Thread: Protesters clash in Cornelius over immigration

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Protesters clash in Cornelius over immigration
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
By Lisa Cromwell
The Hillsboro Argus
The Argus


CORNELIUS - Ideologies and worlds collided Aug. 19 on 11th Avenue and North Adair Street in Cornelius.

When day laborers congregated next to Centro Cultural in the morning to wait for work, groups at odds over immigration policy stood near them, holding signs and heated debate.

Members of two organizations at opposite ends of the political spectrum - the Portland chapter of the Freedom Socialist Party and Oregonians for Immigration Reform - engaged in a standoff of syllables and sympathies.

Whether one group won over more minds in the town of 10,000-plus is up to individuals, but one thing is certain: Neither is finished voicing opinions. Both say they plan to again visit the Cornelius day labor site, and one in Hillsboro near First Avenue and Baseline Street, on Aug. 26.

Jordana Sardo, a Freedom Socialist Party member and protest organizer, said 50 to 60 members of her group, or those who belong to Radical Women, Jobs With Justice, VOZ and others were in Cornelius.

"The community has a right to know when this sort of ideology (Oregonians for Immigration Reform) is waltzing into a city," Sardo said. "For them to walk into the center of this city that has a huge immigrant population and do this type of harassment needs to be confronted soundly.

"One of the Minutemen (a splinter group related to OFIR) in particular, Daniel, was very provocative and got in people's faces. He walked over to the Centro side taking pictures. We got between him and day laborers for their safety.

"Targeting people for their color is pretty disgusting - it's racist. They're making gross assumptions these day laborers are all illegal. We don't recognize the term 'illegal.' Undocumented workers are forced into this country to feed their families because of trade agreements between the U.S. and Latin countries.

"This is a lot of racist scapegoating for an economic system that is failing. I don't believe they (OFIR) care one iota about America - they're anti-union, anti-gay and anti-immigrant. We did this (our protest) in a spirited, very disciplined way and the day laborers appreciated our presence. We intervened to uphold (the laborers') constitutional rights."

Sardo said she and others met with Sabino Sardineta, Centro Cultural Director, Saturday to encourage Centro's support.

Sardineta said although Centro is not affiliated with the program and took down a sign indicating day labor hours, he expected to meet with Centro's board of directors Aug. 21 to reassess the decision on the sign. He said, "Since we don't have a program, that doesn't mean we are just going to close doors completely on a sector of the community that is in need."

Minuteman Daniel Miglavs of Sherwood said accusations he and 10-20 from OFIR protesting that day are racist are baseless: "We're not about discriminating about country of origin or skin color. The fact is, most illegal aliens are from Mexico. If immigrants come here illegally from Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia or wherever, we want you to go home.

"I did cross the street until the police chief asked me not to, but I didn't get in anyone's face. I had calm and articulate conversations with people."

Cornelius Mayor Terry Rilling said he has concerns about the behavior of day laborers: "I've lived in the neighborhood for years and I've had guys there jump on the back of my truck or run out in front of me. I've had hundreds of complaints about day laborers from citizens. We need to do something about this kind of conduct."

Cornelius Mayor Terry Rilling said he has concerns about the behavior of day laborers: "I've lived in the neighborhood for years and I've had guys there jump on the back of my truck or run out in front of me. I've had hundreds of complaints about day laborers from citizens. We need to do something about this kind of conduct."
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Whats he waiting for? Mayor get it done or step aside and let someone else do the job.

We don't recognize the term 'illegal.' Undocumented workers are forced into this country to feed their families because of trade agreements between the U.S. and Latin countries.

Are we POSSIBLY getting closer to the bottom line with this? Or just another excuse.?

Only reason I ask is because they pretty much HATE us all over. Is this a planned move to bring the giant down? We aren't too darned happy about Globalization either........is that why they are so hateful?

Still doesn't change my belief on anything. I just like to put the problem in the lap it belongs to. You've all heard the story where the guy has a bad day at work....yells at the wife....she screams at the kid....kid kicks the dog.......dog bites cat.....cat kills bird.

Instead of hating a government....it's easier to hate the people in that government. So many think we all just have the goodlife.