Michigan and Ohio
join thousands in movement for comprehensive immigration reform
Nov. 19, 2009: More than 60,000 people gathered in community
centers, churches, restaurants, union halls, and living rooms
across the United States, participating in a national telephonic
town hall on immigration reform on Nov. 18, starting at 8:00PM
EST.
The teleconference, hosted by the Reform Immigration FOR
America Campaign, featured U.S. Congressman Luis
Gutiérrez (D-IL), U.S. Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ),
and U.S. Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (D-NY).
In Michigan, 35 events were held in Detroit, Pontiac, Kalamazoo,
Dearborn, Grand Rapids, Sturgis, Chesterfield, New Haven, Ann
Arbor, Flint, Ypsilanti, Muskegon, Gaylord, Rapid City, Battle
Creek, Belleville, Jackson, Fennville, Traverse City, and
Wyoming.
In Ohio, numerous events occurred in Cleveland, Columbus, and
Toledo. Visit:
http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5691/t/5354/content.jsp?content_KEY=2968
“This
massive outpouring of support demonstrates that our communities
are mobilized, energized, and ready to make comprehensive
immigration reform a reality in 2010,” said State Representative
Rashida Tlaib, in Detroit, “Too many families have been
torn apart for too long, and we understand that it’s time to fix
the system.”
Tlaib continued, “From the Motor City to Traverse City, we’re
ready. Last night’s town hall meeting should make it clear to
Congress that we are informed, engaged, and united, across
Michigan and the country.”
Families, Freedom, and Faith
comes just days after White House Senior Advisor David Axelrod
and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano indicated
the White House is ready to push for comprehensive immigration
reform in 2010.
The Reform Immigration for America- Michigan coalition is
building grassroots support to make sure legislation becomes a
reality and is pushing the Congress to action.
Congressman Gutiérrez outlined a progressive vision for
immigration reform and told participants to continue organizing
to hold their elected leaders accountable. “We need everyone on
this call to take action with your churches, your families and
your organizations so that we can deliver a strong message to
President Obama and Congress that, hey, it has been a year...We
want you to keep your promise to our families. We'll be
watching on the State of the Union to make sure you keep your
promise,” said Gutiérrez.
“In 2006, we marched, in 2008 we voted, and in 2009 and 2010
we’re getting organized.” said Congressman Grijalva.
Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez said that the Congressional
Hispanic Caucus (CHC) and its allies were committed to
making immigration reform happen. “The CHC and its allies are
working to ensure that comprehensive immigration reform finally
become a reality.”
Leaders from across Michigan and Ohio were encourage by the town
hall meeting, and called on Congress to act.
Laura Pérez,
the education coordinator at Detroit’s Matrix theatre, connected
the immigration issue to the lives her students, “We hosted this
powerful event because so many of our students have seen their
families torn apart, and watch their parents live in fear every
day. At Matrix, we’re expressing that reality through theatre,
but understand that we need urgent action to protect our
community and fix our broken immigration laws.”
In Ypsilanti, Margaret Harner with the Washtenaw
Interfaith Coalition for Immigrants Rights, connected the
event with their everyday advocacy, “We see the consequences of
our broken immigration laws all too often in Washtenaw county.
Hard-working families that just want a chance at the
U.S.-American Dream are violently torn apart, children separated
from their parents, and a community looking for solutions. We
know that the only way to address this issue is through
comprehensive reform—it’s fair, workable, and Congress needs to
follow Representative Gutiérrez’s lead and get it done early
next year.”
In Lansing, Father Fred Thelen, Pastor of Cristo Rey Church,
said “The community is crying out for fair, humane, just
immigration reform. I’ve seen too many families in my
congregation torn apart, too many children separated from their
parents. Now across the state and the nation, we are calling
out for Congress to lead, and reform the system quickly.”
In Flint, Art Reyes, President of UAW Local 651, urged
that action, “Doing the right thing, doing the smart thing,
isn’t always easy. But we elected our leaders to tackle big
problems and to solve big issues, even when they’re difficult.
What we’ve demonstrated is that in Flint and across Michigan,
the people are ready for comprehensive, humane immigration
reform. And we have the strength to support the leaders that
stand up and do the right thing.”
In Pontiac, María Delgado, Chair of the Oakland County
Hispanic Coalition, made it clear that it’s time to move on
immigration reform, “Oakland County is incredibly diverse, and
it’s one of our biggest strengths. If we’re going to keep
moving forward, and rebuild our economy, Congress needs to
reform our immigration laws so that they’re fair, progressive,
keep families together, and allow us to grow.”
In Grand Rapids, Kate Kooyman, with the Christian
Reformed Church’s Office of Social Justice was encouraged by
the state’s unity, “All across Michigan, we’re working
together. This shows real momentum for reform. Michiganders
understand that trying to deport thirteen million people,
separating families and tearing apart whole communities, isn’t a
real solution. Michigan clearly wants a comprehensive solution,
and now it’s time for our leaders to take the next step in
Congress.”
In Kalamazoo, Michigan Organizing Project leader Pat Hanavan
said, “In West Michigan, we understand that reform is long past
due, and I think Congress got that message Wednesday night.
We’re a welcoming community, and we need laws that treat
families fairly so we can grow our economy. Focusing on raids
and deportations hurts our local agricultural economy, destroys
families, and sets us back as a community.”
In Belleville, Nazmul “Shahin” Hassan, President of the
Bangladeshi Democratic Caucus, stressed that immigration issues
affect many communities, “It is important for us to remember
that the story of America is the story of immigrants. In our
own community, we have seen too many good, hard-working families
who want to build lives in Michigan torn apart by the broken
immigration system. I am proud that we have united with so many
other groups across Michigan to fix the system and keep families
together. The time to act is now.”
Reform Immigration for America – Michigan
is:
MOSES, ACCESS, Gamaliel of Michigan, Michigan Organizing
Project, UFCW Michigan, UNITE-HERE Local 24, Detroit AFL-CIO,
AFT Michigan, Chaldean Federation of America, AFSCME Council 25,
American Citizens for Justice, APIA-Vote Michigan, Interfaith
Council for Peace and Justice, Jewish Community Relations
Council, La Sed Inc., National Federation of Filipino American
Associations – Michigan , Bangladeshi Democratic Caucus and the
Christian Reformed Church Office of Social Justice
For more information, please visit:
www.reformimmigrationforamerica.org
A 26-page immigration resource manual can be found at
www.laprensa1.com |
