Thread: Do the minutemen speak for you?

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Do the minutemen speak for you?

OPINION

Once again, immigration and border issues dominate the media, and there's a lot of bad news. In December the US House of Representatives approved HR 4437, a sweeping new immigration law that would make every undocumented person a felon, eliminate the right of due process for immigrants, and criminalize virtually anyone who provides services to undocumented people. Meanwhile, armed vigilante groups like the minutemen not only continue to terrorize border-crossers, they're also now harassing and intimidating day laborers trying to make a meager living.

It plays well for white politicians to cash in on racism by talking tough and cracking down on undocumented immigrants (almost all people of color from Latin America and Asia). But the business interests who really run this country don't seriously want to stop the flow of poor immigrants. Without immigrant workers, who would harvest our food, clean up our buildings, or care for our kids?

The minutemen say they're fighting employers who benefit from cheap labor. But the debate shouldn't be just between greedy bosses and ignorant xenophobes.

The most relevant voices are those of immigrants themselves. Immigrants aren't just victims of these attacks; they're organizing to defend their human rights.

But are they fighting alone? Where are the descendants of previous generations of immigrants — from Ireland, or southern or eastern Europe? The similarities in newcomers' stories from then and now are striking: leaving economically depressed and sometimes oppressive societies in search of a better life, arriving with little or no money or possessions, struggling with English, taking low-wage work in the worst conditions, and enduring the bitter hatred and violence of the native-born. Only a few generations ago, it was Italians, Jews, and other poor European immigrants who were accused of "stealing jobs" (because we would work for whatever we could) and bemoaned for "not assimilating" whenever we held on to our languages and culture.

Since then, though, too often we've forgotten the lessons of our own immigrant ancestors and let ourselves be pitted against immigrants of color. Many of us have championed anti-immigrant policies and blamed people of color for lower wages and lost jobs. But the undocumented won't undercut wages if all workers are given equal rights. In other words, it's in our own interests to fight for fair wages and working conditions for all immigrants.

The real solution to the problem of undocumented immigrants is unconditional general amnesty, equal rights for everyone regardless of immigration status, and an end to economic policies that impoverish entire nations to benefit corporations.

The descendants of European immigrants make up a majority of this country. It's about time we remember our history and start supporting the struggle for immigrant justice. *

Jeff GiaQuinto

Jeff GiaQuinto is a member of the Heads Up Collective, part of the Coalition Deporten a la Migra — Immigrants Fighting for their Rights. To get involved, e-mail justice4immigrants@gmail.com.

The real solution to the problem of undocumented immigrants is unconditional general amnesty, equal rights for everyone regardless of immigration status, and an end to economic policies that impoverish entire nations to benefit corporations.

Notice their self-righteous attitude of entitlement? That's exactly why they're despised.

This ignorant xenophobe says: Right On MinuteMen...you seem to be our only hope. We will rally around you, support your battle for the laws of the land, keep you in our prayers. Thank God that you have the brains to be armed in order to protect yourselves from the attacks of the savage pro-illegal group. Otherwise they would have already done you serious violence as they have clearly demonstrated that they would love to be able to do. Sidearms for protection...cameras for evidence. Roll on MMP.

RR