Caribbeans among thousands rallying for legalization of undocumented immigrants

By Felicia Persaud

Thousands gather for Immigrant Workers Freedom yesterday 
in New York's Flushing Meadows Park. (Photos: AP/Reuters)

Sunday, October 5, 2003

NEW YORK, New York: When Jamaican immigrant Albert, left Jamaica 16 years ago, his daughter was five-years-old. Today, she is 23 and the Bronx resident says he has not laid eyes on her in all those years simply because he has no permanent resident card that will allow him to travel back and forth between the U.S. and his homeland.

Albert, who was too scared to give his last name, is just one of about eight million undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States and who are in desperate need of legalization of status, according to advocates. 

"I have to be here and support this movement," said Albert yesterday. "We have to have equal rights and justice for all."

It was the recurring theme of yesterday's Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride. "Liberty and justice for all," proclaimed many signs while speakers after speaker exclaimed, "Respect for all despite of immigration status."

Close to 100,000 supporters, immigrants, activists, civil, religious and community leaders as well as politicians, turned up at Queens, New York's Flushing Meadows Park yesterday to send a message to President George W. Bush and the White House and push for amnesty for undocumented.

Labor leaders, union representatives and political and religious leaders elicited cheers from flag-waving immigrants from the Caribbean, as well as Central, Latin and South America and Africa, as they urged, "Justice, Amnesty, Liberty."

Jamaican immigrant, Mr. Jose Richards, of the Sons & Daughters of Jamaica organization, was among those on hand for the rally. He saluted the turnout saying, "I believe that anything where people come out in large numbers, the politicians will listen and think. If we keep it up, we will see some changes."

Commenting on the U.S. immigration policies, Mr. Richards added, "It's not just unfair, it's unGodly what this administration is doing."

Haitian immigrant Mr. Ruddel Deceus claimed he showed up because he was convinced that immigrants need to make their voices heard. "We pay taxes too," said Mr. Deceus.

Trinidadian immigrant, Ms. Gloria Church agreed. But she urged fellow Caribbeans, especially those who are citizens, to take part in the political process. "Let us get together and work together," said the Brooklyn resident, who disclosed that she knows the struggles fellow immigrants face when arriving in the U.S. for the first time.

"I came here as a professional and had to do jobs that were beneath me before I got the green card," added Ms. Church, now a union member.

Community leader and Trinidadian immigrant, Mr. Horace Moancie, urged all nationals of the region, and all immigrants who can legally vote, to register to do so. "We have to fight," added Mr. Moancie.

Caribbean advocate, Mr. Irwine Clare, said the fight is definitely on. "This is significant because we have finally garnered the interest of the unions in this movement," said the director of the Caribbean Immigrant Services. "We hope now we can use this to build coalitions to find solutions to the problems of immigrants."

The Trinidadian-born head of New York's Transport Workers Union, Mr. Roger Toussaint, said the movement is just the start. "From here, we have the attention we need to push the issue forward and let it. It's not a one day issue," said the labor leader.

New York Assemblyman, Mr. Brian McLaughlin, chairperson of the Ride and head of the Central Labor Council, agreed. "This is just the beginning," said the assemblyman. 

"Some day people can look back on this day and see how we changed the face of America forever," he predicted. Like Mr. Toussaint, he lauded the support the movement has received from "persuadable white Americans," whom he said feel "as sense of obligation."

New York's, Jamaican-American Councilmember, Ms. Yvette Clarke, lauded the event and committed to working to raising awareness of the problems facing immigrants. 

Freedom Ride organizers say it is important to challenge the strong anti-immigrant atmosphere that emerged after Sept. 11, 2001. 

Organizers say they want legal status "for hardworking, taxpaying, law-abiding immigrant workers already established in the United States;" as well labor protections so that all workers, including immigrant workers, have the right to fair treatment on the job; the renewal of democracy by clearing the path towards citizenship, the reuniting of families in a timely fashion and respect of the civil liberties and rights of all immigrants.

Riders came from all across the country including Seattle, Los Angeles, Miami, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Portland, Oregon, San Francisco and of course, New York. Over two hundred buses came form Brooklyn, said Councilwoman Clarke.

State legislators and political leaders across the country have endorsed the ride, including the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus, the California state legislature and Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), an original Freedom Rider. 

Sen. Edward M, Kennedy, Congressional Representatives Mike Honda, Hilda L. Solis, Luis Gutierrez, Sheila Jackson Lee, Janice Schakowsky, and George Miller have all praised the Immigrant Workers Freedom Riders for their courage and hard work, and pledging support for immigrant rights and reform.

The ride, organizers say, is inspired by the Freedom Riders of the early 1960's civil rights movement. A former civil rights 'rider,' Rev. James Lawson, urged immigrants to go back to their churches, unions, work places and neighborhoods and "mobilize."

Rev. Lawson, who marched with the late civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., from whom the Immigrant riders draw their inspiration, said, "No human being is illegal in the sight of God. … That's what we must tell George Bush."

Hip-hop artist, Haitian-born Mr. Wyclef Jean, topped after yesterday's event with a stirring performance in which he sang in English, Spanish, French and Creole. Freestyling between his renditions of Bob Marley's, "No Woman, No Cry," and "Redemption Song," the former Fugees star and hip-hop singer said, "No discrimination…. George Bush is going to get the message."

He also urged all gathered to "say a prayer for all the refugees around the world," before jumping out into the crowd for his usual high energy performance that sent rally-goers screaming and dancing at once.

At a press conference earlier, Mr. Jean stressed that there is a need to use the hip-hop genre to "create more awareness" on the issue. 

"We have to push for more attention," he said.

Also performing earlier in the day was Trinidadian-born Calypsonian, The Mighty Sparrow and the Mexican group, the Broncos. 

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