[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24121]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  IN HONOR OF THE CITIZENSHIP PROJECT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 18, 2004

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Citizenship Project 
as this year's recipient of the Ralph B. Atkinson Award for Civil 
Liberties. Each year the Atkinson Award, named for the distinguished 
civil rights advocate Ralph B. Atkinson, is presented to a local 
advocate for civil liberties. This year the Monterey County Chapter of 
the American Civil Liberties Union selected the Citizenship Project, 
which was founded in 1994 by Teamsters Local 890 in response to the 
passage of Proposition 187. The project is dedicated to an expanded 
citizenship and consistently represents such values as education and 
self-organization through mutual support. In 2004 they became a close 
partner to the Central Labor Council, and are currently helping the 
Labor Council form a new coalition for immigrant rights here on the 
Central Coast.
  Maria Echavarria, the Project's Acting Director, and Tony Acosta were 
extremely instrumental in the success of this project. With the help of 
over 1,000 immigrant community volunteers, the Citizenship Project has 
provided low-cost immigration services, registered thousands of new 
voters, and conducted voter workshops for new citizens. With their 
assistance, over 15,000 residents of the Central Coast have applied for 
U.S. Citizenship.
  Since 1998 they have sponsored Jovenes en Accion Youth in Action. 
This immigrant youth leadership development program registers voters, 
teaches in the school, produces plays about their experience, and has 
led the struggle in our region for educational & employment rights for 
undocumented youth.
  Furthermore, they build citizenship by helping people form groups to 
act together. They have launched La Hermandad de Ex-Braceros 
Brotherhood of Ex-Braceros, Mujeres del Sur Triqui women in Greenfield, 
and La Alianza para una Manana Mejor south Salinas Valley Latino 
political club with this objective in mind.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to 
honor the accomplishments of the Citizenship Project and express my 
sincere gratitude for their commitment to the community.

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