BLOGGERS NEEDED!
Interested in sharing your opinions about progressive politics? Want to highlight the great work of local community groups and individuals? Then join our blog team. Send us an email and we can sign you up. apafp AT apaforprogress DOT org.
This weekend I shed a few tears over the loss of two inspiring leaders in the immigrant youth movement. On Saturday night I started seeing "RIP" notes on facebook. With all of the crazy racist anti-immigrant stuff going on these days, I just could not believe that Tam Tran and Cinthya Felix had died in a car crash in Maine. I know that since their passing, I feel that the fight for fair and just immigration reform and the DREAM Act is that much more urgent.
I'm still collecting my thoughts, but I think my friend Cindylu really does a great job summing up what I'm feeling too in her recent blog post:
Dear Friends,
It is with great sadness that I regret to inform everyone of the passing of Tam Tran and Cinthya Felix. These women were nationally active in the undocumented students Civil Rights Movement through their fight for the DREAM Act. Both were UCLA undergraduates and as graduate students Tam was a Doctoral Student in American Civilization at Brown University, while Cinthya was studying Public Health at Columbia University. These women were amazing activists and put themselves at great risk to fight for this just cause. Cinthya was a working class student from East Los Angeles, California and attended Garfield High School and Tam’s family had been displaced as a result of the Vietnam War and was from Garden Grove, CA. There is much more information in the links below about their lives.
A memorial service will be held on Monday May 17 from 3-5 pm in the Kerckhoff Grand Salon at UCLA.
Like many who have written about Tam and Cinthya’s passing, I didn’t know them personally. I knew of these two young leaders by simply being a fellow UCLA student leader and a supporter of the DREAM Act (both the federal and California versions).
Still, I was inspired by their courage to speak out and tell their stories.
Even though Tam and Cinthya passed on way too soon, I have no doubt they will continue to inspire more DREAMers.
APAP is a national network of progressive Asian Americans and allies. We count on the support of our members and friends to continue our work of advancing progressive ideas. Please consider joining today.
Membership is just $20 per year and members receive discounts to events and merchandise.
| User | Points |
|---|---|
| curtis | 1928 |
| ebeh | 1161 |
| Madhuri | 1145 |
| erinjerri | 1074 |
| spamfriedrice | 551 |
| oliveoil | 457 |
| Calvin Prashad | 358 |
| JennyG | 281 |
| jenn | 219 |
| chriswong | 155 |
I only knew Tam, and not very well. She was brilliant and courageous. The short documentary she made, Lost and Found, which explores the life and hardships of an undocumented student has changed so many people's views about the undocumented. I've used it many times during presentations and when the lights flip on, tears are often streaming down viewer's cheeks.
Their passing is a great loss, but I celebrate the change they have already brought to so many people and the way they have inspired so many more.
Scholar and Student Activist
Advocate for AB540 and the DREAM ACT
Join us in honoring the life of Tam Tran with
A Message of Hope
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
Santa Santa Ana College—the Spot
1:30 1:30pm Aztec Ceremonial Ritual
2:30-4:00pm Memorial Service
This program is being sponsored by SAC students and the Santa Ana College Foundation
Post new comment