Thread: NC - Marchers call for immigration reform, end to racism

Marchers call for immigration reform, end to racism
March 19, 2008 - 10:36PM
By Brie Handgraaf / Times-News
Despite the rain, about 15 people from around the state and as far away as Vermont attended a candlelight vigil Wednesday at Burlington City Hall to fight for immigration law reform and against anti-immigration feelings.

"NAFTA supporters argue for free trade and free markets," said Eric Francisco Jonas, member of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee in Greensboro. "It is unnatural for some markets to move across borders freely and others like the labor market to not be able to."

The event was part of the 22nd Pilgrimage for Justice and Peace, in which marchers began in Asheville on Palm Sunday and are walking across North Carolina to Raleigh on Good Friday. The events were organized by the Carolina Interfaith Task Force on Central America.

Attendees discussed current immigration policies, as well as how it has affected people they know. They also sang songs of hope and love in English and Spanish.

Graymon Ward, a member of Witness for Peace in Raleigh, said he was walking to change the laws that he says target immigrants and encourage racism.

"People need to see immigrants are people," Ward said. "One of the things this march does is dispelling myths of immigration."

Other attendees agreed with his sentiment and encouraged people to see the bigger picture of immigration and the reasons so many people risk their lives coming to the U.S.

"We need to not focus on poor immigrants, but the policies that bankrupted 1.5 million foreign farmers," Gail Phares, director of the CITCA, said. "People are dying in the desert, but they are just trying to work so they can feed their families."
Phares said the timing of the march is important.

"During Holy Week, we focus on how Jesus suffered for us, but Jesus is alive and struggling for justice with the poor," Phares said.

She also discussed a recent trip to the border where even border agents said the law needs to change and said she is discouraged by current talks about the Central American Free Trade Agreement and the free trade agreement with Colombia.

"We shouldn't have passed NAFTA because it is hurting workers in Mexico, but in the U.S., too. Now we are working on CAFTA even though we know NAFTA didn't work," she said. "Somebody is making a lot of money and it isn't the poor people." For more information, go to www.citca.org

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WOW! A whole 15 people showed up and the News-Times thinks this is a story. How sad is that?

I especially liked the comment about 85 people protesting illegal immigration in 100 dg heat and nary a mention in that fishrap.

It probably breaks their heart that Alamance is participating in 287g.

All immigrants don't speak Spanish. Immigrants come in all colors and they all don't die in the Mexican desert comming here....illegally. Quit hiding behind the Immigrant and race and must speak Spanish as if it's something for everybody including legal and illegal immigrants in the same mix. This is 100% for 1 specific group of illegal immigrants and their personal agenda.

"It is unnatural for some markets to move across borders freely and others like the labor market to not be able to."

Well thanks to all the cheap labor and illegal immigration.....they won't be paying any of us enough money to get to work....let alone cross borders to follow the money.