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Support for the Oct. 12 National Day of Action to "Stop the ICE Raids and Deportations" and In Defense of Immigrant Rights
Statement by Cindy Sheehan, Independent Candidate for U.S. Congress in California's 8th District
The vast majority of people who risk their lives to travel to the United States without the certainty of documentation are good, hard-working people who deserve nothing less than respect and dignity. They deserve legalization and the rights we all should be entitled to, including full labor rights and the right to join a union of their choice.
As someone whose family immigrated to this nation, I stand side by the side with all my sisters and brothers who've been forced to migrate to the United States as a result of the policies of our own government, particularly the "free trade" policies, which have destroyed the economies in their countries of origin.
The immigration "crisis" is the direct result of policies made in the USA that are aimed at lining the pockets of the CEOs of the multinational corporations and Wall Street firms. When these "free trade" policies and IMF/World Bank Structural Adjustment Plans are repealed and halted, when the peoples and nations south of the border and elsewhere around the world are allowed to run their own affairs without U.S. intervention, the push to migrate will be stopped.
We can -- and we must -- create a world where all people have cheap and easy access to clean running water, efficient, thorough public transportation, and inexpensive heating and electricity.
Working people don't want to leave their families and communities to find work elsewhere. They are forced to migrate because of the dire economic and political conditions in their countries imposed by U.S. policy-makers.
I support the October 12th National Day of Action in its effort to stop the U.S. government's ICE raids and deportations.
Attacking working immigrants only promotes fear, division, and xenophobia in our workplaces and communities. The corporations and their representatives in public office foster this anti-immigrant hysteria to divide and rule, to scapegoat immigrant workers for the crisis of their own system.
Together, let us build an independent, fighting movement that will change the policies that have forced people to leave their communities to provide for their loved ones. Together, let's build a movement that will grant all working people in this country the right to documentation and the right to form a union.
-- Cindy Sheehan
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What people need to understand is that White America and especially Corporate White America has been exploiting these people since the Spanish American War, coaxing Mexicans to come over and work for low, dirt cheap wages. It was illegal then, but it didn't bother Corportate White American's one bit to use them up as near slaves, and that has continued until now. If Corporate America and the Government were willing to turn a blind eye to them all this time, why have they decided to only now enforce the law, and why in such a despicable way--such as imprisoning them. They are only searching for work, most of which White America has seen itself too good or "lazy" to do. Only now when times are hard because of their poor choice of leaders, are they commiting atrocities, and pointing a finger at the Latins or Mexicans. Reminds me of the South and the whole slavery rationale. Remember HISTORY, only then can people learn from it.
Please try to understand me. I believe in enforcing our borders and laws--all of them, not only Mexico. But, I also think that if the laws were never taken seriously from the beginning and throughout time, by Government, then these people should not be severely penalized for USA Government's lack of care to enforce their own laws. New undocumented immigrants should be deported. But, Immigrants that have lived in this country for years, basically as 2nd class citizens should be given citizenship. They have paid into this system, and Corporate American welcomed them with open arms. The issue of putting these people in prison is wrong, just like the high level of people of color being imprisoned for next to nothing. Read up on what the Government and Prison systems have done to make a new slavery that is currently working with Corporate American companies such as "Eddie Bauer" to make goods for them so they can reap the profits. WAKE UP AMERICA.
I am a third Generation Mexican American
Born in Los Angeles.
Leonard Garcia.
And I see clearly the hypocracy that is taking hold in the once great country.
lets make is GREAT again.
GOD please bless and heal our country and expose the evil and those who commit these evils. Please destroy these traitors to our republic ASAP.
another GOP electioneering play, called; "pin the tail on the scapegoat..this week, we pick HISPANIC IMMIGRANTS.."
funny how these GOP sponsoring companies, who enrich themselves off the cheap labor they get from these 'immigrants' (scapegoats) are just let off, scot free, no fines, no sanctions, no repercussions of any kind.
it's beginning to look an awful lot like Nazi Germany, people!