Farm workers, church leaders, allies at May Day
UFW protest calling for immigration reform
Channeling anger into overturning Arizona’s anti-immigrant law
Farm workers and their allies led by United Farm Workers President and Catholic Bishop Richard Garcia will mark May Day, Saturday May 1, in Salinas with a 7 p.m. UFW-organized rally channeling widespread outrage over Arizona’s new anti-immigrant law into the push for comprehensive national immigration reform. Similar UFW-led events are scheduled the same day in Santa Rosa, Oxnard and several cities in Central Valley while demonstrations are held across the nation demanding Congress and President Obama enact a comprehensive reform law.
The California UFW-sponsored events are part of Reform Immigration FOR America, a national campaign supporting reforms that would allow about 12 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. to earn legal status. Protesters will also condemn the recent Arizona law targeting Latinos and encouraging racial profiling.
“The Arizona anti-immigrant law is not the answer,” said the UFW’s Rodriguez, “The answer comes from AgJobs and comprehensive immigration reform. The Arizona bill not only singles out Latinos, but it specifically discriminates against those with dark complexion and humble attire,”
The comprehensive immigration measure includes AgJobs, which would let farm workers earn the legal right to permanently stay in this country by continuing to work in agriculture. The broadly-backed bipartisan AgJobs proposal was negotiated by the UFW and the nation’s agricultural industry.
“Arizona produces much of the nation’s winter vegetables,” Rodriguez said. “We invite Arizona’s governor and Legislature to work with us and the growers to make AgJobs a model for immigration reform, one that respects the laws of our country and the labor of those who feed us.”
WHO: Farm workers, supporters, Monterey Catholic Bishop Richard García, UFW President Arturo Rodriguez
WHAT: Rally for immigration reform and against Arizona’s anti-immigrant law
WHEN: Meeting at 7 p.m., Saturday, May 1, 2010
WHERE: El Sausal Middle School, 1155 E. Alisal St., Salinas 93905