Thread: WI: Reality Tour stops in Racine to talk about immigration

Reality Tour stops in Racine to talk about immigration

Reality Tour stops in Racine

By Paul Sloth

Journal Times

RACINE - Yolanda Avila's life changed on the August day when she was among the 25 people police and federal agents arrested during a raid on the Star Packaging plant in Whitewater on suspicion that they were illegal immigrants.

She was one of five speakers who took part in a panel discussion on immigration Sunday at Racine's Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist Church, 625 College Ave., as part of the Wisconsin Reality Tour sponsored by the Milwaukee immigrant rights organization Voces de la Frontera.

The tour made its last stop in Racine Sunday, after stopping in nine other cities during the past week. The tour started July 8 in La Crosse and stopped in Madison, Beloit, Whitewater, Sheboygan, Green Bay, Appleton, Wausau and Milwaukee.

The day Avila was arrested, Aug. 8, 2006, she was held in a room for more than six hours because she chose not to testify, she said.

She spent six weeks in jail and authorities told her she had to pay $10,000 bond.

The first thing they told her was she was a criminal. Then they said she had no rights.

"We come here to help out children," Avila said in Spanish. "Unfortunately, the laws are not fair. We just come here to work."

Avila fought back tears as she shared her story with the roughly 50 people gathered in the church. It was an example of how the immigration issue rises above the din of heated debate to show how the country's broken immigration system affects people's lives, event organizers said.

Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera, said the tour's goal was to have respectful discussion about immigration.

"It's been a powerful experience. We feel, especially on the national level, it is such a polarizing debate," Neumann-Ortiz said before Sunday's event. "We want people to understand how broken our immigration system is. This is an urgent issue."

Neumann-Ortiz said she is aware of just how heated the debate about immigration can be, especially in cities like Racine.

"The anger people are feeling is legitimate. Unfortunately, we're holding the wrong people accountable."

It's no accident that there are 12 million undocumented families in the United States, Neumann-Ortiz said. In the absence of any action at the federal level to change the immigration system, more local and state officials are addressing the issue, she added.

The debate has broken down, too.

"The whole debate come down to, people are breaking the law, we need to build a border," Neumann-Ortiz said. "You're never going to build a wall that is tall enough and long enough to stop people from coming here if you don't address why people are coming here."

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This individual wants sympathy.... she will get NONE from me... I am tired of paying for and subsidizing bad behavior ... thats who pays for it, you and I.... the middle class and we have had it... Increased rape, child molestation, DUI, armed robbery's, gang activity ... murder rate's are up... flooded schools, Emergency rooms and the welfare roles are bloated again ... I would suggest migrating south of the border ... NO, this time we are taking our COUNTRY BACK thank you

"12 million undocumented families"

This is probably closer to the truth then the 12 million illegals quoted by the government.

Originally Posted by NCByrd

"12 million undocumented families"

This is probably closer to the truth then the 12 million illegals quoted by the government.

We must call them out every time they do this. There is a well-organized effort to reframe the debate. In many of the news articles, the headlines are "anti-immigrant group." Let's not let them hang that label on us. We are anti-illegal immigrant.

The first thing they told her was she was a criminal. Then they said she had no rights.

"We come here to help out children," Avila said in Spanish. "Unfortunately, the laws are not fair. We just come here to work."


It's simply not fair that the bank has all that money. I think I'll just go get some and you better not call me a criminal...