NEWS
Immigrants rally at Capitol
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by Pratha Muthiah
Thursday, September 13, 2007
A small boy plays on the front steps of the Wisconsin Capitol. He slowly toddles up the steps, takes a sign from his mother, and stands proudly next to her. The poster reads, "Stop the raids. Stop Real ID. NO human is illegal.
Hundreds of United States cities participated in boycotts, marches or rallies to demand immigration reform Wednesday, as part of a national day of action against immigration raids.
In Madison, the Immigrant Workers Union staged a rally to raise awareness of their continuing struggle with immigration laws and their efforts to claim equal rights.
"Some employers, some bankers, and so on, are using our disability. They are using our vulnerability. They are using the fact that we don't have a way to even fight for ourselves,” said Alex Gillis, a leader of the organization, who spoke at the rally. "To abuse [us] … to make us pay even more for our houses — it's making us feel like we are second-class human beings. And we want to fight against this."
According to a news release from IWU, thousands of Wisconsin citizens have been unable to receive or renew a Wisconsin ID due to lack of documentation since April 1.
Another speaker, Jorge Carrera, explained his sentiments passionately. "Enough raids, enough of separated families, enough terror in the communities," Carrera said in Spanish.
"We are earning everything we are asking for through our sweat, blood and effort," Carrera said. "We will fight and fight hard for equal rights. … We want a better life for our children."
IWU is asking Dane County to help by issuing identification for area immigrant workers. The identification would be in response to the REAL ID Act, which restricts the level of identification any state can provide its immigrants.
"This is an urgent duty for Dane County, in order to assure minimum human and civil rights, and the right to identification," an IWU release read.
However, Hector Ordonez, another participant and supporter of the rally, said immigration should not even be a focus for the government right now.
"The government picks one thing, immigration, instead of working on bigger problems like the national deficit, education, or even the war," Ordonez said.
On the other hand, U.S. Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., said in a press release that he commends putting immigration on the front burner.
"Illegal immigration is a problem that needs to be fixed yesterday," Sensenbrenner said in the release. "I am pleased to see the DHS [Department of Homeland Security] take a page out of my immigration bill from last Congress, which included provisions to raise penalties on such derelict business."
IWU will continue to raise awareness in Madison throughout the next month. Rallies and flyers will culminate into a march from Library Mall to the Capitol, on Oct. 12 at 11:30 a.m.
"Being united, we are stronger — stronger to say enough is enough, enough of terror, enough of repression of the people,” Carrera said at the end of the rally. “Finally [we will] be able to say that we are equal … together we're going to be free."
Anonymous (September 13, 2007 @ 7:23am):
"NO human is illegal."
What a load of crap! It is the actions of these humans which are illegal. These line-jumping cheaters need to be sent back. They need to get into line with the millions of people all over the world who want to come to the USA.
Robbing the bank is wrong, even if you live next door. Entering the USA illegally is also wrong, even if you live next door.
Carolyn Foster (September 13, 2007 @ 10:37am):
These people trot out their children and their elderly and whomever else they think will evoke sympathy from observers ad nauseum. I do not sympathize! Their plight may be bad, but it isn't America's fault. They need to demand their rich, corrupt government take care of all of its' citizens, not just the rich. As to "no human being is illegal", it is their PRESENCE in this country that is illegal. No human being has the RIGHT to break into another country, and then DEMAND to be accomodated! Many nations are far worse off than they are, but do you hear a peep of concern from any of them or their handlers. NO! It's FOR THE RACE ALL, FOR ANYONE ELSE, NOTHING. And they want acquiesence to their cause, and "RIGHTS", equal or otherwise, to which, as lawbreakers, they are not entitled? I THINK NOT!
Anonymous (September 13, 2007 @ 10:57am):
"Enough raids, enough of separated families, enough terror in the communities,"
Do not break the law and NONE of these things will occur.
Anonymous (September 13, 2007 @ 11:29am):
Hey Alex Gillis, we Americans have families to feed too! Send the illegals back to Mexico! Now!
Anonymous (September 13, 2007 @ 1:00pm):
"NO human is illegal."
These criminals are not being deported because THEY are illegal but because their ACTIONS were illegal.
Anonymous (September 13, 2007 @ 1:28pm):
Switzerland has Europe's toughest naturalisation laws. Foreigners must live for 12 years in a Swiss community before they can apply, and being born in Switzerland brings no right to citizenship.
We should adopt the Swiss process.
Anonymous (September 13, 2007 @ 7:02pm):
"...thousands of Wisconsin citizens have been unable to receive or renew a Wisconsin ID due to lack of documentation since April 1."
WHAT!!! Are they messing with the ability to get fake ID?
Anonymous (September 14, 2007 @ 12:29pm):
I can't believe that people who read a student newspaper could say such uninformed and ignorant things. Our government and their policies have a hugely causal effect on illegal immigration of all forms. We don't get informed about the unethical business and legal practices that the U.S. government uses when it kicks Mexican farmers off their own land or forces out competition so that the only available jobs don't pay enough for anyone to make a living on. Workers on both sides are suffering while the government and large corporations benefit. The longer we blame immigrants who came here to survive the further we get from any resolution. And yes, there are many immigrants who did not want to break the laws but did not have a choice otherwise. They did not ask for our companies to invade their country and they are doing what they need to to feed their children. People need to educate themselves or accept that they are part of the problem!!!
Anonymous (September 14, 2007 @ 11:13pm):
"We don't get informed about the unethical business and legal practices that the U.S. government uses when it kicks Mexican farmers off their own land or forces out competition so that the only available jobs don't pay enough for anyone to make a living on."
What a bunch of drool...are you wearing a bib?
Jane Guskin (September 16, 2007 @ 6:28am):
People can't be illegal, only actions can be illegal. (If you broke the speed limit once, or got drunk when you were under age, does that make you "illegal"?) The act of entering the US without permission is a minor misdemeanor, like disorderly conduct. Being present in the US without permission is not even a crime--it's just a minor civil infraction, like a parking violation.
Those who "break the rules" to come here do so because the rules are designed to keep them out. If they had a choice, virtually everyone who came here would do it legally.
And yes, the global economic and political conditions that cause people to migrate ARE our responsibility. If you wish people would stay in their own countries, why don't you take action to stop your government from wrecking their economies with "free trade" policies like NAFTA & CAFTA? And when they fight those policies, and defend their rights, will you work to stop your government from sending tear gas to break up their demonstrations, and weapons to murder their unionists & peasant leaders?
Every time people around the world take action to improve conditions in their countries, the U.S. government intervenes to crush them and prevent any real change. If we're sitting by and letting that happen, how is it NOT our fault??
And by the way, those of you who resort to name-calling in your comments are only demonstrating that you have no decent arguments to use in defending your anti-immigrant stand.
Jane Guskin
Co-Author
The Politics of Immigration:
Questions and Answers
http://thepoliticsofimmigration.org
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