Immigrant Organizations and Allies Protest Anti-Immigrant Legislation Sen. Brown's Silence
BOSTON/State House - Over 200 immigrant, labor, religious and community advocates held a rally in front of the Grand Staircase in the State House on Thursday to protest anti-immigrant legislation that was recently passed by the Mass. Senate, and to demand that Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) start speaking out on immigration issues. Organizers said that Brown has "remained silent" on the immigration reform debate since taking office.
But the most immediate target of the participants ire was Senate budget amendment 172.1 that the Senate passed and added to their 2011 budget proposal 2 weeks ago. If passed into law as part of the 2011 Mass. budget this summer, it would require a number of significant changes to existing state practice towards immigrants on employment verification, unemployment benefits, in-state tuition for public higher education, housing and other public benefits. Most controversially, it would mandate the creation of a statewide 24/7 hotline operated by the Attorney General's office that would encourage people to report suspected violations of immigration laws. Virtually all of the organizations endorsing the event have been comparing the Mass. Senate amendment to Arizona's anti-immigrant law SB 1070 - and many attendees carried signs calling for the Arizona legislature to reverse its decision.
Eva Milona, executive director of the Mass. Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, said, "As the largest organization in New England, representing the interests of the foreign-born, MIRA is proud to be part of this very important rally and march today - when we are especially asking the legislature to seriously reconsider the amendments that were passed during the rushed and difficult budget process. The 22 pages of legal changes passed by the Senate were barely given 20 minutes debate and many senators may not be aware of years and decades of proactive work that they threaten to undo. As you will hear today from esteemed speakers, these amendments are deeply harmful in both fiscal and human terms - threatening our financial stability with unfunded mandates in these troubled economic times.
"In our state's rich long history of inclusion and tolerance, at a moment of rising political tension, we are respectfully asking the legislature to reconsider its vote in the reconciliation process. We're also asking Sen. Scott Brown to become a strong voice on immigration reform. Recent negative polls appear to show support for some of these amendments. These polls are colored by the incomplete nature of the question. A misunderstanding that we must fight very hard to fix. The solution is federal comprehensive immigration reform that the majority of American people support. That would help mend the division of class, culture and color that now threatens to rend the fabric of our wonderful state and our great nation."
Rocio Saenz, president of the Service Employees International Union Local 615, said, "Thank you to the whole community for being here today. Because we are having one voice - one strong voice - one single voice - and we say to the legislature 'Do the right thing for Massachusetts!' It's just great to be here because this is the time where we show as a people that what we can do together - when we stand together - when we fight together - I know we can win together. And we are going to win one day. It's not a matter of 'if,' it's a matter of when. So we have 2 messages today. And one is to the state legislature: 'Don't turn our welcome state into a state of intolerance!' Into a state of division. Don't do that! We are also urging Sen. Brown to stop his silence - and to join this movement - and to win comprehensive immigration reform for America.
The keynote address was given by Eliseo Medina, executive vice-president of the Service Employees International Union, "Hello, Boston! All right. I can tell whose going to win the NBA Championship. But we need to win something else too, right? We are here today as people of good will, people who love our country, people who love justice - with a very clear and simple message to Senator Scott Brown and to Massachusetts state leaders. Now is the time to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Immigration reforms will benefit workers, employers, immigrants in our society. Punitive, enforcement-only state bills - like state budget amendment 172.1, which passed the state senate on Friday - will only make problems worse.
"Not better. This amendment will create a 'Big Brother is Watching You' atmosphere in a state that has always been a progressive state. It encourages neighbors to anonymously turn in their neighbors to the state attorney general. Under this state law, anyone - anyone - could sic the state attorney general on you. Making you the focus of an intrusive investigation. On flimsy trumped-up charges. And under this amendment, this could happen to anybody. Not just immigrants. This is not the kind of society that we want in Massachusetts. Massachusetts is not Arizona."
Medina continued, "So brothers and sisters, we are here today to tell the state leaders 'it is not too late to come to your senses.' It is time to do the right thing. And get rid of this disastrous amendment in the budget reconciliation process. Laws like this don't solve the problem. But it does spotlight the need for national immigration reform. It is
foolish to think that you can solve a national problem with piecemeal state legislation. So that's why from here we are going to be marching to Sen. Brown's office - to tell him that we expect him to lead on this issue. We cannot fix our economy or end undocumented immigration until we ensure that every worker in America has the same rights and responsibilities. And are not forced to live in the shadows of our society.
"Now brothers and sisters, it's not just us today here that believe that. There have been recent polls that show that 77 percent of all Americans from Boston to San Diego support smart rational comprehensive immigration reform. Unfortunately in Congress, the Republican Party is blocking reform at every turn. That's not what Americans want. Americans want solutions, not gridlock.
Medina concluded with a challenge to Brown, "Now during his campaign Sen. Brown said he wanted to go to Washington to fix real problems. To address the tough issue facing America. Well Sen. Brown, here is your chance. To really tackle some problems. But you know what Sen. Brown is doing? He's remaining silent. While this issue is burning out of control with states and cities grasping at straws. Today in Massachusetts we are seeing the results of inaction at the federal level. You know Sen. Scott Brown, if he decided to be a leader on this issue, he would be the 60th vote in the United States Senate and we would have comprehensive immigration reform in the next 60 days. Not next year. Not 2 years from now. But in the next 60 days."
Other speakers included Rev. Hurmon E. Hamilton of the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, Rev. Jeffrey Brown of the Boston Ten Point Coalition, Rep. Denise Provost, and Richard Rogers of the Greater Boston Labor Council. Rep. Gloria Fox (D-Boston), Rep. Byron Rushing (D-Boston), Rep. Marie St. Fleur (D-Boston), Rep. Linda Dorcena Forry (D-Boston), and several other legislators and aides - including Somerville Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz (D-Ward 6) - attended the event.
Following the rally, over 100 people marched to the JFK Federal Building in Government Center via Washington St. - getting a mixed reception from passers-by - to pressure Sen. Brown to go public with his position on immigrant rights. Once at Government Center they heard a brief reportback from a small delegation of advocates that had gone in advance to request a meeting with Sen. Brown. The delegation reported that Brown's staff told them they would try to get the advocates a meeting with the senator. after the report, the activists rallied for a few minutes and then dispersed.
Brown did not respond to requests for comment from Open Media Boston, and his staff did not verify that any meeting had yet been scheduled with immigrant advocates.
