http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/ ... 803407.htm

Posted on Mon, Oct. 03, 2005



Latinos focus on reform
Coalition seeks help on immigration from politicians, religious leaders, business people
FRANCO ORDOÑEZ
Staff Writer

Organizers of Charlotte's annual Latin American festival took advantage of the largest gathering of local Latinos to launch a campaign for a more open, respectful dialogue on immigration reform.

Nearly 18,000 people, organizers said, attended the 15th annual festival at the Mint Museum of Art on Sunday afternoon. The Latin American Coalition used the event to launch its participation in the national White Ribbon Campaign, a call for advocacy groups, politicians, religious leaders and business people to work together to find a solution to immigration reform.

"People on both sides can agree that immigration reform is not working," said Angeles Ortega-Moore, the coalition's executive director. "We need to talk about it in a nonthreatening and nonviolent way. Just yelling at each other is not helping anybody." In addition to circulating ribbons, Ortega-Moore said she expects to reach out to the mayor and members of the Charlotte City Council to address immigration reform locally.

Mayor Pat McCrory, who attended the festival, said he welcomes more open, rational dialogue on the issue.

That's why McCrory created his immigration task force in the summer, he said -- to investigate the effects of illegal immigration on the city, including education, health care, law enforcement, and the business sector.

"There are many sides to this issue, even within the Latino community," McCrory said. "I want to hear all sides. And our goal is to get the facts, instead of dealing with innuendo."

The rise of illegal immigration in the Carolinas and across the country has led a number of politicians to call for better enforcement of federal immigration laws.

An estimated 10 million illegal immigrants live in the U.S., with about 330,000 in the Carolinas.

Rep. Sue Myrick, R-N.C., of Charlotte has introduced legislation that would allow local police to enforce federal immigration laws and would raise fines against employers who hire illegal immigrants. Myrick also has encouraged groups like the Latin American Coalition to contact her to discuss immigration reform.

Anxiety has been high throughout Charlotte's Latino community since a Mount Holly teacher was killed in an accident in Brunswick County involving an illegal immigrant driving drunk.

The death, and media attention that followed, triggered a wave of harassing phone calls, e-mails, and letters to Latin American advocacy groups.

Some Latinos have said they've felt unfairly blamed for the actions of one man -- who they, too, wish had been deported.

Ortega-Moore said there is no excuse for the use of intimidation and hatred.

"We just need to talk about it in a constructive way," she said.