We need America to hear our voices in support of immigrant rights. We've opened this space as another opportunity for you to share your struggle with others around the country-- SEND YOUR stories, resource tips, ideas, photos and FEEDBACK to Nicola Wells, nwells@communitychange.org
While John McCain and Barack Obama continue to earnestly court Latino voters, both candidates also continue to be vague when it comes to immigration.
As I posted yesterday, mainstream media certainly isn’t helping to further clarify either candidates’ view on immigration policy. So, last month, The Sanctuary stepped up to the plate and sent McCain and Obama a detailed survey, asking the questions that the media refuses to address. Last week, after no response, the Sanctuary re-sent the survey. They have yet to receive any answers.
Yesterday, Kety Esquivel, editor ar the Sanctuary, appeared on CNN to ask both candidates to stop the pandering and start addressing the tough questions.
“Our Vote is Power… Our Vote is Power,” chant the hundreds of immigrants, elected officials, and leaders in the fight for immigration reform who gathered to celebrate the national “New Americans Democracy Day” (http://icirr.org/node/2882) this past Saturday. In a sweaty auditorium on Chicago’s Northwest side, an audience of over 300 listens as Senator Dick Durbin and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky speak about their efforts to pass immigration reform. Elected officials from both parties and community leaders share the stage and the excitement.
The diverse crowd fans themselves between cheers with posters that bear several dozens of logos- a reminder of the many non-partisan, community organizations that will be working around-the-clock to turn out the immigrant vote this fall. In a nearby classroom, dozens of South Asian, South American, and Eastern European immigrants fill out the final paperwork to become citizens. Local Spanish and Polish TV and bus ads around the city ask the simple question, “What are you waiting for?”
The message has never been clearer: Become a citizen and vote… before it’s too late.
There is an article at the Huffington Post today that discusses the importace of Spanish Language advertising to court Latino voters for both John McCain and Barack Obama.
Given the potential impact for both sides, Spanish-language ads could well wind up becoming notable for reasons beyond their anticipated historic number, as the parties’ political messaging to the Latino community looks destined to become more substantive and issue-oriented than in past cycles. And, as it happens, the issues in play for that community — Obama’s biography and McCain’s desire to hoist the maverick mantle — are ones that stoke interest in the wider electorate, as well.
While George Bush badly outspent his Democratic rivals in 2000 and 2004 with paid media, he also skated through the community’s vetting process by articulating broad, uplifting themes. By contrast, the increasingly contentious politics of immigration mean that Latino voters will expect more detail from Obama and McCain this year.
Today the Chicago Tribune is running a story on groups working to register immigrant voters for the upcoming election. Organizations like the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and other FIRM (the Fair Immigration Reform Movement) allies are working to win greater influence over immigration policy decisions during the next administration.
With voter turnout at record levels, a strong immigrant showing could help re-energize federal discussions about legalization, school funding, neighborhood safety and other issues, said Juan Salgado, president of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, which is helping coordinate the effort.
Check out this radio program discussing what it means to be American and touching on the identity of immigrants in our nation…
St. Paul, Minn. — In his book “The Thirteen American Arguments,” Howard Fineman writes that only a nation of immigrants can argue so earnestly and endlessly about who can become one of its own.
In the first of a series inspired by Fineman’s book, “The Thirteen American Arguments,” Midmorning examines the nature of citizenship, national identity, and what it means to be an American with two scholars well-versed in the immigration debate.
Guests
Stanley Renshon: Professor of political science at the City University of New York and a certified psychoanalyst. He’s the author of 13 books, including “The 50% American: Immigration and National Identity in an Age of Terrorism.”
Bill Hing: Professor of law at the University of California-Davis School of Law. He is the author of “Deporting Our Souls: Values, Morality, and Immigration Policy” and “Defining America Through Immigration Policy.”
The conversation is a bit sprawling but worth a listen!
Both of the major parties’ presumptive Presidential nominees are salivating over the Latino vote, and with good reason. Four years ago, George Bush won New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada, and Florida by less than 5 percent of the vote. Each of these states has a vast Latino population—case in point: one in three New Mexico voters is Latino.
Council members from both Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties are partnering with CASA de Maryland, in a bi-county, multi-jurisdictional tour of Long Branch and Langley Park, Maryland.
These two jurisdictions are the heart of Maryland’s “International Corridor,” home to one of the most diverse areas in the state.
Our community does not stop at county lines. Our residents live, work, and raise their families without regard to which county jurisdiction they are in. That is why it is so important for us to work collaboratively and across counties and cities to address the complex issues that face this area: health care, transportation, community safety, services for the vulnerable, and economic opportunity,” said Gustavo Torres, CASA’s Executive Director.
“While our community has deep needs, it is rich in multicultural resources,” said Councilmember Will Campos, Prince George’s County Council, District 2. “Through creative thinking and unusual partnerships, our diversity will strengthen the social and economic strengths of a vital cross-border community,” said Councilmember Campos.
The event will be Friday, June 13, 2008, 12:00pm to 1:30 pm and will begin at CASA Pine Ridge Community Center, located at -8615 Piney Branch Road, Silver Spring, MD 20901.
Attendees will include State Senators Jamie Raskin and David Harrington, Prince George’s County Council Chair Samuel Dean, Montgomery County Councilmember George Leventhal, D.C. City Councilmember Muriel Bowser, City of Takoma Park Mayor Bruce Williams, Maryland Delegates Tom Hucker, Victor Ramirez, and Heather Mizeur, business leaders, and community stakeholders.
The new series “This Brave Nation” is reminding us that together, we can achieve change. Each 30-minute episode produced by the project features a one-on-one conversation between progressive icons. Those featured include Tom Hayden, Dolores Huerta, Carl Pope, Bonnie Raitt, and Pete Seeger, and rising stars like Majora Carter, Van Jones, Naomi Klein, Ava Lowery and Anthony Romero.
Each episode brings us a unique conversation about influences, personal choices, activism and the fight for humanity that unites us. At a time when our country feels divided and we are working towards solidarity for a better future, “This Brave Nation” reaffirms the soul of our movement and strengthens our resolve for change.
Below is the trailer for the most recent episode - a conversation between activist musician Bonnie Raitt and veteran organizer Delores Huerta. For the full video, and for the other episodes, click here.
