For the fourth year in a row, immigrants and their supporters will take to the streets Friday, May 1, in many U.S. cities, in support of immigration reform. The event is called “A Day without Latinos” and Milwaukee’s march is usually one of the largest, with tens of thousands of people taking part. Organizers say this year should prove even more exciting, because along with the new Obama administration, comes new found hope. We have more from WUWM’s LaToya Dennis.
Christine Neumann-Ortiz is executive director of Voces de la Frontera. That’s the group organizing Milwaukee’s march. She says 100 days into Barack Obama’s presidency, she’s happy with the direction his administration is taking.
“I think we’re seeing progress. I mean that’s what’s exciting about this year,” Neumann-Ortiz says.
President Obama has said he plans to work on comprehensive immigration reform before the end of this year. Neumann-Ortiz says that while the Hispanic community is optimistic, it’s also anxious.
“2009 is the best time to deliver because in 2010, people aren’t going to keep voting if it’s for nothing. And in 2010, it’s an election year and it’s harder to move things. So this is really the year to do it,” Neumann-Ortiz says.
As for what Neumann-Ortiz would like to see in the plan…
“We want to make sure that it’s immigration reform that keeps families together, that really represents workers rights in terms of a path to citizenship,” Neumann Ortiz says.
Neumann-Ortiz says the plan must also be affordable, so all immigrants can take advantage of the opportunity. She says that while the agenda she and other activists are pushing is aimed at helping Latinos, all low-wage workers would benefit. For instance, her organization supports the “Employee Free Choice Act.” It enables workers to easily unionize.
“Especially in a vulnerable economy, unscrupulous employers really try to take advantage of the most vulnerable workers to drive down wages. So really it’s in one’s own self interest to support to raise the playing field to support immigrant rights,” Neumann-Ortiz says.
“I think there’s a kind of pro human rights moment here that this is wrapped into,” Rachel Buff says.
Rachel Buff is an associate professor of history at U-W Milwaukee. She’s also editor of the newspaper Voces publishes. Buff believes the majority of Americans will support immigration reform because it is seeking protections for both immigrant and native-born workers.
“I think that there’s an openness to hearing that all boats rise and all boats fall, but all workers need to be protected. And what the immigrant rights movement is asking for is very minimal worker protections,” Buff says.
I asked…
“I’m wondering if you guys are concerned about any sort of backlash when it comes to immigration policy. Not necessarily from politicians, but from the general American public, especially during an economic downturn like what we’re experiencing?”
“There was a history in the 1930s of deporting immigrants, of repatriating Mexicans and Mexican Americans because of economic fears. I think that the American people are smarter this time,” Buff says.
Organizers of “A Day without Latinos” say that while they don’t know how many people will show up for the march, if it’s like years previous, at least 30,000 will be in attendance.
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