Barack Obama will soon assume the presidency, and Oaxacan immigrants in the U.S. have some requests that have been foremost in their minds since long before the economic meltdown and the recent election: Address immigration reform, offer a path to legalization for the estimated 10 million or more undocumented workers living the U.S, put an end to raids by immigration authorities, and create decent jobs.
Odilia Romero, secretary for the Women's Indigenous Front of Binational Organizations (FIOB in Spanish), is calling on Latinos to leave nothing to chance as they present this agenda. She says her organization will work to encourage Latinos to make their own case for immigration reform in a bid to influence the Obama Administration. She adds that she hopes that Latino immigrants will re-ignite the spirit of the massive marches that called attention to their side of the debate in 2006.
"On May 1 2009, we will have to go out, demand, exert pressure, and press forward in order to achieve immigration reform," Romero says. "We must keep in mind that although the Democrats have won majorities in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, not everyone is pro-immigrant."
Santiago García, president of the Oaxacan Regional Organization (ORO in Spanish), echoed the call to put some work behind the immigrant community's hopes as Obama prepares to take office.
"We hope that there will be more Latinos on his team, who can address economic issues--that's where one can really see change," Garcia says. "Obama has been gotten support from the people. That's what the polls show, and he must take advantage of this in order to bring about fair and much-needed change. We believe that this time, with Obama at the helm of immigration reform--change will come. This hope is felt by undocumented Latino immigrants. We want fair reform for those who have lived here for years and pay taxes. He is the person who people hope will improve the economy, education, and reach the reform that we have waited for and worked toward for so long."
Gaspar Rivera Salgado, an academic and general coordinator of the FIOB, says that that Latinos must remain organized so that immigration reform is addressed by Obama.
"This issue has to move forward in order to offer a road toward legalization, put an end to raids, and create decent employment opportunities," says Rivera Salgado, who also points out that the Latino electorate played an important role in the recently-held elections. "During the primaries it was said that it would be difficult for Latinos to vote for an African-American, but between 65% and 68% of Latinos voted for Obama. In what many considered to be difficult states to win--like Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico--he won" with the help of Latino voters.
Rivera Salgado says that the growing Latino population in the U.S.--and their growing participation in elections--presents a genuine opportunity to influence the pending Obama Administration.
"This is an historic achievement, with overwhelming support for Obama," he says. "We are 44 million Latinos, and 15% of the population."
Rivera Salgado also drew on some Mexican history--with an Oaxacan twist--to explain a sense of common ground with Obama.
"Oaxacans have Benito Juárez, an Indian who was born poor, but with great intelligence was able to govern," he says of the former President of Mexico, who rose to the nation's highest office in the face of racial prejudice. "We have this in common with Obama's story."
José Gonzalez, a Oaxacan immigrant,who recently became a naturalized citizen, said that he voted for Obama for change.
"The Republican government has not been a good government," Gonzalez said. "Obama can put an end to injustice and racism."
González said that he and other Oaxacans believe that Obama faces big challenges ahead, and hope that it will not be like former Mexican President Vicente Fox, who said that he would resolve a longstanding fight between government forces and rebels in the state of Chiapas within in 15 minutes of office. The fight goes on in Chiapas, Gonzalez, says, adding that he hopes Obama will do better in delivering change on immigration reform.
"We hope that Obama will follow through...and that the promised change arrives," said González.
Links:
BINATIONAL FRONT OF INDIGENOUS ORGANIZATIONS (FIOB)
Mireya Olivera is editor of Impulso.
WE ARE OBVIOUSLY LIVING IN MODERN FEUDALISM. AL DEJAR QUE LA MINORIA DE LOS HOMBRES Y MUJERES DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS QUE SON AMERICANOS DOCUMENTADOS ESTEN DOMINANDO COMO EN EL PASADO RECONOCIDO COMO MONARQUIA . "LUTHER"KING AND PUBLIC "SERVANT" . AL ESTAR TRABAJANDO Y PAGANDO TAXES NUESTROS HIJOS NACIDOS EN ESTA TIERRA . NOSOTROS Y NUESTROS HIJOS SIN NINGUN TIPO DE MEDICARE MEDICAL SIENDO QUE TENGO ENTENDIDO QUE ES UAN CARACTERISTICA DEL ESCLAVISMO NO PUEDE SER POSIBLE QUE EN EL 2010 ESTEN PASANDO ESTAS CIRCUNSTANCIAS DEL SIGLO PASADO . COMPARANDOLO CON LA PIRATERIA. NUESTRA GENTE QUE A CAIDO ENFERMOS Y NUESTROS HIJOS Y MAS QUE NADA UNO MISMO . PELEAR CON LA CONTITUCION EN LAS MANOS. AUNQUE SEA JUNGLE LAW. TENEMOS A LA MAJORIA DE LA GENTE .
ONE DOCUMENTED AMERICAN
TOTALS 8 OR 9 UNDOCUMENTED AMERICANS.
NO DEJAR PASAR NI UN DIA MAS SIN HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE . ESTAS PELEAS SE HAN DADO EN ESTE SUELO MAS DE UNA VEZ.
BASTA DE EXCUSAS ESTUPIDAS Y JUEGOS DE MENTE.
BASTA LA COHERCION MANIPULACION AMENAZAS Y DEPENDENCIAS QUE SON JUEGOS DEL PASADO. LETS WORK ALL TOGETHER WE HAVE ALL THE PEOPLE WE NEED. TENEMOS LA LEY Y LA GENTE DE NUESTRO LADO . DI NO A LA EXCLAVITUD MODERNA OPTA POR TENER Y EXIGIR TU SALUD. HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE FOR ALL. MEDICAL MEDICARE. THANK YOU .
LLUTHER OBEY OBAMA