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Legalization Now!
Immigrant Rights march in Fresno California
LEGALIZATION NOW!
Fresno, Ca (Saturday, October 12)
By Mike Rhodes
Nearly 100 immigrants, workers, and their supporters marched for the legalization of undocumented workers today in downtown Fresno. The march, organized by the San Joaquin Valley Immigrant Rights Coalition (SJVIRC), was held on Dia De La Raza (AKA Columbus Day) to demand justice for the large number of immigrant workers in the Central Valley and this country.
In addition to the two mile march, participants enjoyed Aztec dancing in Courthouse Park, next to the newly installed plaque honoring the braceros. There was a rally at the Federal Building where organizers demanded that the U.S. not attack Iraq, and then marchers returned to the Free Speech area of the Fulton mall. The free speech area commemorates the Industrial Workers of the World’s free speech struggle in Fresno in 1910-11 when they struggled and won the right to speak and organize agricultural workers. For more information about that struggle go to: http://www.fresnoalliance.com/IWW/
At the Free Speech area speakers told the large crowd that had gathered about the progress being made on the legalization issue. Hundreds of thousands of post cards demanding legalization were given to the Bush Administration last week. Leonel Flores, coordinator of the SJVIRC, who was just back from Washington D.C., told the crowd that “Bush can’t hide from this issue by beating the drums of war. He will hear our just demands for legalization, drivers licenses for immigrants, and equal opportunity for all students.” Representatives from unions, student groups, and other immigrant rights organizations spoke in support of immigrant rights. As one sign at the march said: “America wouldn’t be America w/o immigrants.”
Fresno, Ca (Saturday, October 12)
By Mike Rhodes
Nearly 100 immigrants, workers, and their supporters marched for the legalization of undocumented workers today in downtown Fresno. The march, organized by the San Joaquin Valley Immigrant Rights Coalition (SJVIRC), was held on Dia De La Raza (AKA Columbus Day) to demand justice for the large number of immigrant workers in the Central Valley and this country.
In addition to the two mile march, participants enjoyed Aztec dancing in Courthouse Park, next to the newly installed plaque honoring the braceros. There was a rally at the Federal Building where organizers demanded that the U.S. not attack Iraq, and then marchers returned to the Free Speech area of the Fulton mall. The free speech area commemorates the Industrial Workers of the World’s free speech struggle in Fresno in 1910-11 when they struggled and won the right to speak and organize agricultural workers. For more information about that struggle go to: http://www.fresnoalliance.com/IWW/
At the Free Speech area speakers told the large crowd that had gathered about the progress being made on the legalization issue. Hundreds of thousands of post cards demanding legalization were given to the Bush Administration last week. Leonel Flores, coordinator of the SJVIRC, who was just back from Washington D.C., told the crowd that “Bush can’t hide from this issue by beating the drums of war. He will hear our just demands for legalization, drivers licenses for immigrants, and equal opportunity for all students.” Representatives from unions, student groups, and other immigrant rights organizations spoke in support of immigrant rights. As one sign at the march said: “America wouldn’t be America w/o immigrants.”
For more information:
http://www.fresnoalliance.com/home/
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I'm @home "under doctor's orders" due to surgery... or
I'd have been there and marching! Having said that:...
I work & volunteer at the local community college. I've been impressed beyond mere words to express at that unique group of some our finest students -- those who join in the struggle to obtain a college education... those who make it to school any way they can -- walk, bicycle, bus, carpool... because they can't "qualify" for a license to drive... who can't apply for a job because they can't "qualify" for a Social Security card... who can't apply -- let alone "qualify" -- for financial aid... because they don't have the Social Security card, so-called "green card" (INS Permanent Residence ID), etc... and, yet, they "hang in there" -- somehow... some way... they "keep the faith" . . . they are the students who, for whatever reason, do not have "documentation".
Set them FREE! ... All of them... not just the students... to persue what most of us have come to take for granted: "The American Dream" -- for many of those awaiting so-called "legalization"... the Dream is still just that... a dream . . .!
John, J.D.
I'd have been there and marching! Having said that:...
I work & volunteer at the local community college. I've been impressed beyond mere words to express at that unique group of some our finest students -- those who join in the struggle to obtain a college education... those who make it to school any way they can -- walk, bicycle, bus, carpool... because they can't "qualify" for a license to drive... who can't apply for a job because they can't "qualify" for a Social Security card... who can't apply -- let alone "qualify" -- for financial aid... because they don't have the Social Security card, so-called "green card" (INS Permanent Residence ID), etc... and, yet, they "hang in there" -- somehow... some way... they "keep the faith" . . . they are the students who, for whatever reason, do not have "documentation".
Set them FREE! ... All of them... not just the students... to persue what most of us have come to take for granted: "The American Dream" -- for many of those awaiting so-called "legalization"... the Dream is still just that... a dream . . .!
John, J.D.
I'm @home "under doctor's orders" due to surgery... or
I'd have been there and marching! Having said that:...
I work & volunteer at the local community college. I've been impressed beyond mere words to express at that unique group of some our finest students -- those who join in the struggle to obtain a college education... those who make it to school any way they can -- walk, bicycle, bus, carpool... because they can't "qualify" for a license to drive... who can't apply for a job because they can't "qualify" for a Social Security card... who can't apply -- let alone "qualify" -- for financial aid... because they don't have the Social Security card, so-called "green card" (INS Permanent Residence ID), etc... and, yet, they "hang in there" -- somehow... some way... they "keep the faith" . . . they are the students who, for whatever reason, do not have "documentation".
Set them FREE! ... All of them... not just the students... to persue what most of us have come to take for granted: "The American Dream" -- for many of those awaiting so-called "legalization"... the Dream is still just that... a dream . . .!
John, J.D. [New College of California, School of Law]
I'd have been there and marching! Having said that:...
I work & volunteer at the local community college. I've been impressed beyond mere words to express at that unique group of some our finest students -- those who join in the struggle to obtain a college education... those who make it to school any way they can -- walk, bicycle, bus, carpool... because they can't "qualify" for a license to drive... who can't apply for a job because they can't "qualify" for a Social Security card... who can't apply -- let alone "qualify" -- for financial aid... because they don't have the Social Security card, so-called "green card" (INS Permanent Residence ID), etc... and, yet, they "hang in there" -- somehow... some way... they "keep the faith" . . . they are the students who, for whatever reason, do not have "documentation".
Set them FREE! ... All of them... not just the students... to persue what most of us have come to take for granted: "The American Dream" -- for many of those awaiting so-called "legalization"... the Dream is still just that... a dream . . .!
John, J.D. [New College of California, School of Law]
Just curious as to the number of of these undocumented students.....
Undocumented aliens that come here for higher education are the exception...most come here as part of the lower paying labor force....usually below the legal wages...Once they are legal though, they can demand the federal minimum wage.....and the employer will then seek out more undocumented, willing to work for less, workers...repeat the cycle ad nauseum...
But, i would rather have fellow North Americans here that plan to settle than the HR-1B visa people from other parts of the globe that just want to make a fast buck and then scurry on home....
Undocumented aliens that come here for higher education are the exception...most come here as part of the lower paying labor force....usually below the legal wages...Once they are legal though, they can demand the federal minimum wage.....and the employer will then seek out more undocumented, willing to work for less, workers...repeat the cycle ad nauseum...
But, i would rather have fellow North Americans here that plan to settle than the HR-1B visa people from other parts of the globe that just want to make a fast buck and then scurry on home....
::participants enjoyed Aztec dancing::
Did this include the grand old Aztec tradition of marching hundreds of slaves up to the top of a pyramid, butchering them en masse, and scattering their blood over a feast to be enjoyed by the indigenous patriarchs and their guests? Funny, you don't hear so much about this (fundamental) part of Aztec culture from those who never get tired of whining about European brutality.
Did this include the grand old Aztec tradition of marching hundreds of slaves up to the top of a pyramid, butchering them en masse, and scattering their blood over a feast to be enjoyed by the indigenous patriarchs and their guests? Funny, you don't hear so much about this (fundamental) part of Aztec culture from those who never get tired of whining about European brutality.
I'm really glad to see this on here - how would I ever have known that la raza is fighting for their rights on the streets? Great work.
Please everyone do anything you can to get Davis the f--- out of office. He's betrayed the people in same way that Feinstein has.
Please everyone do anything you can to get Davis the f--- out of office. He's betrayed the people in same way that Feinstein has.
Randy of the Redwoods,
It's impossible to know for sure the actual number of "undocumented students" as most live day-to-day at some level of fear of exposure and deportation! I feel humbled that several have felt "free" to trust me and, when chatting with them, they make continuing references to their friends in similar circumstances who trust only other students in similar legal straits. I understand their concerns/fears at some level -- but can NEVER, really, appreciate what it's like to live in "The Land of the Free..." in fear! NOT RIGHT!!!
As to beomming "legal" = minimum wage (finally) -- This has gone on as long as I can remember... at least back to the 50's when I first became aware (as a child) of a little of the story of "farm laborers from Mexico" and the economic "realities" then . . . as now :-( Our country D*E*P*E*N*D*S on the "undocumented" and, until there are M-A-J-O-R changes in our immigration laws . . . NOTHING will really "change" :-(
On a far more happy note: Randy, I envy your "Redwoods signature"... may I ask generally "where" in the redwoods... the trees I L*U*V*S the "mostest" :-) [There's a redwood grove a scant 5 minute drive from Sonoma State U. ... where I spent MANY an afternoon just "soaking-up" the "vibes" of that precious grove!!!]
John, J.D.
It's impossible to know for sure the actual number of "undocumented students" as most live day-to-day at some level of fear of exposure and deportation! I feel humbled that several have felt "free" to trust me and, when chatting with them, they make continuing references to their friends in similar circumstances who trust only other students in similar legal straits. I understand their concerns/fears at some level -- but can NEVER, really, appreciate what it's like to live in "The Land of the Free..." in fear! NOT RIGHT!!!
As to beomming "legal" = minimum wage (finally) -- This has gone on as long as I can remember... at least back to the 50's when I first became aware (as a child) of a little of the story of "farm laborers from Mexico" and the economic "realities" then . . . as now :-( Our country D*E*P*E*N*D*S on the "undocumented" and, until there are M-A-J-O-R changes in our immigration laws . . . NOTHING will really "change" :-(
On a far more happy note: Randy, I envy your "Redwoods signature"... may I ask generally "where" in the redwoods... the trees I L*U*V*S the "mostest" :-) [There's a redwood grove a scant 5 minute drive from Sonoma State U. ... where I spent MANY an afternoon just "soaking-up" the "vibes" of that precious grove!!!]
John, J.D.
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