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NEWS & LETTERS, November 2004Rights for immigrants
Los Angeles--"Este es mi tierra, este es mi lucha"
(this is my land, this is my struggle) was the leading message by groups of
protesters in 5 Points Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles. The Central American
Resources Center (CARECEN), Latinos Against War, Service Employees International
Union (SEIU), and Centro Community Service Organization were among the sponsors
of this march. This colorful march was accompanied by traditional Aztec dancers
carrying the American flag. Gov. Schwarzenegger’s policy of not giving drivers’
licenses to illegal immigrants has created chaos for immigrants who have to
drive to work and to take their children to school. Police raids in the barrios
have the immigrant community under siege. But the struggle for drivers’
licenses is part of the larger issue for freedom and equality. One little girl’s message was, " My dad works hard, he deserves his rights." Another man’s placard said, "Is my vote going to be stolen?" "Bring the troops home now" extended the multiplicity of the messages in a time of repression by Bush’s administration. The marchers over the last four years have proven that
despite the possibility of passing the USA Patriot Act to limit the freedom and
rights of people, it is impossible to imprison the ideals of freedom itself. The idea of freedom cannot be warehoused in our heads;
it needs to be communicated. Not to voice our stance is to play into the hands
of the undemocratic rulers who do not want the average man to talk to each other
about politics or the idea of freedom. --Manel |
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