AJLPP Mass Actions Against PGMA SONA Held in U.S Major Cities

San Francisco - Progressive forces in the United States demonstrated their militant solidarity with the Filipino people by conducting coordinated mass actions against Philippine President Macapagal-Arroyo’s state of the nation address in three major cities of the United States from July 22- 30, 2007.

- July 23 from 6;30 to 8;00 PM, scores of Filipino Americans and their allies led by the Alliance-Philippines (AJLPP)-USA held a vigil rally in front of the Philippine Consulate located in 3600 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles. The rally ended with a solemn candle lighting ceremony as a tribute to more than 890 victims of fascism..

During the in one and half hour mass action against US –GMA, AJLPP activists and allies shouted slogans, OUST GMA, RESUME PEACE TALKS, the group displayed banners and signs and lined-up the streets in front of the consulate. AJLPP groups like KmB (Pro People Youth) and Pesante-USA with allies like the ANSWER-LA PWC, YOUTH UNITE and AFW participated

- In New York, the AJLPP reported that youth group UGNAYAN and DAMAYAN Migrant Workers also held a vigil at the Philippine Consulate at 5561 5th Avenue, New York City, New York also last July 23. They condemned the implementation of the fascist Anti-Terror Law (ATL) in the Philippines.

After-SONA Mass Actions

- On July 29 at Seattle, the Ecumenical Fellowship will also held their event in protest over the SONA – signing of the book Leaping into Unknown by Sister Florchita Bautista and Film Showing and discussion on the issues of Family Reunification, the Guest Worker Program in Canada and the US and the Forced Migration of Filipina women workers and their families

The ALPP- Seattle event will be held on Sunday, July 29 11:30 a.m. at the University Congregational United Church of Christ 4515 16th Avenue N. E. Copies of the book, Leaping into Unknown will be on sale for $17.00

On July 23rd, athe US-backed Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (US-GMA) delivered her 7th State of the Nation Address. As usual, she continues to deceive the people ) and sugarcoat the economic and political crisis that plagues the Filipino people.

Peace Talks in Jeopardy. AFP on the Offensive

On that day, July 23, the armed forces started the offensive in Basilan and the Lanao provinces aggravating the situation in Mindanao and scuttling the GRp-MILF peace negotiations. More than 8,000 troops are now in Basilan wile more than 8,000 has been deployed in Sulu.

This crisis results in extreme poverty for 89% of the 86 million Filipinos. The severe poverty, unemployment, social unrest and political turmoil drives at least 3,300 people a day to migrate to countries like the US in search of a better life. For individuals and organizations who dare to fight for their right to life, civil liberties and national liberation, the US-GMA administration unleashes state-sponsored violence.

The US-GMA regime buries the Filipino people deeper in hardship and has perpetrated the extrajudicial killings of 866 unarmed civilians (including 90 women and 54 children), enforced 200 disappearances and displaced a million civilians.

Filipinos from the motherland to the US mainland are under attack by governments that seek to exploit and repress our fundamental rights. Why do the majority of the Filipino people not have adequate food, shelter, clothes, livelihood, and education? Why has 10% of the Filipino people been driven abroad for survival? Who is the terrorist when the people who assert their rights to basic human rights are extrajudicially killed, abducted or murdered?

NO to the US-GMA undeclared martial rule!
NO to the Anti-Terror Law !
STOP political killings in the Philippines!
SUPPORT the Filipino people's struggle against the resurging fascism!

For more information about just and lasting peace please call (213)241-0906 or email@ajlpp_socal (at) yahoo.com