April 13, 2006

By ADAM HYLA
Editor

For the tens of thousands of people who gathered in Seattle and their hundreds of thousands of fellow marchers in communities across the U.S., Monday, April 10 was an effort to turn the tide against the anti-immigrant rhetoric coming from vigilante border enforcers, right-wing radio provocateurs, and the U.S. House of Representatives. It was a chance to set the record straight.

Covering the street in front of the Federal Building, framed by the rows of high-rises lining Second Avenue, a cry went up from 25,000 mouths for a full measure of human dignity.

That was what Eduardo Ramirez, with his wife, Socorro Bravo, and their son, 4, were after: to counter the scapegoating of undocumented workers for crime, unemployment, and stagnant wages.

“ It’s not that we’re here to start trouble,” said Ramirez, holding his son. He said he favors a guest worker program — which some in Congress have labeled as a blanket amnesty. “I’m certainly not looking for amnesty for all — not if you have a felony. If you’re caught dealing drugs, you shouldn’t be here.”

A law-enforcement approach to illegal immigration would only deepen the racism that Latinos experience in their daily lives, said Bravo. And if every undocumented worker was a felon, how would U.S. businesses get their work done? “You’re not going to see white kids out there picking carrots,” said Bravo.

A good immigration bill would not legislate that citizens-to-be must learn English. “English is not required to live in the U.S.,” said Bravo.

“ We don’t use English to work. We use our hands and our hearts,” said Jovany Barba, standing among three friends who all wore workboots flaked with drywall dust. Barba held a cardboard sign scrawled with “Sí se puede.”

Spanish was the language of choice for the evening’s most impassioned speeches — also its moments of humor. Energizing members of the crowd as the marchers streamed in, speakers chanted “Él que no brinca es migra” (“those who aren’t jumping are border agents”), most of the crowd bounced up and down, and non-Spanish speakers stood uncomprehendingly immobile. When the speeches did start, elected officials delivered some short and sparklingly affirmative speeches. Mayor Greg Nickels noted how 95,000 King County residents were born outside the U.S. “That’s 95,000 people who get up every morning and work hard and pay taxes, and some of whom are going to be the next American citizens,” he said to rising cheers. “We say: do not build that wall. Build a pathway for hope.”

Rally speakers exulted over the large turnout and promised more: a general strike on Monday May 1, when, organizers hope, immigrants will make their importance felt by their absence. n