Sun., Sept. 8, 3-5pm, Congregation Beth Israel, 301 E. Jefferson St.--
Conditions at the Mexican Border: 
Firsthand Accounts from Charlottesville Community Members

Wed., Sept. 11, 6-8pm, Westminster Presbyterian Church Library,  400 Rugby Rd.--
Joint CIRAC/Cville Immigrant Bond Fund meeting: For all who feel overwhelmed by the daily attacks on our immigrant neighbors: fight the noise by engaging or re-engaging locally. Joint CIRAC and Cville Immigrant Bond Fund Meeting. General orientation to both organizations, followed by break-outs on detention visitation, youth advocacy, financial support , and transportation. Driver training/refresher will feature in-depth #KnowYourRights training and Q&A about the apps that help us run this network of community volunteers.
[Best parking is behind church, off Gordon and Virginia Avenues; use door to the right when facing the back of the church buildings.]

Thurs., Sept. 18, 6:30pm, The Haven, Market St.--
Enrique's Journey: How to fix immigration in a humane way Join Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Sonia Nazario, author of Enrique's Journey, for a wide ranging and provocative exploration of the promise and perils of immigration.

CIRAC took part in several types of trainings in the community centered on understanding the lived experiences of immigrants, and legal considerations as we work to keep our neighbors safe. This includes promoting the Rapid Response Hotline--put this number in your phone now so you can make reports of ICE or other activity that would imperial our neighbors without documentation: 855-298-3271.

July 28 was the unveiling of Charlottesville Unity Days' INSIDE/OUT temporary portrait art installation on the exterior side wall of the Violet Crown Theater on the Downtown Mall. Some CIRAC members and some Cville Immigrant Bond Fund directors were honored by their inclusion. Here are links to coverage from local press: NBC 29; CBS 19; Daily Progress; Daily Progress Slideshow.

August 11, 1-5, Market St. Park--CIRAC and Cville Immigrant Bond Fund will be tabling at another Unity Days event, Call to Action: Community Resources Fair. Come see us!

 

Many thanks to all who made our June CLAW appearance such a raging success!!!

Here are other important things to know about in July:

Plug-in: Look through this list of ways to be involved locally -- volunteer, accompany, purchase food, donate and learn.

Lights for Liberty, July 12, 8:00 pm, Federal Courthouse, Charlottesville. Candlelight vigil coordinated with events all over the country. CIRAC is participating to show solidarity, and to engage folks in the work being done here.

CIRAC Driver Training, with Know Your Rights emphasis:
Luis Oyola of the Legal Aid Justice Center will come and facilitate Know Your Rights training for drivers. We'll be viewing a video and discussing it, as well as other scenarios. Please make every effort to get to Westminster Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, July 16, 6-7:30 pm, for this training, whether you've driven dozens of times, or never have. The entrance to use is off the back side of the church, the door all the way to your right as you face the back of the church.

Before this training on Tues., July 16, 6-7:30pm, at Westminster Presbyterian Church's Library, please watch this short video at

https://www.facebook.com/NowThisPolitics/videos/611270049343980/

and load and review the following smartphone apps: Google Calendar, Google Maps, Google Translate, Google Drive, and Signal.  We'll also allow time for hands-on help for using the apps.

Border is Here, July 20, 10 am- 2pm, Westminster Presbyterian Church.  A four-hour immersive and interactive workshop on the lived experience of immigration.  Produced and taught by PLUMAS (Political Latinx United for Movement and Action in Society) and the Cville Immigrant Bond Fund. Lunch will be provided.

Join us for an evening of arm wrestling and antics as we grip up for the Cville Immigrant Bond Fund.

CIBF assists local undocumented families to pay for legal representation and obtain release from ICE detention. You can find out more about CIBF at their website: www.cvilleimmigrantbondfund.org

There are a few VIP tickets left! Here's what's included in a VIP ticket:
+ Ringside seating—the best view in the house
+ Beverage service—don’t fight the crowds, have your drink delivered
+ CLAWbucks to get the evening started—bribe the judges for immigrant justice
+ #AbolishICE and #FreeThemAll wristbands—wear your support on your sleeve
+ A change purse handmade by Maria Chavalan Sut, our Guatemalan neighbor living in sanctuary at Wesley Memorial Church—perfect for stuffing CLAW bucks into
+ A raffle ticket for a meal for two from Marie Bette and Bizou!—with a limited number of tickets, your odds of getting a fabulous meal out of this are really high!

VIP tix available on Eventbrite.

Thanks for your support!

See you on June 29!
LocationChampion Brewing Company
324 6th Street Southeast
Charlottesville, VA 22902
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed new regulation to expand the definition of public charge, which is used in immigration cases as a ground of inadmissibility and deportation. The proposed rule has already exacerbated the current climate of fear and is discouraging immigrant families from obtaining necessary healthcare and services. CIRAC submitted a public comment opposing this change and urging DHS to withdraw the proposed rule. 

Concerned citizens must counteract the actions of ICE in Charlottesville, Albemarle and Nelson and pressure the Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail Board to vote NO on voluntary collaboration between local law enforcement and ICE. It is NOT making our communities safer!

Join us at the next Jail Board meeting on Thursday, September 13 to show your support for our immigrant neighbors and to end collusion with ICE. The address is 160 Peregory Lane in Charlottesville.
​
The meeting starts at 12.30 PM but come early because seating is limited.

ALBEMARLE residents: you are encouraged to call your representatives ahead of the meeting and add your own thoughts, personal anecdotes and feelings about this issue in your call - that will make it more powerful!

Here are the Albemarle Board Members you should contact:

Mrs. McKeel: (434) 296-5841 
Sheriff Harding: (434) 972-4001 Ext. 0445
Mr. Walker: (434) 296-5841 Ext. 3400

What we've been up to recently:
-Representation at various civic events to raise awareness and recruit volunteers
-Training on sanctuary law
-Transportation of neighbors to Northern Virginia for ICE appointments
-Participation in Indivisible immigration protest, along with coalition partners
-CIRAC planning team meeting
-Stop Torturing Children Rally, Shenandoah Valley Juvenile Center
-​Families Belong Together ... And Free Rally, organized by Indivisible Charlottesville; part of the national action organized by the Women's March

​Please complete our interest form.

Wednesday, September 26 @ 7:00pm: CIRAC informational and training meeting. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 Rugby Road, Charlottesville, VA. (park and enter from the back parking lot, accessible off Gordon and Virginia Avenues)

RECENT EVENTS

Saturday, August 25 @ 9:30am: CIRAC presented at the Cville Dems Breakfast.
Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, Downtown Branch. 

Thursday, August 23 @ 12:30pm: CIRAC and other local organizations working on the Stop ACRJ-ICE Collusion Campaign at the Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail Board Work Session protested the jail's notification of ICE when undocumented prisoners are released.

Monday, August 13 @ 12:00pm: CIRAC presented at the Lefty Lunch Ladies of Fluvanna County meeting.

Saturday, July 21: Tabled at the annual Nelson Dems Crab Feast at Mountain Cove Vineyard.

Thursday, July 19: Participated in the Women of the 5th and Legal Aid Justice Center's Immigration Forum at the Building Goodness Foundation in Charlottesville.