Thread: OH: Rally near jail calls for immigration reform

Rally near jail calls for immigration reform
Organizer says event's location was meant to serve as a symbol
By Eric Schwartzberg

Staff Writer

Thursday, October 30, 2008

HAMILTON — More than a dozen people rallied late Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 29, to urge those running for — or already in — political office to take a stand for comprehensive reform of U.S. immigration laws.

That includes a way for immigrants to live and work here legally, said rally organizer Sister Alice Gerdeman.

"If you're an immigrant, you are a human being and human beings have basic human rights," Gerdeman said. "If we had an immigration law that worked here in the United States, that was fair, that gave people the opportunity to be here legally, or people who are here in order to become legal, then I think you'd have a good argument.

"Right now our immigration law is totally broken."

The hour-long rally took place on Hanover Street near the Butler County Jail, which serves as a detention center for undocumented people being held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Sponsored by the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center, the event found several participants fasting in varying increments in solidarity with more than 100 people in La Placita Olvera in Los Angeles

Gerdeman said the hunger strike – one of the largest in U.S. history – was organized by The Rise Movement, a nonviolent wing of the immigrant rights movement. Fasting began on Oct. 15 and aims to mobilize one million people to sign a pledge to vote and take action for immigrant rights.

Miami University junior Susan Dirr, 21, said U.S. immigration policy leads to "unnecessary heartache" for immigrants and their loved ones. Showing up for the rally was more than a matter of basic human rights for Dirr, it also was a personal issue – as she said her cousin's husband is in the country on amnesty from Chile.

"His lawyer has told him it's likely he'll be deported in 2010 if there are no changes in the immigration policy," Dirr said. "And he has a young daughter with my cousin, so that makes this issue very relevant to my daily life."

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"If you're an immigrant, you are a human being and human beings have basic human rights," Gerdeman said. "If we had an immigration law that worked here in the United States, that was fair, that gave people the opportunity to be here legally, or people who are here in order to become legal, then I think you'd have a good argument.

Oh, give it a rest, Sister! Nothing wrong with our immigration law, we welcome legal immigrants who benefit our economyand our country.

There will NEVER be a welcome for those who choose to violate the laws and come illegally! They need to stay in their OWN countries and work to make their OWN countries better.

The WHOLE world wants to emigrate to the US, does that mean we should let them? HELL NO!

Miami University junior Susan Dirr, 21, said U.S. immigration policy leads to "unnecessary heartache" for immigrants and their loved ones.

Wrong!!!!!! Their failure to obey the law is what leads to "unnecessary heartache."

"If you're an immigrant, you are a human being and human beings have basic human rights," Gerdeman said. "If we had an immigration law that worked here in the United States, that was fair, that gave people the opportunity to be here legally, or people who are here in order to become legal, then I think you'd have a good argument.

We do have immigration law in this country that "works!" The United States admits more LEGAL immigrants each year than any other country on this planet!

Unfortunately, those you are advocating on behalf of chose to ignore the legal route and take it upon themselves to enter this country illegally! Even "human beings with basic human rights" need to be held accountable for their actions, and not rewarded for ignoring our laws!