"We don't want a Guantanamo in the Nation's Capital" said Johnny Barnes, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of the National Capital Area, before a packed audience during yesterday's community dialogue at the University of the District of Columbia on the Secure Communities progra.m The controversial program, recently implemented by the Metropolitan Police Department without community consultation, runs the fingerprints of everyone arrested in the District of Columbia through the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) database.

Workers, advocates, labor leaders, and community activists packed the basement of First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church last Thursday night to examine how "Wage Theft" is impacting local workers.

A board of 10 prominent community leaders, chaired by Rev. Raymond C. Bell of First Rising Mt. Zion Church, heard testimony from day laborers, security officers, ironworkers, and cleaners - all of whom had their hard-earned wages stolen in different ways.

Unity in Dream City: Organizing for Local Justice in 2009
Compiled by Andrew Willis Garcés and Mackenzie Baris

INDEX:

*The Year in Struggle

*Victories – Organized by Issue
Housing/Gentrification
Labor/Workers' Rights
Youth/Education
Public Sector & Safety Net
Police Accountability