AKRON (Ohio) BEACON-JOURNAL

May 1, 2006

Immigration rallies planned across U.S.

Climate less volatile in region, some say

By Colette M. Jenkins and Carl Chancellor

Beacon Journal staff writers

Elias Gudino came to the United States from Mexico on a temporary work visa in 1983.

Nine years later, he became a U.S. citizen.

Two weeks ago, he had his first experience as thetarget of anti-Mexicansentiment.

``I was getting gas for my truck at a gas station in Copley and some guy yelled at me, `Get out of town!' I just ignored him, got in my truck and drove away,'' Gudino said. ``I hope it doesn't get worse, but this is a big issue.''

At issue is the current immigration reform debate that has split Congress, the Republican Party and public opinion.

On one side, some conservatives want the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants and those who offer them help classified as felons, and they want a fence built along the Mexican border. Others, including President Bush, want a guest-worker program and a path to citizenship.

In recent weeks, millions of people have taken to the streets to protect the ability of undocumented immigrants to work.

Those protests were effective in pressuring some members of the U.S. Senate to support proposals for legalization of undocumented workers.

Today, immigrants nationwide are expected to walk off jobs, boycott businesses and participate in public events to highlight the importance of immigrants to the U.S. economy. Organizers, who timed the action for May Day -- a date when workers around the world have traditionally marched for improved conditions -- say demonstrations will draw hundreds of thousands of people and bring America's major cities to a grinding halt.

However, the Rev. Abraham Allende, pastor of Iglesia Luterana La Trinidad in Canton, said he believes the effect of ``A Day Without Immigrants'' will be minimal in Northeastern Ohio.

``In this area the impact would be negligible because there just aren't the numbers like in Columbus, Toledo and bigger cities like Los Angeles,'' Allende said. ``But there isn't one unified voice. The community is somewhat divided on whether people should go to work or stay home.''

Protest approaches vary

No rallies or mass demonstrations are planned for today in Toledo, the headquarters of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee, the activist union representing more than 10,000 immigrant farm workers mainly in Ohio, Michigan and North Carolina.

``We are not telling people what to do on that day. Each community will join this day in the best way they can,'' said Beatriz Maya, an organizer with FLOC, which has often used large-scale actions to push for farm worker rights.

``There are many ways to show support, and different approaches are being used in different states,'' Maya continued. She said FLOC is asking those who support immigrant rights to wear white T-shirts and abstain from shopping today.

``We are also urging that those lawmakers who voted for HR 4437 (to further criminalize illegal immigrants and build the border fence) be held accountable,'' Maya said. She said a car caravan is scheduled to leave the FLOC headquarters on Monday to travel to the Tiffin office of U.S. Rep. Paul Gillmor, R-Tiffin, who backed the bill. Similar protests are targeting the Ohio offices of other Congress members who voted for HR 4437.

Maya said no matter the action taken today, ``all of us are united in the call for permanent residency and fair treatment for immigrants.''

Support in Ohio

Oberlin College junior Susanna Duncan and many of her fellow students plan on walking out of their classes at 11:45 a.m. today to show their support for the immigrant protests.

``In the wake of massive protests, hundreds of immigrant workers have been fired from their jobs, caught up in immigration raids, or deported as reprisals for standing up to demand dignity and justice,'' said Duncan, a member of the Oberlin Coalition for Immigrant Rights.

``As allies of this movement, we have a duty to stand in solidarity and let our voices be heard with those who far too often are silenced by unjust laws.''

At noon in downtown Cleveland, upward of 200 people are expected to gather in Public Square to rally in support of ``humane and equitable'' immigration reform. The Office of Hispanic Ministry in the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland is urging people to wear white clothing, fast, pray and participate in an economic boycott.

In the Youngstown diocese, all churches will toll their bells at noon in solidarity with the workers.

Ohio has an estimated 190,000 undocumented workers from Mexico and Central American countries such as Honduras and Nicaragua. These illegal immigrants are employed at dairy farms, construction sites, meat packing plants, hotels and restaurants.

Message to Congress

Those calling for the one-day economic action hope to remind legislators that they are keeping a close eye on the immigration reform debate. The primary goal of the day, however, is to demonstrate the enormous impact immigrants have on the economy as workers and consumers.

``I think it's a good idea because if the government doesn't know how important the immigrants are to the economy, this will show them,'' said Maria Sanchez of Canton. ``These people are not criminals. The boycott will give them a chance to get more involved in the immigration issue.''

Sanchez, who stays home to care for her 2-year-old daughter, said those who can't take off work or stay out of school should refrain from spending money.

Her husband, Hector, agrees that a one-day action will not wreak havoc on the economy, but it will send a message. He does not plan to stay home from his job at Detroit Diesel Corp.'s Parts Distribution Center and says if he needs to shop that day, he will. Sanchez came to the United States from Mexico in 1985 on a temporary visa and became a citizen in 1997.

``The last thing we want to do is hurt the economy. There are other ways to get the attention of the people in Congress. We can call and write letters,'' Hector Sanchez said. ``It is important for us to let Congress know that we support immigration reform that treats immigrants like human beings.''

Gudino, like Sanchez, plans to work today. He said if he were to shut down his Akron business, Elias Landscaping and Lawn Care Maintenance, he would still pay his 19 employees -- 11 of whom are in the U.S. on temporary work visas.

That amount would total about $3,000.

``I talked with them about it, but they said they wanted to work,'' Gudino said.

Gudino and Sanchez are not alone in their decision to work.

Counterpoint rallies

Some Latinos and others who support immigrant-friendly reform have expressed concerns that the economic action and marches could stir up anti-immigrant sentiment, much like what Gudino experienced two weeks ago.

Tim Holloway, executive director of Standing on Secure Borders, an Ohio-based group, held a series of rallies and meetings on Saturday that were meant to be counterpoint to what he calls the ``pro-illegals disruptive and destructive protests.''

``The foremost concern of any immigration bill must be securing our borders,'' said Holloway, of Cincinnati. He said the goal of his organization is to urge Congress not to reward law breakers. He said it is important that Americans not confuse illegal immigrants with legal ones.

``We don't know what the final version of an immigration bill will be, but it will fail if our borders aren't secured first,'' Holloway said.