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Hispanics ready to face off?
Allison Brophy Champion
Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 29, 2006

“Urgente!!!” So says the sign posted Sunday on the front door of El Nopal Supermercado in downtown Culpeper. A call to unity and activism for Hispanic immigrants, the sign announced an impromptu meeting held Sunday at 5:30 p.m. outside El Nopal near the Depot.

The “urgent” matter discussed at the meeting - attended by more than 100 people - was the recent crusade of Town Councilman Steve Jenkins to rid Culpeper of illegal immigrants.

He proposes that Culpeper enact laws, like in Hazleton, Pa., that would penalize employers for hiring undocumented workers, fine landlords for renting homes to illegal immigrants and declare English the official language.

Jenkins, like in Manassas, has also advocated for a government-led crackdown on extended families living in single-family homes - an initiative that opponents feel unfairly targets Hispanics. He is hosting a town hall meeting Saturday at 1 p.m. in the library to talk about what Culpeper can do to combat illegal immigration, and encourages all citizens to come out and speak their minds.

Well, Culpeper’s Latinos have some things on their minds.
To that end, the local Hispanic community will march from El Nopal to the library Saturday at 1 p.m. to make a statement in opposition to Jenkins’ initiatives.

Mexican immigrant Martin Bernal, owner of El Nopal, is organizing the march along with D.C.-based “Mexicans Without Borders.” A Culpeper resident, Bernal entered the U.S. in 1986 as a migrant worker and became a legal immigrant three years later.

The 41-year-old husband and father of two set up shop at El Nopal about two years ago, and the store quickly became a center for Hispanic resources and political activism.


When local Hispanics began hearing and reading about Jenkins’ ideas, it sparked worry that Culpeper would adopt the laws and that “anti-immigrant” sentiment would abound, Bernal said.

“My people respect Mr. Jenkins’ ideas and we have been working together with Mexicans Without Borders to show him we don’t want to harm the country,” Bernal said. “We respect the laws of the U.S.A, but we have to be careful that we are not targeted because we are Hispanics. If he’s keeping with his ideas, everyone is going to start thinking that we are bad people.”

The perception that Hispanics don’t pay taxes is simply not true, he added. Even illegal immigrants pay taxes when they shop at Wal-Mart, Bernal pointed out, or buy electricity to heat or cool their home. Hispanics are purchasing homes in Culpeper, he added, and like him, opening businesses that contribute to the local tax role.

“There has to be rich and poor and we are the poor, you know. The reason why we come into this country is for a better life,” he said. “The people want to be legal, they want to pay whatever taxes are being asked of them.”

The U.S. Congress is faced with a huge task when it comes to legitimizing the 11 million illegal immigrants living in America, he recognized, but it’s not going to happen in one day.

“It’s going to take years,” Bernal said. “We know the federal government has to take care of the illegal immigrants, but it’s not up to this gentleman, Mr. Steve Jenkins. The reality is: we wish we could be legal right away, but it’s taking time.”

The purpose of Saturday’s march, he said, is to show Jenkins and others that Hispanics are not criminals or terrorists. The Hispanic community is interested in a peaceful meeting, he said.

“We would love to meet with Mr. Steve Jenkins to explain our ideas,” Bernal said. “And if he has ideas about how to make anyone, even those day laborers, pay their taxes we would be glad to hear.”

The reason immigrants risk all to come to America is not just because for a better job, he said.

“It’s real freedom in this country - there’s more security,” Bernal said.

Ricardo Juarez, Virginia coordinator for Mexicans Without Borders, said the Hispanic community in Culpeper would send an official letter to town council, making their concerns known.

“They feel targeted, like maybe they will start to have bad experiences,” he said. “People are worried about the possibilities of the council approving any ordinance that can upset their lives.”

Allison Brophy Champion can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 101 or abrophy@starexponent.com.