Thread: Rally to push for amnesty and benefits for illegals!

As population soars, Hispanics call for better quality of life

Hundreds of Latinos and their advocates gathered Sunday in Raleigh to show support for immigration reform, better housing for farmworkers and other changes aimed at strengthening North Carolina's growing Spanish-speaking population.

amnesty, in-state tuition, health care, guest worker, illegal aliens, immigration, state laws

8/15/2005
By MICHAEL EASTERBROOK
Raleigh News and Observer

The event at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church marked the first statewide meeting of dozens of Hispanic advocacy groups working under the umbrella N.C. Latino Coalition.

"Today, we begin our work for a better quality of life for our community," said Javier Garcia, of the Greensboro-based Faith Action International House, during one of the opening speeches.

After surging by nearly 400 percent in the 1990s, the state's Hispanic population has continued growing. Estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show Hispanic numbers grew 35 percent from 2000 to 2004, to 517,000.

More than a dozen Latino advocates, religious leaders and state officials spoke during the two-hour event. Before the speeches began, a mariachi band played near the church alter.

In addition to urging support for laws to legalize the status of illegal immigrants and improve housing conditions for farmworkers in North Carolina, advocates called for more interpreters for Spanish-speakers at public health facilities.

They also spoke of the importance of forging tighter partnerships between Hispanic leaders and the community college system.

Many of those in the audience traveled from far reaches of the state to attend the event. One of them was Ecxaida Gamez of the Episcopal Ministry of Washington in Beaufort County.

"The more we work together, the stronger we'll be," Gamez said.

The Durham-based N.C. Latino Coalition ties together 53 groups throughout the state dedicated to helping the Hispanic population.

Mauricio Castro, who helped organize Sunday's event, said it may become an annual meeting.

"Clearly it's just the beginning," Castro said.

Staff writer Michael Easterbrook can be reached at 836-5701 or measterb@newsobserver.com.

http://www.alipac.us/article-617-thread-1-0.html

Quote: In addition to urging support for laws to legalize the status of illegal immigrants and improve housing conditions for farmworkers in North Carolina, advocates called for more interpreters for Spanish-speakers at public health facilities.

Amazing. What about the black and white elderly female U.S. CITIZENS
in their 70's that I see walking around homeless pulling their belongings behind them in shopping carts? Would someone please call a meeting about that? No need to bring an interpreter.....they speak ENGLISH.

More than a dozen Latino advocates, religious leaders and state officials spoke during the two-hour event. Before the speeches began, a mariachi band played near the church alter.

I hope all of you from North Carolina can learn who these "state officials" are and remove them from office

Please read the below article! And who said they are here to do the jobs Americans won't do. Last time I looked there were plenty of Americans in the construction biz.

Slim Pickings in Farm Labor Pool

Tighter borders and construction jobs that pay better are at the root of a shortage of workers willing to toil in the Central Valley fields.

By Solomon Moore, Times Staff Writer

FRESNO â€â€

there are ways to help the agricultural community without jeopardizing our national security and the jobs of the American people.


Workers need to be paid adequate wages --- these "illegal aliens" have been taking away summer jobs the school kids would do, the result has been an increase in crime among the youth. If a kid works in the field all day for money, they aren't going to be so willing to spend it on drugs.

another alternative is non-violent prisoners . . . these "illegal aliens" are supposedly coming here to do agricultural jobs the American people won't do, well, as prisoners of the county and state in violation of immigration laws they can do just that.

So where's ICE when these groups get together... out of 100 there should be a few illegals.

That's exactly what I always wonder..where oh where is ICE when all this stuff is going down. Well, my dear, ICE isn't interested in anything other than rapists, murderers, etc. Just the run of the mill criminal is beneath them...sniff...and those of us that are demanding that our laws be enforced are simply 'racists'...

RR