Denver Public School students march against HB 1070, immigration reform, pro rifa!

They are organized

they are mad

and they

have a right to be!

 

You have to wonder what the legislature in Arizona was thinking when they passed HB 1070, a law that made it mandatory for police officers to determine the immigration status of anyone they suspected might be “illegal”. 

Early arrivals to the capitol 

A lot of people feel the intention was racist.  I think it was, too.  What I hope my Latino brothers keep in mind is it was an Anglo Democrat who vetoed this law year after year.  It wasn’t until Republican Jan Brewer came to town, I mean office, the law was passed!

There were four major points

Schools from through out Denver participated

Some walked nearly all day

 

Meanwhile, there are marches, there are boycotts, there is public outrage, and there is more to come!  Effectively, if you are Latino, no matter your immigration status, Arizona is a bad place to be! 

So we march!  That includes me!  Because this is not just a Latino issue.  This a patriotic issue.  This can’t happen in the country I knew.  When it happens now, I am going to stand up and be counted.  When it comes to Denver, Co., there is one little me and a lot of other people!

Meanwhile, bull dog “Little Joe” Arpaio hit Arizona hard!   He knew he was going to be even more famous by sending his 900 goons specially trained in “immigration enforcement”.  I call Arpaio “little Joe” because a bully with a badge is “little” in my book!

Americans are wet backs too!  Guess what boss, we are all Americans, including those from Mexico and Central and South America, but I get the point!

If you live in Maricopa County in Arizona, GET OUT NOW!  Please don’t think every Anglo cat you meet feels the same way!  Most of us don’t but we can’t control right wing nut cases like “Little Joe”.

 

We had a surprise today.  Diana DeGette, Democratic Congresswoman from Colorado, stopped by to give us some words of encouragement!  Diana says she thinks ALL children should have a crack at school and we need to pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) Now!

Julian Ross, Executive Director of the Colorado Immigrant’s Rights Coalition (CIRC) danced a little jig during a spare second…

We had Edgar Niebla, a victim of an ice raid last week.  Thanks for attorney Laura Lichter and the fast action of CIRC and caring friends, Edgar won temporary freedom in two days.  They had planned to have him in Mexico in two days.  We won one!

 

Edgar speaks about his crying mom who

watched him being led away…

Padres y Jovenes Unidos de Denver, Colorado, was a major organizing force.  They provided some guidance but truly, the students of Denver, Colorado, put it together!

Julietta of Padres y Jovenes Unidos speaks!

Julieta speaks with her heart about how it feels to be profiled, about respect each of us must have for ourselves, about unity and about the ugly law in Arizona!

We had good security.  I would say that is because they put me on the security squad.  That would be a mistaken statement.

Let’s be honest.  Would you argue with the chief of security?  Even if what he says is not funny, it is funny, get my drift, Vern?  I am sure this was a pretty good laugh for both of us!

We also had Denver Police in force.  Our side was orderly and quiet.  None of us wanted to shed a bad
reputation for the cause!  The students understood this and behaved like future leaders, each making his own sacrifice for the benefit of the cause.  That is a leader!

It was a great time today!  Something you don’t forget! 

  

We made some points, we worked hard, we joined hands today in unity for a cause that is way past due for new legislation!

Technorati Tags: padres y jovenes unidos,arizona 1070,arizona boycott,denver public schools,arpaio,immigration reform,diana DeGette,circ,edgar niebla,ice raids

ICE nabs community leader Edgar Niebla, Free in 2 days

ICE lets community leader go free after fast action by CIRC, protests from the community and friends

6:00 a.m. comes early to men who have to work.  They put in a hard day the day before.  Then, there is caring for the family which in the home of Edgar Niebla includes his mother and little sister.  There are the chores to do, family dinner, then it is time to hit the sack and do it all over again one more time.


On the morning of April 27th, at 6:00 a.m., Edgar Niebla, in immigrant, had one more thing on his plate.  His mother called to him.  Edgar's little sister of answered the door thinking it might have been a friend.  It wasn’t, unless you call guys gussied up in bullet proof vests with the word ICE stamped all over their chests your friends.

  Edgar Niebla Former ICE detainee

They were there to take Edgar.  Why they had targeted this hard worker who supports his family is unknown. 

Edgar’s mother was taking it hard.  She was crying, very upset.  Edgar had all he could do to manage the hulks standing at his door and comfort his mother, too.  Edgar would not be showing up for work today.


“Don’t worry.  I will be all right” he told her.


Fortunately, Edgar, who is on great terms with local law enforcement, was not cuffed in front of his mother and little sister.  In fact, he was kindly treated by the ICE officer and the local cop who Edgar knew quite well.  All the officer said to Edgar was "I'm sorry, Edgar."   

Edgar Niebla was placed into custody.  He was transported to the Denver immigrant detention facility.  They told him he was going home.  All he had left in Colorado and the United States was two days.  After that, he would have an order prohibiting his re-entry into the country. 


That is when the Colorado Immigrants Rights Coalition went into full swing.  Their efforts, along with community support, and protests from friends won Edgar a reprieve.  I watched the emails of support rushing through Facebook.  My heart was sinking with every new message.  I left the computer at 4:00 or so, lots of things to do before the Padres y Jovenes meeting that night.

I finally got my chores done and headed to the Padres y Jovenes meeting.  When I got my wheels parked Julian Rush, director of CIRC, came across the street and gave me the biggest bear hug you can imagine.  Julien is like that.  He loves people.  But this bear hug had a lot more in it, some pure joy, a sense hard work was paying off.  A sense maybe there is justice in the world for hard work.


“We did it, man!” he said, his eyes as bright as dollars.  I was not sure what it is "we" had done, but if it was a screw up I hoped it was not because of me!

Our future

On the lawn across the street were TV cameras and photographers.  Univision, along with other TV stations were there.

“Get a poster and get in with ‘em, Tim”  Julian encouraged me.  Cool!

  "We" must have done some good things" I thought to myself.

Then I heard the news.  After fast and effective intervention by the Colorado Immigration Rights Coalition, and with community support and some foot stomping by friends, Edgar had won temporary release from ICE after only two days in detention.  Two days to go free sure beats getting sent home in the same two days!  Someone, not me, did a lot of hard work.  My part was to be there, to be a tiny grain of sand in a huge movement.  It is an honor, a gift and I really enjoyed my friends letting me be part of it!

 Youth speaks about student walk out to

protest Arizona H.B. 1070

At the press conference excited community activist talked about how community lobbying and help from the Colorado Immigrants Rights Coalition won Edgar temporary freedom! 


After hearing words of encouragement I began to reflect about a conversation I had with two immigrant friends.  They could not see how they could change anything or why they should get involved with Padres y Jovenes or go to marches or belong to any other immigrants rights group.  I had to respect their opinion.  They were not going to put in their grain of sand for a cause that would affect their friends in a profound way.  Fine.  Do nothing.  You are powerless.  I am not.

When I got to the Padres office and saw Julien and all of the people at CIRC and my friends and...Edgar, I knew how important a grain of sand can be.  It was a great story to take back to my very surprised friends the next day.  Yes, you can make a difference.  We all can make a difference.  But the way we do it is in unity.  We fight for rights.  We fight for community.  We protect our memebers.  We stand up to a bully, to unjust laws.  And once in awhile...we win.  How sweet it is!

Tomorrow is May 1 and a chance for every one of us to be a grain of sand.  We are looking for numbers.  We are looking for communtiy.  Every person counts.  Stand up and be heard.  Come join us for a wonderful event.  There is one in nearly every large city in the United States.  In Denver it is Sunken Gardens near speer and Federal.  Why not find the one near you?   RIFA, Reform Immigration For America has helped us organize for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR ASAP).

Not one of us has the power to pass comprehensive immigration reform.  Together, we have immense power.  But that takes everyone of us to put our little granule of sand into the plan.  Together, nothing stops us.  Get involved in your community.  When things go south you have the community to help you out!  That is American democracy at work!

Technorati Tags: edgar niebla,ice raids,ice,deportation,circ,arizona,arizona passes,denver public schools,school walk out,public schools boycott