Thread: Day laborers march for rights

http://www.contracostatimes.com/califor ... ck_check=1

SAN BERNARDINO - One day after a historic inauguration, day laborers and their allies called on President Barack Obama to stop workplace raids and pursue comprehensive immigration reform.
About 75 day laborers and their supporters marched in front of City Hall to urge an end to the criminalization of immigrant workers.

"(On Tuesday), President Obama said we all have the right to achieve our dreams," said Emilio Amaya, director of the San Bernardino Community Service Center, an immigrant advocacy group. "We are here to remind Mr. Obama that day laborers and immigrants also want to be part of the American dream."

The rally was part of a coordinated effort by the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, a Los Angeles-based organization dedicated to improving the lives of the country's approximately 120,000 day laborers. Similar events were held in cities across the country.

The rally came nearly a month after Border Patrol agents, during a three-day period, arrested six day laborers as they waited to solicit work in front of Home Depot off Highland Avenue. The workers - illegal immigrants from Mexico and Central America - were subsequently deported to their home countries. Day laborers and their advocates held a New Year's Eve protest to denounce the arrests.

While the Border Patrol hasn't returned to the area since, rally participants said immigrants continue to live in fear.

"Two weeks ago, a mother was detained and deported in a parking lot in Arizona in front of her two kids," said Pablo Alvarado, director of the day laborer network. "Immigration officers gave the kids stuffed animals in exchange for their mother. This is not the America that Obama wants."
Enrique Fierro, a 26-year-old day laborer from Mexico, told the crowd in Spanish that illegal immigrants such as himself aren't here to take jobs from other Americans.

"We just want to work legally. We don't want raids and we don't want to be separated from our families," said Fierro, a San Bernardino resident who has lived in the country eight years.

Suzanne Foster, who runs an organization that helps day laborers get jobs, said that workers are in solidarity with Obama's message of hope, unity and equality.

"We have hope that this son of an immigrant will work with us to embrace the millions of immigrants currently in the shadows who are helping to build this country through their tireless work," said Foster, executive director of the Pomona Economic Opportunity Center.

A prominent group opposed to illegal immigration had a different view.

"The marches they're having are just going to embolden the American people even more to continue our fight for America," said Victorville resident Raymond Herrera, national rally spokesman for the Minuteman Project. "Illegal aliens are to be deported. They're criminals in America. They're breaking the law. The law must be enforced on them just like everybody else."

"We just want to work legally. We don't want raids and we don't want to be separated from our families," said Fierro, a San Bernardino resident who has lived in the country eight years.

Oh please, I want to win the lottery, but I'm not about to go rob a bank if I don't win the jackpot!

Wanna work here legally? Then follow our immigration laws and come in LEGALLY! Morons.

You have the right to leave, Fierro. You do NOT have the right to a job or our money. It's that simple.

"(On Tuesday), President Obama said we all have the right to achieve our dreams," In your own country. "We are here to remind Mr. Obama that day laborers and immigrants also want to be part of the American dream." I am here to remind you that illegal aliens deserve deportation orders and nothing else. Mr. Obama doesn't speak for all Americans.

The rally was part of a coordinated effort by the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, a Los Angeles-based organization dedicated to improving the lives of the country's approximately 120,000 day laborers. Similar events were held in cities across the country. Too bad the country they are speaking about is not Mexico

The rally came nearly a month after Border Patrol agents, during a three-day period, arrested six day laborers as they waited to solicit work in front of Home Depot off Highland Avenue. The workers - illegal immigrants from Mexico and Central America - were subsequently deported to their home countries. Day laborers and their advocates held a New Year's Eve protest to denounce the arrests. Denounce and protest the living conditions of YOUR OWN country IN YOUR OWN country.

While the Border Patrol hasn't returned to the area since, Too bad! rally participants said immigrants continue to live in fear. Criminals usually do live in fear, and for good reason.

"Two weeks ago, a mother was detained and deported in a parking lot in Arizona in front of her two kids," said Pablo Alvarado, director of the day laborer network. "Immigration officers gave the kids stuffed animals in exchange for their mother. Correction, this so-called 'mother' and no one else put her own children at risk. This is not the America that Obama wants."
Enrique Fierro, a 26-year-old day laborer from Mexico, told the crowd in Spanish that illegal immigrants such as himself aren't here to take jobs from other Americans. Too bad ICE wasn't there to tell him that ICE was there to arrest and deport him.

"We just want to work legally. Then do so in your own country. We don't want raids and we don't want to be separated from our families," said Fierro, a San Bernardino resident who has lived in the country eight years. Sorry, buddy, but most Americans do want raids but we don't want you separated from your families either, so they can go back with you.

Suzanne Foster, who runs an organization that helps day laborers get jobs, said that workers are in solidarity with Obama's message of hope, unity and equality. Obama is out of touch with the average American's view on IAs.

"We have hope that this son of an immigrant will work with us to embrace the millions of immigrants currently in the shadows who are helping to build this country through their tireless work," said Foster, executive director of the Pomona Economic Opportunity Center. As far as I know, Obama's father abandoned him

A prominent group opposed to illegal immigration had a different view.

"The marches they're having are just going to embolden the American people even more to continue our fight for America," said Victorville resident Raymond Herrera, national rally spokesman for the Minuteman Project. "Illegal aliens are to be deported. They're criminals in America. They're breaking the law. The law must be enforced on them just like everybody else."

"We have hope that this son of an immigrant

Forget about the tie with the American citizen mother? Just like they forget that he even had a mother, or was raised by white people.

Obama is out of touch with the average American's view on IAs.

No lady.....you just don't talk to anyone who isn't an illegal supporter.