Coalition for a New Georgia
July 21, 2005 (Atlanta, Georgia) Several local and state organizations have united to form the Coalition for a New Georgia. The purpose of the coalition is to provide and disseminate information regarding laws, policies, and practices that impact Georgia’s immigrants. In addition, the coalition will strive to educate the state’s business, political, religious, and immigrant communities.
To join the Coalition for a New Georgia, please fill out the following Memo of Understanding: http://www.galeo.org/pdfs/Coalition4NewGAMOU061606.pdf
To read the legislation SB529, as passed please click here for more information.
To read an analysis of SB529, as passed please click here for more information.
To access common Questions and Answers in Spanish regarding SB529 and prepared by the Latin American Association, please click here for more information.
To read the proposed legialstion HR256, please click here for more information.
Take Action! Follow this link for the latest agenda item!
To read the recent (3/1/06) Pastoral Letter on Comprehensive Immigration Reform from both of Georgia's Catholic Bishops, please click here.
(Updated 12-18-07)The Coalition for a New Georgia consists of a diverse array of member organizations including:
- African Human Rights Coalition
- American Immigration Lawyer's Association (AILA)-Atlanta Chapter
- American Jewish Committee, Atlanta Chapter
- Anti-Defamation League
- Association of Brazilian Community of Atlanta (Ascombra)
- Atlanta Jobs for Justice
- Coalicion de Lideres Latinos (CLILA)-Dalton
- Coalition for the Peoples’ Agenda
- Cobb/Cherokee Immigrant Alliance
- Coordinating Council of Latino Community Leaders in Atlanta
- Despertad Latino de Georgia
- Dialogo Latino Inc.
- GALEO (Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials)
- Georgia Latino Credit Union Project
- Georgia Rural Urban Summit (GRUS)
- Health Professionals for a Healthy Georgia
- International Center of Atlanta
- Latin American and Caribbean Community Center
- League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) - Atlanta Chapter
- Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF)
- Mexican American Student Association (MASA), Kennesaw State University
- Pakistani American Community of Atlanta (PAK Atlanta)
- People of the Road Coalition
- Puerto Ricans for Education, Empowerment and Advocacy (PREEA)
- Raksha, Inc.
- Rome Coalition for Immigration
- St. Julian Catholic Church - Fort Valley, GA
- Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
- Women Overcoming Whatever, WOW Foundation
- Women's Policy Group
- Women Watch Afrika, Inc.
NEW! 6/21/06! The Coalition for a New Georgia has also adopted the "Voting for a New Georgia" campaign. This coincides with national efforts of the We Are America Alliance to register one million new voters by the November elections and to encourage immigrants to become citizens for future elections. GALEO is heading up efforts for the Georgia Latino Vote 2006 campaign with a website of information about voting and citizenship as well as managing a toll free number for voting concerns, questions, or volunteer efforts.
To join the Georgia Latino Vote 2006 efforts, http://www.galeo.org/pdfs/GALatinoVote2006MOU.pdf
Please follow this link for more information: www.eslahora.com
(Updated on 7/10/06) These are the organizations that have joined our efforts for "Voting for a New GA":
- DeKalb Neighborhood Leadership Institute
- Partnership for Community Action Inc.
In 2005 & 2006, the Coalition for a New Georgia initiated a “No on HR-256” Campaign. On Thursday, February 17, 2005, Georgia HR- 256 was introduced by representatives Roger Williams (HD-4), Bobby Franklin (HD-43), Ronald Forster (HD- 3), Scott Martin (HD-3), and Jeannette Jamieson (HD- 28). HR-256 calls for a unnecessary state constitutional amendment to ban all public services to undocumented immigrants including all publicly funded healthcare and all education, including and unconstitutional ban on access to public K-12 education. HR-256 also calls for an unfounded mandate and greater cooperation between local law enforcement agencies with federal immigration authorities. HR-256 was proposed in 2005 and did not see any legislative action; however, HR-256 is still being considered for the 2006 legislative session.
The Coalition for a New Georgia and the “No on HR-256” campaign believe that:
- HR 256 is bad for Georgia and will not fix our broken immigration system.
- HR 256 penalizes innocent children and is unconstitutional.
- HR 256 will impose un-funded mandates on local governments.
- HR 256 will undermine the public safety of all Georgians.
- HR 256 will hurt Georgia’s economy.
- HR 256 is anti-immigrant.
- HR 256 contradicts the moral values of equality, respect, tolerance, and dignity.
(Update: 04/30/07) The following organizations lent their support for the “No on HR-256” campaign:
- Association of Colombian Professionals in Atlanta (ACOLPA)
- Atlanta WAND
- Catholic Campaign for Human Development-Local Committee-Archdiocese of Atlanta
- Familes First
- Feminist Women's Health Center
- Georgia for Democracy
- Georgia Poultry Justice Alliance
- Hispanic Concerns Committee of Athens
- International Center of Atlanta
- Latinos Unidos de Carrollton
- Pax Christi
- Public Policy Advocacy Committee of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta
- Women's Action for New Directions (WAND).
Other organizations are welcome and encouraged to take a stand with the “No on HR-256” campaign.
On May 3, 2005, several Latino organizations united to send a letter of opposition to elected officials expressing their concern regarding HR-256. Latino Unity Letter opposing HR-256 is available online: http://www.galeo.org/LatinoUnityonHR256.html
To join the Coalition for a New Georgia, please fill out: http://www.galeo.org/pdfs/C4NGMOU.pdf
As part of the educational efforts in communities across Georgia, the Coalition for a New Georgia will work to conduct Town Hall Meetings across the state to discuss immigration, immigration reform, HR-256, and all of the impact upon our state and nation. For updated list, please go to EVENTS section.
Below are several fliers prepared for the "No on HR-256 Campaign":
- ACLU-Georgia flier on HR-256: http://www.galeo.org/pdfs/ACLUHR256.pdf
- MALDEF flier on HR-256: http://www.galeo.org/pdfs/MALDEFHR256l.pdf
- Health Professionals for a Healthy Georgia prepared the following website for information on health impact of HR-256 and SB170: http://www.hstatweb.org/healthygeorgia.htm
- GALEO Legislative Fact Sheet #1: Economic Studies in NC and CA (full reports available under Reports & Publication section of the GALEO website): http://www.galeo.org/pdfs/GALEOLFS0601.pdf
- GALEO Legislative Fact Sheet #2: Summary makes the case for Comprehensive Immigration Reform over Temporary Worker Program (full report available under Reports & Publication section of the GALEO website): http://www.galeo.org/pdfs/GALEOLFS0602.pdf
- GALEO Legislative Fact Sheet #3: Forcing our Blues into Gray Areas: Local Police and Federal Immigration Enforcement (full report available under Reports & Publication section of the GALEO website): http://www.galeo.org/pdfs/GALEOLFS0603.pdf
The Coalition for a New Georgia encourages organizations to support and join the We Are America Alliance, targeting to register voters and encourage citizenship across the nation. For more information, please visit http://www.weareamericaalliance.org.
Individuals and organizations are also encouraged to participate in the The NATIONAL WHITE RIBBON CAMPAIGN for DIALOGUE. The National White Ribbon Campaign for Dialogue is a call for prayer, reflection, and dialogue to advance a constructive debate on immigration reform in the United States. For more information, please visit http://www.whiteribbon.org .
The Coalition for a New Georgia also encourages organizations to support the New American Opportunity Campaign principles on comprehensive immigration reform. For more information and additional resources on immigration reform, please visit http://www.cirnow.org .
For more information, contact:
African Human Rights Coalition – Priscilla Sterling – (404)
765-0802
psterling59@yahoo.com
Atlanta Jobs with Justice – Terence Courtney – (404) 381-5993
terencecourtney@yahoo.com
Coalition for the Peoples’ Agenda – Helen Butler – (404)
653-1199
hmariebutler@aol.com
Coordinating Council of Community Leaders – Adelina Nicholls – (770)
402-7986
adelinan@aol.com
Dialogo Latino, Inc. – Maria Rey – (404) 580-3863
dialogolatino@aol.com
GALEO – Jerry Gonzalez – (404) 745-2580
jerry@galeo.org
Georgia Rural Urban Summit – Larry Pelligrini – (404) 522-4787
lobbywatch@aol.com
Latin American and Caribbean Community Center – Janvieve Williams – (404)
588-9761
jwilliams@lacccenter.org
Women Watch Afrika, Inc. – Glory Kilanko – (404) 292-0069
gloryk_99@yahoo.com
