Re: [Marxism] Thousands of Latinos rallying for immigration reform

["Joaquin Bustelo" <jbustelo@xxxxxxxxx>]

Andy P: "Do the forces you mentioned have plans for other cities yet?"

I should have made that clear, the evangelical churches-Hispanic caucus
immigrant rights events are almost certainly coming to a city near you.
They're doing about 20 cities in the next few weeks, and then the idea is to
take some of the witnesses (i.e., US-born kids of deported parents) to
Washington for a Congressional hearing. 

I don't have the list of cities -- Gutierrez's congressional web site
probably does. 

As you can probably tell, I've been quite surprised, especially by the role
of Gutierrez -- there is just no doubt in my mind that he and the preacher
from Washington are trying to set forces into motion --undoubtedly from
their own perspective and, yes, without any clear projection of what to do
NEXT, at least as far as they're willing to articulate-- but between the two
of them the polemic against passivity and being quiet was just ferocious,
really angry, and very much in tune with the people who were there. 

But also the clarity around the demands, although presented in the form of
prayers, aspirations, denunciations, promises Obama must keep and so on. NO
deportations. NO raids. EVERYONE gets legal, comes out of the shadows. 

Gutierrez two and a half years ago was VERY resistant to speaking so clearly
(PRIVATELY he would say he agreed, but that it was political goofiness for
the movement to focus on that, the focus had to be on the bills in congress,
because politics is the art of the possible, better half a loaf and so on).
I don't think for a second his position has become "no compromise" but it is
very clear he knows more about mobilizing people than he let on back then,
or perhaps he has grown politically.

BTW, from having heard him and talked to him (a little) for years now on
this issue, there's no question in my mind but that he is very sincere and
very committed to the issue, as well as having a clear idea that it benefits
him politically, of course. Which doesn't mean that he doesn't have a
reformist political approach, won't compromise or anything else like that.
But he was certainly fired up today.

Joaquin 


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