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“We believe language is a
tool,” Bredendiek said. Computer competency courses have also
been added this year, the non-profit completely volunteer
organization hired their first staff member this year, marched
for rights, and advocated on behalf of those on deportation. The
group organizes with the Legal Aid Society to provide free legal
services for things as simple as dealing with landlords to
accompanying patients to the hospital.
“This year we have seen
our friends literally disappear from the community.”
She said they have served
people from 4 continents and 14 countries. The ESL class began
at 52 but over the year has been reduced to 5, fear of raids,
deportation; hate crimes have directly affected the community.
“I am sick of hearing the
negative, heavy on lies and flawed research propaganda that is
being spread and if anyone has doubts I am happy to share facts
and statistics,” she said. Bredendiek added the height of racism
and rhetoric against Islamophobia and bashing of gay
rights under the guise of a bad economy and limited resources is
eerily reminiscent of Jim Crow laws, and even the
holocaust. “Being German I am hesitant to draw parallels, but
this is in fact history repeating itself,” she said.
Bredendiek stressed
apathy, and lack of action is allowing the fear of white
supremacists to shape the policy and laws of the country.
Looking around the room
at the diversity and commitment of those present, she added it
is proof there is hope. While Arizona’s S.B. 1070 may not
be in effect in Ohio, she said the undocumented continues to be
unjustly targeted, especially while driving.
“Ninety-five percent of
those on deportation were caught during a traffic violation-
imagine as a U.S. resident and citizen being approached by a
police officer to show your valid license after you have parked
your car and walked out—I assure you as a white person it has
never happened to me,” she said.
Rubén Castilla Herrera,
founder of the Ohio Action Circle, said there will always
be an ‘other’ that is being targeted. He credited the young
coalition of ‘DREAMs’ in mobilizing and utilizing social media
to create momentum for the DREAM Act (Development,
Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act). But at
the bill faces an uncertain future in the U.S. Senate, Castilla
Herrera asks: “What is next?”
He expressed
disappointment in Pres. Barrack Obama: “I know change is hard to
create but I really believe he could have done more.” Executive
action to halt deportations is still a possibility said Castilla
Herrera but encouraged mobilizing through simple means,
contacting state representatives and garnering media attention.
In the case of Bernard
Pastor, 18 year old from Guatemala, detained after a minor
car accident and placed in deportation proceeding in Southwest
Ohio, Castilla Herrera said his friends became critical
catalysts change. “They rallied to talk about their friend, and
brought their moms who saw him as a son,” he said. “That changed
the face of the debate from an undocumented other to the human
story.”
He said the change of
gubernatorial leadership in Ohio government will mean more
anti-immigrant legislations being proposed, but more dangerous
than them passing is the increase in enforcement. “When I was in
Arizona what I heard was: ‘This stuff has always happened here,
now it’s just the law’.”
Don Bryant,
president of the Immigration Support Network, said the
organization has many initiatives that include listening to the
stories and sharing them with others. “When we hear stories from
the community and learn about each others’ struggles we realize
we are not too different,” he said.
Immigrant Support Network
held a press conference in support of the Dream Act on Dec. 14,
2010.
For more information
visit:
http://immigrantsupportnetwork.org/
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