MAY 1: May Day 2009

Like in previous years, thousands of pro-migrant advocates took to the streets to let their presence be known and remind Congress of their promise for immigration reform. DreamActivist covered it here.

MAY 4: DREAM ACT buttons released

Seen someone else sporting them around? Struck a conversation with a stranger while wearing? If you did not, you haven’t dreamed.

MAY 6: Napolitano voices support for DREAM

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano knew about the Dreamers since her time as Governor of Arizona. While her department was getting reviewed by the Judiciary Committee, she said YES on DREAM:

“I supported the DREAM Act when I was governor. I support it now…It seems to me that that DREAM Act is a good piece of legislation and a good idea.” – Janet Napolitano

MAY 21: Harvard President supports DREAM

After a prolonged effort by Harvard students to receive public support, President Drew Faust expressed her support for a path to legal status for undocumented students.

MAY 28: Mayor Bloomberg and business leaders support DREAM

The independent mayor of New York City’s endorsement was joined by the CEO’s of Macy’s, Morgan Stanley, News Corporation, Citigroup, WL Ross & Co LLC,  Tishman Speyer, Deutsche Bank Americas, Partnership for New York City, Boston Properties, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, Con Edison, Stowe, National Grid, American Express Company, JPMorgan Chase & Co, Pfize, Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide, and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz:

The Dream Act offers a fair bargain benefiting both children and the country. As you work to pass it, you will have our full support.

JUNE 3: Mo represents DreamActivist in DC

At the Computers, Freedom, and Privacy Network, DreamActivist core member Mo spoke about undocumented student organizing and how the privacy afforded by Internet communication was key in helping us come together.

JUNE 3: Dreamers participate in Reform Immigration for America summit

Thousands of faxes, phone calls, text messages, and tweets later, there was a major coalition being formed. Julieta from Texas was selected to represent Dreamers at the townhall:

However, regardless of my credentials, my desire to fully contribute to my community, and the shortage of bilingual nurses, the government has not granted me the opportunity to maximize my potential. Today, my diplomas are only pretty frames on the wall and nothing else. Although at times I have felt tired, hopeless, fearful of deportation everyday of my life I pray with all my heart that some day I will have the chance to practice my profession,to stop living in fear of deportation, and to live the American DREAM. – Julieta Garibay, United We Dream Board Member

JUNE 11: Stanford President supports DREAM

Stanford President John Hennessy added his name and signature to the DREAM Act supporters’ list.

JUNE 12: Another UCLA Dreamer in CNN

Nancy was finishing her Bachelor’s degree and getting accepted to schools all over the country. She told her story in Anderson Cooper’s show:

JUNE 20: Walter Lara campaign launched

The campaign to save Walter started brewing something really special. When Dreamers speak out, support comes from all over to stop their deportations. As graduation neared, faxes started pouring in to the offices of the Department of Homeland Security to tell them Walter’s deportation needed to be stopped. On our site, Walter started with his story of self:

At a young age I would get these visions in my sleep, never knowing what they meant. I think they were my mother and I. We were hiding, I was three years old. I could feel the tension, I wanted to cry but my mom was pleading with me not to. I recall the image of us hiding under a train, and holding each other tighter as the footsteps came closer. As quickly as the vision came, just as quickly it went away.

I have another of these visions of which I remember. It’s of my mom and I walking through bushes, late at night. I remember vividly the tearing of her stockings as she treaded along carrying me. At first it was easy we where in a downward inclination, but then it got harder, we had to go up later realizing that it was a small valley. As she kept going I saw lights appear; they were headlights from a vehicle, and there were people in front of those lights. My mom then got frantic and started moving all over the place. They were throwing rocks for reasons that I could not comprehend. I don’t remember what happened after that. In either vision I could not hear a thing; I could only feel the anxiety and the stress both my mom and I were sharing.

Around the time I was about to graduate from high school I asked my mom about these visions. I thought they were just dreams, but I would get them often. She told me that these visions were not dreams, but were actual events, things that we went through to get from Argentina to the United States. I was ignorant towards the country’s legal system before that day.

JUNE 23: National Dream Graduation and solidarity events

Students in Los Angeles, Kansas City, San Jose, Arizona, Houston, Washington DC, Denver, Miami, Chicago, Indianapolis, New Jersey, North Carolina, and other cities stood up for the dreams at the same time. Hundreds in Washington DC roared when Benita gave her speech:

In Los Angeles, the DREAM power was felt as well:

JUNE 29: Wisconsin approves in-state tuition bill

The Wisconsin delegation had one of the longest drives to the National Dream Graduation in Washington, DC. The excitement of the event was only the beginning, as they got back to their state to find out the budget provision granting in-state tuition to Wisconsin undocumented students was becoming law.