Posted on 05/16/2006 2:30:28 AM PDT by beaversmom
On April 10, Encarnación Gómez quit soldering metal fences for a day and marched for immigrant rights. On May 1, he didn't spend a penny to help show the economic clout of immigrants.
Now, the legal permanent resident is learning English and civics in evening classes so he can become a U.S. citizen, eligible to cast a ballot.
"If we become citizens, immigrants such as myself can have an impact with our vote," Gómez said in Spanish. Gómez, 63, is a step ahead. With unprecedented national marches, rallies and a boycott behind, immigrant-rights organizers now are urging immigrants to work toward achieving lasting political influence.
How? By becoming citizens, registering to vote and turning out at the polls in November.
"The goal is to capture all of that energy, that power that we saw in the marches and rallies and translate it into political power," said Tucson activist Isabel Garcia.
On Wednesday, the newly-formed We Are America Alliance announced in the nation's capital that it would produce a million new voters and citizens between now and next Election Day.
"It's ambitious yet it's something we've got to shoot for," said Garcia of the Arizona Coalition for Migrant Rights, which has joined the national effort. "There is no time for waiting," she added, alluding to proposed federal and state legislation that clamps down on illegal immigration.
The national alliance also intends to keep pushing lawmakers to grant legal status to millions of people living in the country illegally. With the Senate expected to resume immigration talks next week, immigrants' advocates plan to rally May 17 in Washington, D.C. Organizations such as Americans for Immigration Reform, which opposes a legalization program, also will keep up the pressure on members of Congress. Giving legal status to those here illegally "is to reward people that break our laws," said the organization's John Vinson.
He acknowledged that an intensive voter-registration campaign could advance the agenda of immigrants and their supporters, but Vinson said he thinks such efforts are wrong.
"We've been very generous in this country," he said, referring to the last amnesty program that offered legalization to about 3 million people under the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act. "We just can't keep doing this."
Given the historically low voter turnout among Hispanics, those working to nudge people into the polls will face some hurdles, said Richard Fry, a researcher at the Pew Hispanic Center.
Fry, who led a 2004 study on Hispanic voters, said 7.6 million of the estimated 16 million Hispanics eligible to vote went to the polls that year. The nation's Hispanics totaled 41.3 million that year, he said, and 9.3 million were registered voters.
"The greater gap is moving eligible Latinos to get themselves registered," Fry said, even as modest electoral gains have occurred in the midst of a population boom.
The community's large numbers of noncitizens and minors who are ineligible to vote are primarily to blame for the low voting rates among Hispanics, Fry said.
Pat Birnie, who helped register voters May 1 for the Tucson chapter of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, said the high attendance of youths at the observance of a national economic boycott at Armory Park Downtown may explain why only a few people filled out registration forms.
"It was a little disappointing," she said. But some say positive change may be on the way. René Franco, who guides people through the citizenship application process, said the recent marches that lured hundreds of thousands to the streets in protest of strict immigration proposals in Congress also have sparked interest in the political process.
"There are always people trying to become citizens, but now, many of them are talking about becoming citizens so they can vote, so they can protect their rights," said Franco, director of the Immigration and Citizenship Program for Catholic Social Services of Tucson.
Melanie Nelson, a leader of the Pima County Interfaith Council, said more immigrants are asking the organization to explore the topic of immigration in its seminars.
"It's not just voting registration, but teaching them and preparing them to be educated voters," she said.
Jesús Ruiz, who is working toward his citizenship, said legal residents must exercise the right to vote if political change is to happen.
"It is the best way to support many of the people who marched but don't have the power to vote because they are not here legally," said Ruiz, a 44-year-old electrician. He plans to register to vote as soon as he becomes a citizen.
Elizabeth Hernandez, a senior at Tucson High Magnet School, said the pro-immigrant student walkouts inspired many young people to get involved. She turned 18 in early March, and registered to vote Tuesday, Hernandez said. "I really think it's important for people to vote if we want our government to change," the teen noted.
"A lot of things are going to be changing in the future. My generation is being awakened."
this is almost as deranged as 1984
To all of you fools that think that these people are going to vote republican look at this.
The anchor babies will vote for candidates who promise full amnesty and free goodies for their parents.
The indoctrination process of Aztlan has been going on for years and will come to fruition soon. Your tax dollars will be confiscated to further the cause of the destruction of the United States. And, you will have been the ones to cheer them on.
ping to the voting trends of anchor babies.
"There are always people trying to become citizens, but now, many of them are talking about becoming citizens so they can vote, so they can protect their rights," said Franco,
Once they realize what We know about voting and representation, maybe they'll think twice. Good luck getting someone to listem!
In Tucson the Arizona Star parrots the left-wing agenda of the Aztlan fanatics. When individuals quoted state, as they always seem to, that "if they want our government to change...," the person being interviewed is never asked, "change to what? What are you voting for? What is it you want?" If Americans knew it would send a collective chill throughout this country.
Not "Hispanic Immigrants See Voting As Crucial Step" but "Hispanic Immigrant Handlers See Voting As Crucial Step."
Free Stuff Si.
A 'Wall' ASAP.
What is a legal permanent resident?
Please tell us how this works! We are citizens; and, our vote doesn't have any affect whatsoever.
Thanks. I thought it might be a new term.
"Change" how?
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