A project of the Center for Community Change

reform immigration for america

Game on: Why yesterday was important in the fight for reform

Posted by Rachel L. on October 14, 2009

I am exhausted today. Yesterday was a whirlwind of marching, lobbying, writing, tweeting, picture taking, interviewing, chanting and more marching. But it was more than worth it.

I was standing side-by-side with more than 8,000 people (according to National Mall staff) as we marched to the front door of Congress to demand comprehensive immigration reform. Before the event, over 900 of those people talked directly to their members of Congress about supporting immigration reform and specific pieces of legislation such as the DREAM Act and AgJobs.

This number doesn’t even cover the more than 20,000 calls and faxes into Congress that were made by people across the country, as a part of yesterday’s action for reform. We showed power yesterday, both in DC and across the country.

The day culminated in Representative Luis Gutierrez, champion of immigration reform, introducing core principles for a progressive immigration reform bill, which he has promised to formally introduce later this year. Rep. Gutierrez said:

We simply cannot wait any longer for a bill that keeps our families together, protects our workers and allows a pathway to legalization for those who have earned it. It is time we had a workable plan making its way through Congress that recognizes the vast contributions of immigrants to this country and that honors the American Dream.

The event has garnered much media attention, though it was drowned out yesterday by the continuing health care debate.

Says Marisa Trevino of Latina Lista:

If you didn’t hear about the rally, it’s not surprising. It didn’t take place until late afternoon – after the passage of the health reform bill but news outlets are slowly getting around to writing about it.

And they should be because this wasn’t the usual caravan-to-Washingon-and-demand-immigration reform rally. This rally was different in that it served as the platform where Illinois Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez, chairman of the Immigration Task Force of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, attempted to jumpstart the immigration debate by unveiling the “core principles” he wants seen included in any immigration reform bill.

She’s right: this wasn’t a typical march to the Capitol to call for immigration reform. There was substance and passion and true momentum behind yesterday’s event.

There are two big things that I am taking away from yesterday:

Number one, the fight for immigration reform has officially started.

Number two, we haven’t even begun to tap the potential support for a pro-migrant progressive bill. The fact that thousands of out-of-town people turned out in person, drove hundreds of miles, fund raised and even missed work to be at a pro-immigrant event where the main draw was only principles of a potential bill, sends a very clear message: we are ready for this fight.

That is not to say this won’t get ugly. I never underestimate the nativist lobby’s ability to stoop lower and lower in their demonization of immigrants and of our movement. But, the true power and the true majority is with us.

For a more about yesterday and full slideshow of photos, visit the Reform Immigration FOR America Blog.

Tagged , , , , ,

Imm. Youth Organizer Training in FL: I have seen the future of the movement and it is powerful

Posted by Rachel L. on September 18, 2009

YouthTrainingsLogo

It was a week ago that I arrived in Orlando, Florida, to participate in the Immigration Youth Organizing training with over 200 youth activists and advocates from all over the Sunshine state. I’ve been meaning to write about my experiences since I came back to DC this past Monday, but haven’t been able to carve out time and fully process my experience of last weekend. Truthfully, its so much to process that I’m thinking multiple posts will have to be written.

I want to tell you about the 30 minute phone bank drive that got over 300 commitments to the Sept. 23rd DREAM day of action, I want to tell you about one youth organizer who gave up a possible spot at MIT (his dream school) to stay at the training in solidarity with DREAM students who don’t have access to higher education, I want to tell you about each and every single aspect of the weekend that made it so powerful.

However, as I sit down to think through the training, my mind keeps coming back to one moment. It was the final day of the weekend, and people were exhausted but energized and ready for the fight. The youth facilitators had done an amazing session analyzing power structures, racism and oppression. All of the participants had just gotten out of breakout groups where they had role played scenarios of oppression and had practiced and perfected their ability to stand up for themselves and fight for justice with words.  A staff member from Representative Suzanne Kosmas’ office had come to speak in front of the crowd.

ytblog

It was a tense moment, as he took the stage. The youth facilitators were told he would only take two questions. It was the first encounter between these passionate, engaged and idealistic youth and the political game. The staffer got up and began to talk about how immigration reform “couldn’t happen quickly” and talked about how the youth should tamper their expectations, even going as far as saying it could take two or three years for reform to be passed. Honestly, I felt a bit sorry for him. It was clear that he only had vague details of who he was addressing and was unaware of the fact that these youth have the backing of a major national campaign. In short, he didn’t know who he was dealing with.

In what could have been a disheartening moment for many young activists, one of our youth facilitators, Felipe, grabbed the microphone and delivered an off-the-cuff question that took this staffer to task.

“You say we have to deliver leadership from the community in order for reform to be passed? Well, look around, here is your leadership. You say that these things take time? Well, this campaign wasn’t just created, it has been ongoing for years. So I ask you, will your Representative stand with us and stand for justice to help pass comprehensive immigration reform”

It didn’t even matter what the staffer’s response was. What mattered was Felipe’s push back, his strength and most of all, his absolute determination that this was possible.

Believe me when I tell you that I’ve seen the future of the movement and it is powerful. The training in Orlando was a transformative experience for everyone involved. The youth who traveled from across the state of Florida to be there, the facilitators who before had worked with Marshall Ganz to train young people for Camp Obamas, the Reform Immigration FOR America staff there to lend support: everybody left changed.

I sat each day in amazement as these youth shared their stories; some of them for the first time ever. I heard their struggles, their incredible stories of triumph and overcoming obstacles and their ever-present determination to turn those struggles into a fight for a more just world. I was humbled over and over by the sheer magnitude and depth of what I was witnessing.

At the end of the weekend, one of the lead trainers, who had previously trained organizers for Camp Obama’s (one of the most successful organizing campaigns in history, mind you) managed to capture the spirit of the weekend. As a part of the training, the youth were asked to read an excerpt from “Parting the Waters” about the Montgomery Bus Boycott. And, this trainer said that she has trained so many youth organizers and they always do a section on the history of the civil rights movement. Each time she teaches this section, she imagines what it would have been like to be in the room with those leaders who made history, what it would be like to have known Ralph Abernathy or JoAnn Robinson or Martin Luther King Jr.

In tears, she said

“Now I know what it would have been like, because this weekend I have been in the presence of leaders who are going to make history.”

Sounds dramatic right? It was. But it was the truth. These youth leaders are passionate, committed and endlessly inspiring. With their support and their drive, this movement cannot fail.

Tagged , , , , , ,

The grassroots asks Sec. Napolitano the tough questions

Posted by Rachel L. on August 20, 2009

In an effort to truly represent the country’s concerns at today’s meeting with DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, the Reform Immigratin FOR America Campaign asked YOU to submit questions you wanted Napolitano to address. The response: you sent in more than 4,000 questions in less than 24 hours.

Marissa Graciosa, immigration coordinate with FIRM said:

“Most of the questions and concerns centered around timing, on wanting immigration reform done this year, not 2010. The questions came from all over the country. This reflects the widespread effects of our enforcement-heavy approach to immigration.”

Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, and a partner of the Campaign to Reform Immigration FOR America, was able to ask Napolitano two representative questions selected from the 4,000-plus entries. The first was submitted by a person in Pickerington, Ohio who wanted to know why Napolitano has focused too intently on border security and stopped advocating for comprehensive reform. Napolitano said she has been working on immigration reform, and would do more to communicate with people on her efforts on both fronts.

Noorani’s other question concerned the 287g program, which gives local law enforcement the authority to enforce immigration law. Noorani asked Napolitano to revoke the authority of agencies who have clearly violated the spirit of the agreement, and that the immigration reform community looked forward to seeing that happen. Napolitano responded, “Me, too.”

It’s amazing to see the voices of the grassroots communities speaking directly to lawmakers and the White House. FIRM has always tried to amplify the voices of communities who don’t always have a space at the table.  In 2006 and 2007, millions marched in the streets for immigrants’ rights and reform. Now, those millions are moving beyond the streets to swamp switchboards, email accounts, fax machines and the halls of Congress.

FIRM and RI4A was there to tell Secretary Napolitano that she must to take a leadership role in building support for comprehensive immigration reform on Capitol Hill and with the American public.  She told said that she understands that she has do a better job communicating and a more consistent job of leading, but we need to see action to be sure she got the message.

The President is clear that he wants immigration reform to move forward this year so that we can pass a bill early next year.  To do that, we need to see more motion from Congress and more push from Secretary Napolitano.  We hope to see detailed congressional proposals shortly after recess.

Tomorrow, the FOR America campaign will deliver the more than 4,000 questions that you asked to the Department of Homeland Security and Secretary Janet Napolitano. The administration is hearing your voices and they know they must respond. We continue to build momentum and we will work with you to keep pressure on the administration.

Tagged , , , , ,
Page 1 of 3123