Late Monday night, my friend Matías IMed me with some bad news.

Basically, AB 540 — the law that grants undocumented students in-state tuition at California’s public colleges and universities — may be in jeopardy. See, in 2005 some out-of-state students challenged the legality of AB 540. The students who filed the lawsuit contend that it it is illegal for undocumented immigrants to have the right to in-state tuition, while as US citizens from another state, they have to pay more. In 2006, the lawsuit was dismissed by Yolo County Superior Court. As one would expect, the plaintiffs appealed. On Monday, the state appellate court issued an opinion that AB 540 is in conflict with federal law.

And that’s where we’re at now.

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center issued a press release saying we shouldn’t begin panicking just yet. The lawsuit against AB 540 will go back to the lower court. If the decision is made to overturn AB 540, it will likely be tied up in appeals for a number of years. AB 540 is still in tact, and will remain that way for some years.

The struggle for access to higher education for undocumented students doesn’t end there. While AB 540 does grant them in-state tuition, that’s still about $9,000 most students do not have. AB 540 students are ineligible for financial aid. Although the Federal DREAM Act has been introduced in each session of Congress since 2001, it has still not been approved. Last year, Congress tried to make it more attractive by hyping the military aspect of the DREAM Act. However, the bill failed in the Senate when they did not get enough votes to move out of debate. Last year, the California Dream Act, which would have given undocumented students access to some forms of financial aid was vetoed by Gov. Schwarzenegger.

A new version of the California Dream Act (SB 1301) is currently on the Governor’s desk waiting to signed. To find out more and sign the petition supporting SB 1301, check out El Random Hero’s post at LA Eastside.

I’ve written about this issue several times. For past posts, check here.

I watched way too much of the RNC yesterday. Today, not so much. I learned my lesson, and let’s face it John McCain isn’t as fascinating as Sarah Palin.

I heard a lot of things that deserved the Cara de Fuchi. First Rudy Giuliani sneered and laughed at the concept of being a community organizer. The overwhelmingly white audience laughed. That was bad enough. And then Palin — the pit bull with lipstick — defended her experience as a small town mayor by saying that she had actual responsibilities, unlike a community organizer. More laughter. Ugh. Bad move, GOP… especially when Day 2 of your convention was all about “service.”

But I’m biased, and you all know that. I’m all for Obama and value his experience organizing recently laid-off factory workers in the South Side of Chicago. I know many community organizers. Some of my best friends are community organizers. And guess what? They work hard and have real responsibilities.

Junichi at Poplicks articulates my feelings pretty well:

In no uncertain terms, they told Dr. King, A. Philip Randolph, Dolores Huerta, Cesar Chavez, Susan B. Anthony, Harriet Tubman, and countless other social workers, labor activists, religious leaders (on all ends of the political spectrum), and champions for the underprivileged that their work was meaningless and worthless.

So much for helping voters forget that John McCain voted against a holiday honoring MLK.

As if grassroots organizing was not already the key to Obama’s success, Sarah Palin just stoked the fires of the wrong base.

Jay Smooth, my favorite vlogger, noted the similarities between the RNC and the Player Hater’s Ball. He also has some great points about community organizers working with churches.

http://blip.tv/play/gaEWy8cygpNs

Finally, I saw this on Twitter a couple of times: Jesus was a community organizer and Pontius Pilate was a governor.

Hmmm.