Thread: Crowd protests as vote looms over immigrants

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Article published Jul 24, 2006

STAFF PHOTO / THOMAS BENDER

More than 350 people gather in Donaldson Park in downtown Avon Park on Sunday for a prayer vigil to protest the Central Florida city's Illegal Immigration Relief Act. The Avon Park City Council will hold a hearing tonight, then take a final vote on the measure.

More photos



STAFF PHOTOS / THOMAS BENDER /

Latinos and their supporters gather in Donaldson Park in downtown Avon Park on Sunday for a prayer vigil to protest the city's proposed Illegal Immigration Relief Act. The measure will be voted on tonight.

Details of the law

If approved, Avon Park's Illegal Immigration Relief Act would:

Make English the official language of the city of Avon Park, and require all official city business to be conducted in English only.

Prohibit individuals and businesses from hiring or attempting to hire an illegal immigrant. Renting property or funding or aiding illegal immigrants would also be prohibited.

Impose fines of up to $1,000 for anyone who violates the law.

Deny business permits, city contracts and grants for at least five years to businesses, groups or people who fail to obey the ordinance.


Crowd protests as vote looms over immigrants
Avon Park council votes tonight on crackdown on illegal workers

By CHRISTINA E. SANCHEZ



christina.sanchez@heraldtribune.com

AVON PARK -- The sign at the lake across from City Hall warns swimmers in Spanish to beware of dangerous waters.

A block away at Tacoos, a Mexican tortilla shop, Latinos eat rice and beans, washing their food down with a cold Latin soda called Jarritos.

But the sign and at least some of the tortilla shop patrons will likely vanish if an Avon Park city ordinance cracking down on illegal immigrants passes tonight.

The language of the law is so severe, immigration rights activists say, illegal immigrants and their families would flee from this agricultural community in droves, killing the area's Latino culture.

Other communities in Florida and across the country could be next, those activists warn.

On Sunday, more than 350 protesters from across the state flocked to this city of nearly 9,000 people nestled in Central Florida's Highlands County.

"Sarasota could be next," said Julia Aires, a member of the Sarasota-Manatee Human Rights Coalition, who attended the evening vigil. "Although I don't expect Sarasota would entertain such an idea. But you never know."

The activists rallied against the Illegal Immigrant Relief Act, a proposal that would make English the official language of Avon Park and impose a $1,000 fine on individuals or businesses that offer jobs, services or housing to illegal immigrants.

It also would prevent those businesses or groups from getting building permits, city contracts or grants.

Aires carried a sign that read, "Love one another." Next to her, another protester carried a sign that said, "No human is illegal."

Highland County sheriff's deputies and Avon Park police monitored crowd control, standing on the sidelines. Nobody came out in favor of the proposed crackdown.

What is happening in Avon Park is not unique. Frustrated by Congress' slow progress in producing an immigration reform bill, towns and states around the nation are enacting their own laws, said Susan Wysoki, a spokeswoman from the Federation for American Immigration Reform in Washington. The group favors tougher immigration laws, including the one in Avon Park.

"The legislations are in response to a spike on crime, the strain on health care and education," Wysoki said. "The issue lies with the fact that we are talking about illegals. They are not U.S. citizens and constitutional rights do not apply to them."

Avon Park's five-member city council passed the act in an initial 3-2 vote at a June 26 meeting. The council will hold a public hearing tonight, followed by its final vote on the legislation.

The Avon Park law is mirrored after an ordinance passed nearly two weeks ago in Hazleton, Pa. The pair of laws has garnered national attention as other communities watch to see what happens.

The language of the laws is harsh and direct: Illegal immigrants are criminals responsible for draining resources at schools and hospitals and hurting already struggling economies.

A similar measure also is being considered in Palm Bay, in Brevard County. Lawsuits challenging the Pennsylvania law on the grounds that it violates human rights have already been filed.

Hispanics, including illegal immigrants, are an integral part of Avon Park's economy and culture. The city and surrounding area is dominated by orange groves and agricultural fields. About 12.5 percent of the city is Hispanic, according to the 2000 U.S. Census. Those numbers do not include the illegal immigrant population.

That has Avon Park residents like farmer Joe Wright worried that forcing the Latino community out could be devastating.

"Two-thirds of our employees are Hispanics," said Wright, whose family has owned a local dairy farm for 42 years. "They are absolutely opposite of what the mayor of Avon Park is saying. They are good, hardworking people."



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Go Avon Park do the right thing! Let Hazelton be your mentor

Please stand strong. This will not be the last demonstration . The lawsuits are coming too. We must continue to support these people who are directly in the line of fire! E-mail, faxes, newspapers - whatever! We must let them know they are not alone!

America First!

The language of the law is so severe, immigration rights activists say, illegal immigrants and their families would flee from this agricultural community in droves, killing the area's Latino culture.

Exactly what is needed!

They are already pushing for the Bill of Rights .
There are billions of dollars behind this whole game .
Big people will lose money - they will not give up without a fight .
I posted an article / link / to it on Brian and Alipac activists - they say there that immigration reform is not enough , because it does not address mminimum wages and there are millions of Americans who are poor .
After they become legal , they will go after the minimum wages , house , they go after American dream .
So , those farmers will have to forget about their " cheap slaves " .
After they get their papers - they will become masters - of everything here .

"Two-thirds of our employees are Hispanics," said Wright, whose family has owned a local dairy farm for 42 years. "They are absolutely opposite of what the mayor of Avon Park is saying. They are good, hardworking people."

Before I met my husband, I dated the son of a 3rd generation Cecilton, MD. dairy farmer (who has since inherited the farm/business). The workforce of this successful operation was was not made up of immigrants but rather dozens of local U.S. citizens, some of which had been there for 30+ years!

This is nothing but greed driven BS!

http://www.tampabays10.com/news/loca...?storyid=36003

Illegal immigration ordinance vote tonight

Avon Park, Florida - The city of Avon Park is expected to vote tonight on a controversial illegal immigration ordinance.

The proposed ordinance would penalize businesses that hire illegal immigrants and landlords that rent to them.

It also makes english the city's official language and requires anyone seeking services at city hall to speak english.

We'll update this story as soon as the vote passes... and we'll have more on the vote on 10 News at 11.

Illegal aliens fleeing Avon Park and how is that a bad thing?

Pretty soon there will be no place left for them to run except back to their own country if we have our way and get these state laws passed.

Many MS-13 gang members are skilled craftsmen; electricians, carpenters, etc. They are hard-working people, but they also have a side-line, which negates everything. The guy wiring houses may be murdering people on the side. So, this hard-working BS is getting old and worn-out. Criminals don't have to be lazy.

The ordinance was defeated! When are we Americans going to get off our lazy butts and hit the streets too? There should have been just as many anti-illegal supporters in front of town hall as there were pro-illegal supporters. Our laziness and failure to stand up and be noticed is going to be our downfall! We must rally and show that we're a force that must be dealt with. Geez, I know the anti-illegal advocates out number the pro-illegal advocates by far, so why can't we be louder than they are?