UFW Member to Appear in “Inside Out 11M” Public Art Installation on Capitol Hill
Fresno Farm Worker Guadalupe Profiled as One of the Many Faces Behind Immigration Reform
Washington, DC – For four days this week and in the lead up to the closing of the legislative window for House Republicans to act on immigration reform, four portraits of immigrants currently living in America will be on full display on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The four portraits are a part of the “Inside Out 11M” public art project, as means to remind lawmakers of the rich contributions immigrants have made—and continue to make—to our country.
Among them is Guadalupe Martinez, a farm worker from Fresno, California employed by giant Gerawan Farming Inc. who has lived in the United States for 24 years and has four U.S. citizen children. She has worked more than 10 hours a day in the company’s fruit orchards to support her family.
“We just came to the U.S. not to hurt anyone,” says Guadalupe, “just for a better life and to work hard.”
As a worker at Gerawan, which sells its products under the Prima brand, Guadalupe had seen firsthand the intimidation and abuse undocumented farm workers face. Gerawan’s recent multiple and serious violations of California labor laws has forced the state prosecutors to issue numerous complaints against the grower, including over Gerawan’s failure to implement mediator-issued union contract that was supposed to go into effect on November 19, 2013.
"They only want the fastest workers. If you have ‘your papers,’ they treat you differently. They listen to you, but not the undocumented workers. They threaten us with ‘they’ll take our jobs away,’ knowing that’s the only way we provide and feed our families."
Guadalupe will be featured alongside, DREAMer Alejandro Morales, decorated U.S. veteran Yonas Hagos and technology entrepreneur Patrick Collison.
The project is produced in collaboration with the award-winning artist JR, whose art captures the power of human stories through portraits displayed in some of the most iconic locations around the world.
Last summer, dozens of local and national immigration groups collaborated to encourage Americans from all walks of life to participate in Inside Out/11M. More than 9,000 individuals had their portrait taken and added their faces to an outside mural as a way to signal their support for immigration reform.
View the aerial photo of the installation and learn more about the project at www.insideoutproject.net/11M andwww.facebook.com/insideout11M.
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