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New Orleans, Louisiana – As the final activity of their Solidarity and Fact-Finding Mission, the Justice for Filpino Grand Isle Shipyard Workers campaign organized a “freedom ride” of their own to Lafitte, LA on Sunday, February 24.

The 21-car caravan drove through New Orleans to Lafitte bearing placards with demands that included justice for Filipino GIS workers, an end to the slavery and trafficking of migrant workers and guestworkers, an end to forced migration from the Philippines, and calls for Philippine Ambassador Cuisia to resign.  The “Kalayaan (Freedom) Riders” convened in front of Lafitte’s town hall at the Manila Village marker.

The crowd of about 100 was greeted by Dr. Carmelo Astilla who created the inscription commemorating one of the first settlements in the U.S. of Filipinos who escaped from forced labor on Spanish…