law and their members advocate for the use of fake drivers licenses for illegal aliens. Francis Kai-Hwa Wong and Annarbor.com should put legal immigrants and Americans first. You should not promote organizations that create lawlessness, lead to Americans losing their jobs, and put us at greater risk for crimes such as terrorism.
This letter was sent to the following people:
Matt Kraner, annarbor.com President
mattkraner@annarbor.com
Jan Bacungan, annarbor.com Administrative Assistant
janbacungan@annarbor.com
Francis Kai-Hwa Wong, annarbor.com Multicultural Contributor
Fkwang888@gmail.com
Laurel Champion, annarbor.com Executive Vice President
laurelchampion@annarbor.com
Tony Dearing, annarbor.com Chief Content Editor
tonydearing@annarbor.com
David Martel, annarbor.com Marketing Director
davidmartel@gmail.com
Amalie Nash, annarbor.com News Director
amalienash@annarbor.com
Stefanie Murray, annarbor.com Community Director
stefanieMurray@annarbor.com
Bob Needham, annarbor.com Entertainment Director
bobneedham@annarbor.com
Jim Deakins, annarbor.com Project Manager
jimdeakins@annarbor.com
++
These are L13th Avenue of Sacred Song members:
La’Ron Williams
D. Yarrow Halstead
Dale Petty
Laura Machida
Gae Winn
Cassandra Montgomery
Robin Wilson
Nancy Harknett
Mary Wilson
Edie Lewis
Faye Askew-King
MaryAnne Perrone
Sam and Max Deshchamps
Barbara Stahler-Sholk
Here is a letter written by Barbara Stahler-Sholk:
From: Barbara Stahler-Sholk at watercolorbarb3@sbcglobal.net
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 2:03 PM
To: Anglin, Mike; Easthope, Christopher
Subject: Please put on the 4/7 city council agenda the issue of immigration raids in Ann Arbor and other places in Washstenaw County
Dear Mr Anglin and Mr Easthope,
Thank you very much for serving on City Council.
I have just left telephone messages for you both and I thought I would also send you emails. I am a constituent of yours-- I live in Ward 5, next to the Bach School and I have voted for both of you.
I would like to request that you put the following issue on the Monday, April 7 City Council Meeting.
As a long-time resident of Ann Arbor and a member of the Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights (WICIR), I am outraged about the fact that in the last few weeks, agents from the federal agency, ICE (Immigrant and Customs Enforcement of Homeland Security) have been coming into our city and county and conducting immigration raids and in an illegally violent manner which is targeting mostly but not exclusively our Latino community which contributes greatly to our city and county. So far, we have documented 13 cases which involve numerous people and often with their families. These people are having their human rights violated and I feel this is something that cannot be tolerated in our community.
WICIR has formed in the last few weeks in emergency response to these egregious acts. We are a coalition of 17 churches, faith-based, university and grass roots organizations. The five areas on which we are concentrating our efforts are immediate response, political action, community education, legal counsel, and fundraising. Please see the email below and the attached letter to the Immigration Office in Detroit which describe the Council and situation in more detail. For your information, the group that visited the Detroit immigration office was not allowed to post bond for the immigrant in custody. (Please note that the organization is now called Washtenaw Interfaith Council for Immigration Rights and not Washtenaw County Interfaith Council for Immigration Rights).
I would like to request that this issue be brought to the attention of City Council and I would like City Council to consider what actions can be taken. I hope that you will put this emergent issue on the April 7 agenda.
Thank you very much for your consideration.
I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Barbara Stahler-Sholk
425 5th Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
(734) 741-0573 (home)
(734) 717-9589 (cell)
watercolorbarb3@sbcglobal.net
++
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/stopracism/barbara_stahler_sholk.jpg
Barbara Stahler-Sholk (third from left)
Barbara Stahler-Sholk is a demonstrator in Ann Arbor Michigan. She is married to Richard Stahler-Sholk. Richard Stahler-Sholk is noted for his activism and global approach. His new book is Latin America, Social Movements in the Twentieth Century: Resistance, Power, and Democracy.