NEWS & LETTERS, December 2009
Immigrants protest
Los Angeles--On Oct. 10, 1,000 Latina/o workers and supporters marched and rallied in downtown Los Angeles to protest exploitation, unemployment and the growing racist anti-immigrant policies such as ICE raids. A recent L.A. Times article stated that the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department will be given powers of Federal Immigration police, which would result in increased racial profiling and human rights violations, especially against Latinas/os--documented and undocumented or U.S. citizens. People migrate to the U.S. from the south to escape unemployment and poverty largely created by privatization and foreign capital as well as trade agreements such as NAFTA and CAFTA.
There were many signs that read "Boycott The Census." A marcher explained that the census would be used to further repress immigrant workers and communities. Other signs said "Obama--fulfill your promise" and "Full rights for all immigrants."
The Council of Overhill Farms Workers brought attention to the struggle of workers at Overhill Farms in Vernon, Cal. They are fighting abusive and racist treatment against Latinas/os, including unfair termination of 300 workers. Overhill Farms have been exploiting them for 30 years by cheating workers out of wages, and firing workers in a campaign of intimidation and fear. They called for all workers in Vernon (a small industrial city in Los Angeles County) and surrounding cities to unite with the Overhill Farms workers.
--Basho
|
