Date: Sun, 18 Aug 1996 12:48:13 -0700
From: iwp.ilo-AT-ix.netcom.com (CEP )
Subject: Press Release



        Movimiento por los Derechos de los Inmigrantes (MDI)
                3311 Mission Street, Suite 135
                    San Francisco, CA 94110
                    Phone FAX: (415) 648-5257

Press Release
Contact: Carlos Estrada, Gene Pepi
Sunday, August 18, 1996



OVER 300  PEOPLE ATTENDED FUNDRAISING FOR LEFT- PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATES
Labor Activists, Gays and Lesbians, Latinos, Immigrants, Asians, 
African Americans, Youth and Ralph Nader supporters Paid Between $25 
and $100 per Person to Support Independent Alternative in Local 
Elections

Over 300 people attended Saturday night fundraising organized by the 
Immigrant Rights Movement (MDI) and the San Francisco Electoral 
Coalition “Civil Rights for All”.  People attending paid between $25 
and $100 to have a 
dinner donated by local merchants and restauranteurs and to listen to 
four music groups ranging from Latino Rock to Folk Music from Latin 
America.

The event raised over $8,000 to benefit the Immigrant Rights Movement’s 
campaigns to put initiatives on the ballot protecting the rights of 
immigrants and defending and expanding affirmative action programs in 
the City of San Francisco.  Part of the proceedings was also earmarked 
to benefit the local candidates sponsored by the host organizations: 
Carlos Petroni and Lucrecia Bermúdez for the Board of Supervisors, 
Larry Kisinger for the Bo
ard of Education and Tom Lacey for the College Board.  

The crowd enthusiastically cheered when the main speaker of the event, 
supervisorial candidate Carlos Petroni, explained that “this is not 
about winning or losing an election, this is about building a 
multi-racial, democr
atic movement to change San Francisco and to stop in its tracks the 
attacks from Washington, Sacramento and Downtown”.

“At times in which the Democrats are going to the right to meet the 
Republicans and the Republicans window-dressed themselves to look 
‘inclusive’, we are rejecting both -- said the candidate -- We are 
going against the cu
rrent but in favor of the future.  We are uniting Latinos, Immigrants, 
Asians, African Americans, Labor activists, women, gays and lesbians 
and youth who decided they had enough”.

Petroni also denounced the City political machines for adapting to the 
attacks from the right and for following the lead of corporations from 
outside the City.  He called for a progressive tax imposed upon “the 
30,000 ric
h outsiders who come everyday to San Francisco to make millions and 
contribute nothing to the City or who refuse to create jobs, low income 
housing and youth programs”

Also speaking at the event, held at the traditional restaurant “Casa 
Sánchez” were Lucrecia Bermúdez, Larry Kisinger and Tom Lacey.  The 
groups Sudaka, Mochi Parra and others played during the five-hour 
event.



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