Welfare Warriors

Winter 2006

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  Winter 2006

A Day Without Latinos

US Latinos are organizing a mass movement to demand immigration reform. They are marching in cities across the US to stop legislation based on hatred and fear of immigrants. HR4437, introduced by Congressman Sensenbrenner from Wisconsin, has been the target of current protests.  This bill would criminalize as felons all undocumented people and anyone who helps them. It would also require construction of a Berlin-type wall along the Mexican-US border.

The House approved HR4437 in December. There are an estimated 11 million undocumented workers in the US. Under HR4437 all would be subject to criminal prosecution, including children. Any friend, relative, minister, counselor, employer etc. who helps an immigrant could be charged with “alien smuggling.” (This sounds remarkably like the Fugitive Slave Act 1850 which provided for criminal prosecution of anyone who helped an escaped slave, even in states where slavery was illegal.) They would be charged with this felony even if they did not know the person was undocumented. HR4437 authorizes police to demand “papers” and detain people who can’t prove their status. This would also impact legal residents without ID’s. Requiring police to enforce immigration laws would reduce public safety when immigrants fail to report crimes or provide information to police.

            Over 100,000 Latinos paralyzed the downtown Chicago Loop on March 10. Carrying signs that read NO - HR4437, YES - S1033, END- RACISM, their march stretched over 5 miles long. Colors of Ecuador, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico flew proudly. By the time the end of the march arrived in the Loop, the two-hour rally had ended. Chicago businesses and restaurants had to close or bring in temps to do the work of the missing Latino workers. As of this writing marches are planned for LA, Atlanta, DC and many more cities.

On March 23, at 10 AM on a Thursday morning, 30,000 Latinos and supporters marched across the bridge connecting Milwaukee’s southside to downtown. The march stretched over two miles. Families with children and babies were everywhere.  Teenage students from nearby Racine public schools came in school buses. Workers from hundreds of companies marched. Representatives from major religions marched. (HR4437 would subject them to criminal prosecution for serving undocumented parishioners.)

Chants included the farmworkers’ Si Se Puede (Yes, We Can), and the traditional The People United will Not be Defeated with a few new twists. Instead of “The People”, chanters inserted Latinos or El Barrio (neighborhood). Another version was El Pueblo Callado Jamas Sera Escuchado (The Silent People Will Never Be Heard). A very popular chant was Bush Escucha; Estamos en la Lucha (Bush, Listen, We Are Fighting Back.) My favorite chant was Se Ve, Se Siente, El Pueblo Esta Presente (See it, Feel it, the People Are Here.)

Over 150 local Milwaukee businesses agreed to close for all or part of the day so Latino workers could march. The businesses included restaurants, auto mechanics, clothing stores, travel and insurance agencies, lawyers, barbers and beauty salons, bakeries, jewelry and record shops, and bars.

On the day of the march Milwaukee’s city council voted to oppose HR4437 and support the McCain-Kennedy Bill S1033. This bill, S1033, would create an avenue for immigrants working and living in the US to become legal citizens. It would create temporary work visas for workers, not employers. It would establish family unification policies.  And it would create tighter border security and a new employment verification system. Many Latinos support this bill.

Wisconsin immigrants were also out in the streets to protest two anti-immigrant Wisconsin bills. AB69 was passed and signed into law in early March.  It requires Wis residents to show proof of legal status to apply for a driver’s license.  And licenses would expire when an immigrant visa expires. The second bill, SB567, if passed, would deny undocumented immigrants public services (such as emergency medical care) and lunches for children in public schools.

This country can not function without the millions of immigrant workers who produce and harvest most of the food we eat, who work in every type of restaurant and hotel in the country, who do much of the landscaping, and who work in tanneries and slaughter houses. Yet current law only provides visas for 5,000 low-skill workers every year. That is why millions of immigrants enter the US illegally and are unable to secure legal status.

As long as big business can cross borders freely, workers should have that same right.  And as long as the US contributes to the poverty in countries like Mexico, workers will be forced to leave their country that they love and family members who they love to follow the money…and get a job.

Pat Gowens

Milwaukee, WI