Farm worker movement joined with more than 60,000 Americans in 45 States
Continuing a battle it has waged for years, last night the farm worker movement was proud to join forces with The Reform Immigration FOR America Campaign to participate on a historic national call. The teleconference was put together with Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-Illinois), Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), and Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), all members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
Contributing to the call success many farm worker members and supporters across the nation joined in by taking action on the UFW internet invitation, while others attended house parties in Bakersfield, Salinas and the Coachella Valley.
“The time is now. We must stop the cruel reality of families being torn apart because of a heartless immigration system. We have long fought to make sure that not only farm workers but all immigrants, can live without the fear of “immigration/ICE” showing up on their doorstep or workplace, and we will continue to fight until immigration reform is passed,” said UFW President Arturo S. Rodriguez.
During the call, Gutierrez said the time has come to “end the pain our broken immigration system causes” to untold numbers. “This is a crisis of human and civil rights. The time is now. We must make sure this happens in 2010.”
Congressman Gutierrez outlined a progressive vision for immigration reform and told participants to continue organizing to hold their elected leaders accountable. “We need everyone on this call to take action with your churches, your families and your organizations so that we can deliver a strong message to President Obama and Congress that, hey, it has been a year…We want you to keep your promise to our families. We’ll be watching on the State of the Union to make sure you keep your promise,” said Gutierrez.
“The UFW has found a new ally and fierce immigrant-rights advocate in Congressman Gutierrez, and will be right there with him every step of the way as the fight for immigration reform moves forward,” Rodriguez said.
The tragic stories of families being torn apart because a mother or father does not have papers must stop, Rodriguez said. And the workers who toil tirelessly in the fields to harvest the foods that America eats deserve a path to citizenship, he said.
The UFW, along with the UFW Foundation, will be doing everything in its power to get the word out about the legislation that Gutierrez expects to introduce in December. For more information on updates, please stay connected at www.ufw.org and sign up for alerts.
In addition, the UFW will be playing a key role during the week of Jan. 12-20 when the campaign for immigration reform will launch in all 50 states.
“Our members have never backed down from a challenge, and the fight for immigration reform is no different. We will be in the trenches alongside others fighting to get this passed,” Rodriguez said. “We know that by the end of 2010, with Congressman Gutierrez’s apoyo, con la union de campesinos tendremos papeles.”
Audio will be available on the campaign website http://reformimmigrationforamerica.org/