Los Angeles workers bus to Arizona to Protest SB1070
Leilani Albano | 7-30-2010 | Comments |
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Hundreds of Los Angeles workers donning their favorite union colors took an early-morning bus ride from Dodger Stadium to Phoenix on Thursday.The group joined protests in Arizona against SB1070, the state’s new immigration law that requires police officers to request immigration papers from suspected immigrants and enforce federal immigration laws.
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Left: L.A. County Federation of Labor Chief Maria Elena Duranzo.The LA County Federation of Labor, representing 800,000 members, timed the rides the same day the controversial measure went into effect.
"This is our time to give support to our state in Arizona," Cristina Vazquez from Workers United told the crowd. "So I am going to get on that bus and I am going to march with all of you."
During the trip, participants were slated to meet with Phoenix Councilman Michael Nowakowski, Phoenix Chief of Police Jack Harris and others to voice their opposition to the measure. They also planned to march to the Arizona state capitol.
"This law? I hate it," said LA County Federation member Michele Reed. "It’s unjust."
Homecare worker, Rob Robbins, also opposes the new Arizona law.
"I grew up in Alabama back in the '40s and the '50s in a segregated community," he said. "This reminds me of the same problem."
Right before 5 am, most of the participants made their way towards the buses. Shakeel Syed with CLUE — Clergy and Laiety for Economic Justice — offered blessings to protesters.
"We ask you to make our journey purposeful and meaningful and we ask for greater resolve in our journey for justice," he said.
The Arizona protests come one day after a federal judge blocked key parts of the measure. U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton delayed provisions that require immigrants to carry their papers at all times and prohibits undocumented immigrants from seeking work in public places. Some activists welcome the latest news. But they say comprehensive immigration reform, and not punitive laws is what is needed to address immigration.
"It's putting a band-aid on a deep wound that needs major surgery," said CLUE member, Jose Luis Gutierrez. "So they need to not harden their hearts."
Tags: arizona immigrant rights immigrants immigration los angeles sb1070 union workers