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Rally Pushes Immigrant Rights (with NM Gov. Richardson)
The Albuquerque Journal (subscription required) ^
| Friday, September 26, 2003
| Debra Dominguez
Posted on 09/26/2003 3:41:40 PM PDT by CedarDave
Friday, September 26, 2003
Rally Pushes Immigrant Rights
By Debra Dominguez
Journal Staff Writer
Before a sea of picketing immigrants, Gov. Bill Richardson took the stage Thursday at De Vargas Park in Santa Fe. The occasion was an Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride Rally, and Richardson wasted no time showing his support for the hundreds of immigrant workers before him.
"Viva la raza! Vivan los inmigrantes! Bienvenidos inmigrantes!" he shouted, acknowledging their quest for equality and human rights for the nation's immigrant work force. "Thank you for coming to Santa Fe. Know that New Mexico is your home. We will protect you. You have rights here."
The rally was part of a national campaign to mobilize support for reform of the country's immigration policies, including legalizing the more than 8 million undocumented immigrant workers in the United States.
The Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride stop was one of 70 the nearly 1,000 immigrant workers and their ally organization members are making by bus on their way to New York and, ultimately, Washington, D.C., to lobby Congress. The ride originated in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Nev.
In collaboration with more than 30 local community and labor organizations that advocate for immigrant worker rights, the band of immigrants spent the entire day educating New Mexicans and recruiting potential supporters.
The group began its day at sunrise with breakfast, mariachis and Aztec dancers at Albuquerque's St. Frances Xavier Church before heading to Santa Fe.
There, the workers gathered to hear Richardson address their concerns, as well as elaborate on his.
The governor said he supports the use of the Mexican government-issued identification card, the Matricula Consular, by immigrants in the United States.
He said he thinks the federal government should not question the validity of the card. Richardson also said he would be chairing a commission of Western governors to find a way for immigrant workers to obtain in-state tuition.
"America needs to open its arms to immigrants as we did in the early years of our history," he said.
"We also need to stop the exploitation of immigrant workers in this country."
Rally organizer Marcela Diaz, executive director of the Santa Fe-based Somos Un Pueblo Unidos, said the rally's purpose was to send a message to elected officials and policymakers it's time for change.
"We want immigrant workers to be able to bring their families to the United States and to be able to organize for better workplace conditions and the protection of civil rights and liberties for everyone, regardless of national origin," she said.
Asela Martinez of Las Vegas, Nev., was one of the many immigrant workers asking for reform.
"Immigrant workers aren't being treated fairly," said Martinez, who works in housekeeping at a Las Vegas hotel. "Legal or not, many of us work hard, pay taxes, earn no Social Security and reap no medical benefits. That's just wrong."
Copyright 2003 Albuquerque Journal
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; US: Arizona; US: California; US: New Mexico; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: billrichardson; democrats; illegalaliens; immigrantlist; immigration; ins; richardson
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I seethe with anger when I read something like this. We Americans who have spent our lifetimes working hard and putting blood, sweat and tears into making this country great are being marginalized by those immigrants, especially illegals, who come across the border to enjoy the fruits of our labor. We are taxed to pay for their health care, education, welfare costs, etc. and we are the ones who are made to feel inferior because they are not required to learn our language. And the Rats, employing their usual big goverenment tactics, are promising them all sorts of additional freebies to get them to support their party and their socialistic programs. Of course, those living close to the actual border have to put up with additional problems, including actual threats to life and property from the hoards who cross the very porous border daily.
1
posted on
09/26/2003 3:41:40 PM PDT
by
CedarDave
To: CedarDave
Obviously California is not the only state that is going mad.
To: CedarDave
Arrest the Traitorous S.O.B.
Federal Immigration and Nationality Act
Section 8 USC 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv)(b)(iii)
Encouraging and Harboring Illegal Aliens
It is a violation of law for any person to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection in any place, including any building or means of transportation, any alien who is in the United States in violation of law. HARBORING MEANS ANY CONDUCT THAT TENDS TO SUBSTANTIALLY FACILITATE AN ALIEN TO REMAIN IN THE U.S. ILLEGALLY. The sheltering need not be clandestine, and harboring covers aliens arrested outdoors, as well as in a building. This provision includes harboring an alien who entered the U.S. legally but has since lost his legal status.
3
posted on
09/26/2003 3:45:04 PM PDT
by
steplock
(www.FOCUS.GOHOTSPRINGS.com)
To: CedarDave
And BTW, it's not only the d**n RATS allowing this to happen.
To: truthkeeper
True enough. Last time I looked, the President and those in charge of both houses of Congress have a (R) after their names.
5
posted on
09/26/2003 3:47:55 PM PDT
by
CedarDave
(I'm a recovering environmentalist - does anyone know of a 12-step program I can join?)
To: CedarDave
"Viva la raza! Vivan los inmigrantes! Bienvenidos inmigrantes!" he shouted, acknowledging their quest for equality and human rights for the nation's immigrant work force. "Thank you for coming to Santa Fe. Know that New Mexico is your home. We will protect you. You have rights here.
sickening
To: CedarDave
It is infuriating, especially the shameless abuse of the legitimate term "immigrant". These people are not immigrants, they are criminal invaders. Public officials who aid and abet them are criminals and traitors themselves.
7
posted on
09/26/2003 3:53:28 PM PDT
by
Argus
To: gubamyster; HiJinx
ping
To: steplock
Richardson is the failed clintionoid who offered Monica a job at the UN, remember? The guy was an idiot then and still is. How did he get elected Gov in NM? Oh, I know. The state is populated with leftist welfare dolts.
To: CedarDave
BTTT
To: 4.1O dana super trac pak
Viva la Raza?
Screw you, Richardson.
Comment #12 Removed by Moderator
To: CedarDave
The INS should ask every one of these "Freedom Riders" to show their green cards or US passports. Immediately arrest all illegals and deport them immediately.
13
posted on
09/26/2003 4:15:57 PM PDT
by
GOP_1900AD
(Un-PC even to "Conservatives!" - Right makes right)
To: steplock
Seems like the left always finds someone to file a lawsuit to enforce laws and regulations favorable to their causes.
Can't we find an organization to bring suit against the govenrment to force them to enforce the laws?
14
posted on
09/26/2003 4:23:24 PM PDT
by
cousin01
To: CedarDave
lalalalala
15
posted on
09/26/2003 4:24:53 PM PDT
by
VU4G10
(Have You Forgotten?)
To: *immigrant_list; A Navy Vet; Lion Den Dan; Free the USA; Libertarianize the GOP; madfly; B4Ranch; ..
ping
To: cousin01
The left would find a way to bring suit if it fit their purposes. (Using tax payer money, I believe). The right never seems to sue.
To: CedarDave
The danger of all this is lawlessness begets lawlessness. At some point the law (in general) will mean nothing to either side of this fight and then it's going to be out of control and uglier and meaner than anything we have ever experienced in this country.
To: CedarDave
"Viva la raza! Vivan los inmigrantes! Bienvenidos inmigrantes!" he (Richardson) shouted, acknowledging their quest for equality and human rights for the nation's immigrant work force. "Thank you for coming to Santa Fe. Know that New Mexico is your home. We will protect you. You have rights here." Richardson is just looking out for his fellow Latinos, regardless of whether or not they are in the United States legally. A Latino-American politician helping his fellow Latinos - be prepared to see more and more of this in the future.
19
posted on
09/26/2003 4:58:37 PM PDT
by
usadave
To: NoControllingLegalAuthority
The danger of all this is lawlessness begets lawlessness. At some point the law (in general) will mean nothing to either side of this fight and then it's going to be out of control and uglier and meaner than anything we have ever experienced in this country. The following quote seems to accurately reflect our government's policy decision concerning this:
"Viva la raza! Vivan los inmigrantes! Bienvenidos inmigrantes!" he shouted.
How many times do some Americans have to be given the bird before they realize that they've been flipped off? (I have no answer for that.)
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