Thread: Hispanics Rally to Change Immigration Laws

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local ... 2152c.html

Hispanics rally to promote unity

Published Thursday, February 9th, 2006
By Chris Mulick, Herald Olympia bureau

OLYMPIA -- Chants of "Si, se puede" -- "yes we can" -- went up on the Capitol steps Wednesday from about 150 Hispanics gathering to bring their call for better education, health care and business opportunities to state government.

As many as 300 students, farmworkers, teachers, business professionals and others were expected for lobby day activities, the first event of its kind in recent memory.

"We need to do this on a more regular basis," Homero Tamez, director of the Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said while the crowd stood in a light drizzle to hear speakers. "They don't have a voice in Olympia. We're going to use today as a rally point."

Organizers have developed a five-point agenda they're promoting to legislators.

They want state-funded health care programs for children and the working poor expanded and are pushing for new educational programs and more bilingual teachers to help high school students meet graduation requirements.

Lobby day organizers also are calling for more employment and health protections as well as improved housing for farm workers. They want to discourage state and local governments from enforcing federal immigration laws, leaving that to federal agents.


Further, they are pressing for more services provided to Hispanic businesses through bilingual agents, more appointments to state boards and commissions dealing with economic development as well as funding for a Hispanic economic development summit.

"We don't want a handout," Tamez said. "We want to be able to say, 'Here are the things that are impeding our success.' "

Organizers began developing the agenda and planning the event last summer as an opportunity "To open the doors for all of us so we can be in contact with our legislators," said event chairman Carlos Jiminez. "This is a great opportunity to bring up our issues."

The right people were listening. House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, told the crowd lawmakers are working on boosting spending on expanding health care and farm worker housing and thanked participants for making the trip.

"It's great to see real people here," he said.

"If we stand united we will progress," Rep. Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney, D-Seattle, told the crowd. "We will get the things we fight for."

"We will get the things we fight for."

More demands

"We don't want a handout,"

Oh really? Hmmm sounds like that's exactly what you want.

They want to discourage state and local governments from enforcing federal immigration laws, leaving that to federal agents.

Forget it pal, our local governments are fed up and Jorge will no longer be able to protect you.