[Marxism] AJC article on immigrant rights rally

["Joaquin Bustelo" <jbustelo@xxxxxxxxx>]

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution tends to lose/disappear articles, so I'm
posting their complete report, rather than just a link, especially as it is
fairly short. The Adelina Nicholls quoted at the end of the article is the
central leader of the immigrant rights movement in Atlanta, and of its
activist wing -- a really outstanding political person. She was behind the
scenes today, didn't speak and wasn't even on the platform -- I'm surprised
the reporter knew to talk to her. But the report as a whole seems pretty
perceptive, so I guess I shouldn't be so surprised to actually find another
scribbler doing a good job.  

*  *  *

3,000 rally at Latino church for immigration reform
By JAMIE GUMBRECHT

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Saturday, February 28, 2009

About 3,000 people gathered in a Gwinnett County church on Saturday with a
message for President Barack Obama: "Si, se puede."

The "Yes, we can," chant that followed Obama during his presidential
campaign was translated to Spanish during a rally at Tabernaculo de Atlanta
in Norcross to push immigration reform. The overflowing crowd repeated the
slogan, prayed and waved signs that said, "Families United," and "Familias
Unidas" while lawmakers spoke.

Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., made the church his second stop on a 17-city
"Family Unity" tour to encourage immigration reform. He said 5 million
American children have a parent that has been deported, or are in the
process of being deported. Changing immigration policies will keep more
families together, he said, and fulfill a campaign promise to the
immigration community.

"Our patience is waning," Gutierrez told the crowd. "It is time to end the
deportation and the separation of families."

Tanyia Lopez, a 12-year-old whose mother was deported to Mexico last year,
told the crowd that split families are a problem for Latinos, and for all
residents of a community. Tanyia now lives with her grandmother and
2-year-old sister in Cobb County, where they struggle to pay rent.

"I wish I could see my mom again," she said. "We need help."

Rep. John Lewis, D-Atlanta, said he would help any way he can. He recounted
asking his parents about segregation as a young man in Alabama, and how they
told him, "That's the way it is. Don't get in the way. Don't get in
trouble." He obeyed, until he heard the voice of Martin Luther King Jr. on
the radio, and trouble became necessary, he said.

"It's time for us all to get in trouble," he told the crowd. "What our
government is doing is not right, it is not fair, not just and it must be
brought to an end. I will do all that I can to help."

Adelina Nicholls, executive director of the Georgia Latino Alliance for
Human Rights, said she was encouraged by the roar of the crowd at the
church, by Gutierrez and Lewis' attention to immigration issues around
Atlanta, and by Obama's selection of former Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano as
Homeland Security secretary. Still, she worries; when Obama addressed
Congress last week, there was no mention of immigration among his
priorities.

"Immigration is a touchy issue," Nicholls said. "We are all concerned about
the silence."


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