November 17, 2008 7:21 PM
Long Island Immigrant Alliance is urging all people concerned about the hate killing of Marcelo Lucero to go to the Suffolk Legislature Tuesday morning to speak out against the Legislature's role in fostering a climate of intolerance.
This event will not include a rally and press conference, but it will provide an opportunity for you to make your voice heard. If you want to speak, go to the Legislative Building at the county complex in Hauppauge at 9AM on November 18. You should sign a card indicating that you want to speak at the "Public Portion" (not the "Hearing"). You will then be assigned a number and cards are called beginning after 9:30AM. You will have three minutes to speak. Generally legislators will not comment and will not answer questions, just (hopefully) listen.
A larger legislative event is planned for Tuesday Dec. 2 at 8:30AM. We will start with a rally and follow with statements to the legislators.
If you go to the legislature this Tuesday, please make the following points:
1. We want an end to anti-immigrant legislation. It does not address Suffolk's real problems and it just stirs up resentments.
2. Stop campaigning by scapegoating immigrants.
3. County Exec. Levy says he is creating a liason between the Latino community and the police. Ask the legislators to make sure that the person appointed is accountable to Latino victims.
4. The Legislature must hold a hearing to look into the dramatic 95% drop in reported hate crimes against Latinos since Levy took office. Is anti-Latino bias really going down, or are hate crimes not being reported or are they miscategorized?
Here is the Legislature's address
725 Veterans Memorial Highway
William H. Rogers Building
Smithtown, NY 11787-4311
Telephone: (631) 853-4070