He left Corpus Christi and Houston on April 9, after giving seminars and holding demonstrations in several border towns in rejection of the state law that allows the police to ask about immigration status.
He left Corpus Christi and Houston on April 9, after giving seminars and holding demonstrations in several border towns in rejection of the state law that allows the police to ask about immigration status.
MCALLEN, TX - After holding a series of meetings, demonstrations and seminars in the Rio Grande Valley on the implications of state law SB4, the "Together Together" caravan began its journey from El Paso to the city of Corpus Christi and then to Houston.
The members of the pro-migrant group arrived on Monday 5th in San Benito, on Friday they arrived in Mission, on Saturday in San Juan and on Sunday in Rio Grande City, from where they left on Sunday for Brownsville, to conclude their activities in the South Texas region.
In the municipal park of San Juan, and in the facilities of La Unión del Pueblo Entero (LUPE), there was a broad movement of organizations, residents and people from other latitudes who shared their rejection of the implementation of state law SB-4, which allows police officers to ask detained people about their immigration status in the country.
As at other points in their itinerary, community workshops on constitutional rights were offered, so that migrants would be prepared to respond to possible detentions under this state law.
The march began with a tribute to trade union leader César Chávez. Fernando Macías, President of LUPE's Board of Directors, said that "this day is important for the resistance movement, it's important for the whole population to know that we are here to fight for migrant workers and dreamers".
He recalled the words of César Chávez when he warned that "if we say something and we don't do anything, it's no use saying it". He added that "today you are saying with your presence here that words are not just words, that we are going to take action and that we are going to resist, we have to go forward and triumph".
Julieta Paredes, one of the local "dreamers" said that "as a 'dreamer' and a member of LUPE, I can't accept a law that affects my community, I support a clean dream law, because it's fair, it's what we need". He added that "we are here to march, to show the legislators that we are not afraid, that we are not intimidated, that we are strong and united and the dreamers are here for our families and we are not going to surrender".
Alisson Duarte, a young woman and activist, complained that people often hear phrases like "why march, you're wasting your time, this movement won't change anything", and expressed that "I, like all of you, am fighting to try to change something and that someone tells us that it's a waste of time, it hurts, especially because we know that these kinds of comments are based on a lack of hope for change".
He explained that it is important to hold these marches, "because it visualizes the struggle we are having, we can create unity, we can socialize with others and understand that we are not alone and that is the important thing, to create community and keep fighting".
Wendy Castro, a "dreamer" traveling from El Paso, Texas, with the caravan, explained that "we are visiting the communities to inform them of their rights and what to do if they are arrested. We have to protect our families and our community, we are not going to allow them to discriminate against us, we are big, we are strong. Who am I going to protect, my parents and my community, people who have made this country great? We have to stop and use our voice, it's our power," she said.
The caravan is scheduled to finish its tour in Houston on April 12.
Source: Immigration – 11/04/2018