March Highlights Plight Of Undocumented Workers

PRISCILLA GREEAR, Staff Writer

Published: October 28, 2004

ATLANTA—Latino immigrants and their advocates gathered in front of Our Lady of the Americas Mission in Doraville on Oct. 12 for the “March for Dignity,” in which they expressed their opinion that the undocumented should be able to have a driver’s license and enjoy other basic civil and human rights.

The second annual “Marcha por la Dignidad” was sponsored by the Coordinating Council of Latino Community Leaders. This year the march drew approximately 1,000 people, down from last year where some 2,500 people showed up. The mission, in the heart of the Doraville Hispanic community, with a simple sign stating “Misión Católica” on the front, seemed a welcoming haven of respite with its open door, flyers on social support programs and sanctuary inside, as marchers with signs, coordinators and media people circulated outside for the contentious event. Oct. 12 was “el Día de la Raza” (Day of the Race) celebrating the roots of Hispanics from Mexico and Central and South America. Marchers, including many from the mission, walked from the mission on New Peachtree Road and across Buford Highway to the Herb Butler Union Hall of the United Auto Workers. As they departed at 5:30 p.m., walking in lines of four, they shouted things like “¡Si se puede!” (“Yes we can”) and “¡El pueblo unido nunca será vencido!” (“People united will never be defeated!”)

Raul Trujillo, a parishioner at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta, believes there is a double standard in that the government doesn’t stop employers from hiring them because they need this labor force in Georgia’s industries like poultry and construction, but at the same time these laborers are denied rights.

“Many of these people are getting used in our economic system but not getting any kind of recognition of their rights,” he said. “Our economy uses their labor, benefits from their work, but we don’t want them to go to their work legally. It’s a kind of slavery. It’s really an underground movement ... in chicken (factories), construction. All these industries are using their labor, but yet we don’t give them any opportunity to legalize their status or to create an atmosphere to allow them to be part of the society. It’s like a double standard.”

They joined forces with African-American and other non-Hispanic supporters, and likened their cause to the civil rights movement. And they called voters to be intentional in voting for candidates ready to fight for these rights. Those opposing the movement also showed up at various points along the route, some holding signs that read, “It is not un-American to enforce the law.”

The need for undocumented workers to obtain a driver’s license was frequently expressed, even though past attempts to get legislation passed have failed. Homero León, the attorney for the sponsoring group, said that he believes that the initiative will be reintroduced in the next legislative session.

“We had a good African-American, Latino partnership,” he said. “We’re going to bring it up again this session and hope we can get some more votes.”

He also noted that many undocumented pay taxes through a tax identification number, have a strong work ethic and are good, church-going individuals who contribute to society but lack rights like worker’s compensation and unemployment benefits. “Employers who hire them, they know (they fear deportation) and (the workers) can be abused and exploited. They tolerate things they should not have to tolerate.”

He said the fact that they chose to begin and end the march at the Catholic mission and the labor union is symbolic of the support and advocacy both give to immigrant laborers. Both provided free space.

Maria Rey, another coordinating council member, said that the march is the culmination of a state campaign to get Latinos registered to vote.

It’s important “to have a voice for those who do not have a voice, to voice issues of the community, driver’s licenses, education and health care issues and anything that has to do with racial profiling,” said Rey. “It’s a celebration and a voice saying, ‘We’re here, and we count and we also want to be counted.’”

One mother from Mexico, who belongs to the mission, pushed one of her four children in a stroller along the route. She carried a sign in English stating that she is looking for house cleaning work. She came to the United States when she was 18 with her parents because “we had no money.”

Wearing a sticker reading “health care for all” from Jobs With Justice, she spoke of how “we are very nervous” to drive without a license. She walks her children to school every morning because police are visible at that time of day and she and her husband are afraid to drive them. Her husband would like to look for a better job than in a fast food restaurant, but he is afraid to look for anything else because of their legal status. Her faith is what keeps her moving forward. “That is what helps me. Within my heart I feel God always provides for us. We don’t go hungry.”

Guatemala native Arnolfo Thomas, a member of St. Patrick Church in Norcross, works for a landscaping company and said that access to a driver’s license is a major concern.

“It’s the most important. For many families in the state of Georgia it is very difficult to go to work, especially for fathers of families, and to take children to school and the hospital. That’s why we’re here,” he said. And “health care is needed for all Americans, not only for us.”

He added that he and many friends have no health insurance and those he knows pay out of pocket in installments for medical bills when possible. Fortunately he has not needed to go to the doctor.

Police stopped traffic as walkers crossed Buford Highway to arrive in the back lot of the hall to hear the speakers. State Sen. Sam Zamarripa said that while he can’t promise each of them a driver’s license, he vowed to continue to be a voice for their rights.

“It’s a fight for dignity and respect, nothing more than this. It’s a fight to respect the humanity of each of you,” he said. “I can’t promise a driver’s license, but I promise that as best I can I will speak out and fight for you and your rights. I’m grateful for all of you, for your courage and for the work you do for this state and community.”

State Sen. Vincent Fort asked the crowd, “They say you’re freeloaders, is that true?” As the demonstrators responded “no,” he added, “Right, it isn’t true—you are a hard-working people who have many rights.”

The Rev. William Orange of the Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda said that this movement is where the civil rights movement was 40 years ago, fighting for the right to vote and for jobs and education.

“We’ve got some of that now. We have to stand with you as you fight for jobs, education, health care because of those who stood with us to get us where we are. Together we stand, divided we stumble.”

Adelina Nicholls, president of the coordinating council, spoke of the contributions to the state economy Georgians have made in agriculture, the poultry industry and construction.

“For many years the story of the presence of the Latino community in this country has been erased, undervalued and forgotten. Without a doubt, there are those today who continue to ignore our existence. There are those who, anchored in the past 40 years, insist in perpetuating discriminatory laws and attacks, abuse and mistreat us, call us criminals, illegal, and exclude us at their convenience.”

She spoke out against racism, discrimination and police accosting, deportations and the Clear Act, a piece of national legislation that would allow police officers to enforce immigration laws.

“We are convinced that the only path to follow is to continue this organized effort and together with our African-American and American brothers in the recognition and respect of our civil and human rights.”

Representatives spoke from a variety of other community organizations including Latinos United of Carroll County, the Atlanta Labor Council and Human Rights International.

Father Fabio Sotelo-Peña, priest in charge of the mission, said that the coordinating council asked to start the march there because of its central location. He felt “they should begin at the mission because many of the Spanish people, they don’t have a driver’s license. That is the reality and it is the heart of the Hispanic community ... I do consider it is a right for them to march and have a license to go to work and live here in this country.”

He doesn’t feel it’s a matter of legal status but rather about having the right to drive.

“Some people driving without proper documents like a license and insurance, they put many people at risk … They have to eat, (they have) to work. If they don’t have a car and can’t drive, they can’t go to work. It’s a very tricky situation.”

The mission offers many social support programs such as a monthly program on legal issues and a weekly youth outreach program, which draws around 55 people. Father Sotelo feels this social and spiritual support is critically needed and seeks more support and sponsorship from Catholics around the archdiocese in programs related to education, health care and other areas. The youth program, for example, uplifts many youth who become discouraged because of lack of opportunity for higher education. They are at risk of joining gangs and dropping out of high school. Support at the march was also expressed for the Dream Act, legislation pending in the Senate that would permit the legalization of young people who entered the United States as children and who meet character requirements.

Father Sotelo noted that many come to simply survive and the church historically has held the position that all immigrants are entitled to basic human rights and to live a dignified life.

“They come here to look for that, to do better in their life. The church has to commit to help them to live that life. That for me is important—that they live life with dignity.”