Margaret Harner Promotes Illegal Immigration in Michigan

Margaret Harner organized an event in Ann Arbor Michigan to promote illegal immigration. Here is the original article from the Ann Arbor News:

Sunday, March 23, 2008
By Geoff Larcom
The Ann Arbor News

Her voice cracked and tears welled in her eyes as she spoke in Spanish, her children by her side.

"They took my husband away last Wednesday and left me alone with my children,'' the woman said through a translator. "I don't understand. I just came here to work. Please help me find a way so my children can see their father again.''

The woman said she doesn't want to be sent back to El Salvador. Her family had fled poverty and unemployment for a chance to work in the United States.

"It's not about me,'' she said. "It's about my children. I don't want my children to suffer.''

The emotional moment crystallized the concerns voiced by a group of more than 100 people who gathered for an emergency meeting Saturday morning at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Ypsilanti.

The contingent included members of area religious groups, immigration rights organizations, activists and University of Michigan Law School students who form the Washtenaw County Interfaith Coalition for Immigration Rights.

They gathered to raise awareness and plan a response to a series of recent raids on area immigrants' homes by federal agents from the U.S. Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

U-M law student Josh Ludmir, a member of a student group that educates about immigrant rights, translated during the meeting, which lasted about two and a half hours.

"There is a huge, diverse community in Washtenaw County that won't tolerate these violations of human rights,'' said Laura Sanders, a longtime Ann Arbor social worker who helped to organize the event.

Sanders spoke of what she called several "horrific'' violations of human rights that have occurred in Washtenaw County in recent weeks.

About two dozen immigrants attended the meeting, where about a half-dozen shared their concerns or stories with the audience.

A man who works in an auto shop tearfully spoke of his fears after officials came by and took down employees' license plate numbers.

"The only reason we are here is because of our families,'' Ludmir quoted him as saying. "I hope at some point to be able to obtain documentation and (we'll have) immigration reform.''

Minsu Longiaru, an attorney with the Washtenaw County Workers' Center, said that in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the federal government has greatly stepped up its efforts to detain immigrants and is pressuring local law enforcement officials to get involved. About 300,000 undocumented immigrants were detained last year, Longiaru said.

Last week, four members of the coalition went to Detroit to speak with immigration officials in a failed attempt to post bond for an area man recently detained by agents.

Margaret Harner, a member of the First Congregational Church who also helped organize Saturday's event, said the group was well-received. But they hope federal officials will come to a future public meeting of the coalition to discuss the treatment of immigrants.

The group discussed strategies to help, including talking to politicians, writing an economic impact statement, fundraising and establishing a sanctuary for those affected by raids.

"The most important thing is to listen and learn what is happening,'' Saunders said.

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According to the Michigan Independent, you can get involved by contacting Margaret Harner at:

Margaret Harner
nsharner@comcast.net

http://www.michiganindependent.com/2008 ... cal-homes/

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Margaret Harner is married to Ivan Harner. They are members of The First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor, Michigan.


Ivan Harner


The First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor
608 East William Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Phone: (734) 662-1679
Fax: (734) 662-0302
office@fccannarbor.org
www.fccannarbor.org

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Ivan Harner is the Executive Director of the Hemophilia Foundation of Michigan. Here is information about him from the Hemophilia Foundation of Michigan web site:

Mr. Harner is Executive Director of the Hemophilia Foundation of Michigan. As the organization's chief administrative officer Mr. Harner is responsible for resource development, management and supervision of all operations. Mr. Harner also serves as the Regional Director for the Hemophilia Treatment Center Network that includes 19 treatment centers in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.

A graduate of Eastern Michigan University, Mr. Harner holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Arts degrees. Mr. Harner is a member of a number of professional organizations including, Fellow, American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE); Fellow and Certified Member, Association of Behavioral Healthcare Management; and an Advanced Member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association.


Ivan Harner
Executive Director
Hemophilia Foundation of Michigan
1921 West Michigan Avenue
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
(734) 544-0015, ext. 26
(800) 482-3041
http://www.hfmich.org/
hfm@hfmich.org

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Margaret and Ivan Harner are supporters of an Ann Arbor social service agency called Ozone House. Ozone House provides a safe place, shelter, and continued support to runaway, homeless, and high-risk youth in the community.

Ozone House
1705 Washtenaw Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-3548
phone: (734) 662-2265, (734) 662-2222
fax: (734) 662-9724
info@ozonehouse.org
www.ozonehouse.org

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Michigan State Representative Rebekah Warren thanked Margaret and Ivan Warner for their support. In addition, Rebekah Warren thanked Arbor Brewery and Corner Brewery owners Matt and Rene Greff. Matt and Rene Greff flaunt hiring illegal aliens and were previously featured on this ALIPAC thread:

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-178397.html


Rebekah Warren
Michigan State Representative
234 8th Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
rebekahwarren.com

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Margaret Harner is the treasurer for the Washtenaw Area Council for Children.

http://www.washtenawchildren.org/index.htm

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Margaret Warner is part of the Student Advocacy Center of Michigan.

Student Advocacy Center of Michigan
1921 West Michigan Avenue
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
phone: (734) 482-0489
fax: (734) 482-0737
http://www.studentadvocacycenter.org/index.shtml

Leslie Harrington (Executive Director) - leslie@studentadvocycenter.org
Laurie Flemington (Advocate) - laurie@studentadvocycenter.org
Margaret Harner (Advocate) - margaret@studentadvocycenter.org
Ashley Blake (Educational Advocate) - ashley@studentadvocycenter.org
Joy Lange (Advocate) - joy@studentadvocycenter.org
Mary Jackson (Advocate) - mary@studentadvocycenter.org
Michael Patterson (Clinical Therapist) - michael@studentadvocycenter.org
Cara Talaska (Therapist) - cara@studentadvocycenter.org
Victoria Gross (Administrative Assistant) - victoria@studentadvocycenter.org
Penny Laperriere (Accountant) - penny@studentadvocycenter.org


nsharner@comcast.net,office@fccannarbor.org,info@ozonehouse.org,
leslie@studentadvocacycenter.org, laurie@studentadvocacycenter.org, margaret@studentadvocacycenter.org, ashley@studentadvocacycenter.org, joy@studentadvocacycenter.org,mary@studentadvocacycenter.org, michael@studentadvocacycenter.org,cara@studentadvocacycenter.org, victoria@studentadvocacycenter.org, penny@studentadvocacycenter.org

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Margaret S. Harner (born 1917)
1350 Huron River Drive
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
(734) 483-3464

Margaret Harner (born 1944)
1350 Huron River Drive
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
(734) 483-3464

Ivan C. Harner (born 1945)
1350 Huron River Drive
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
(734) 483-3464