by Jackie Guzman
U.S. Rep. Luis Gutiérrez has laid down the gauntlet to the next U.S. president.
Addressing 1,000 guests at a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute luncheon this fall, Gutierrez vowed to lead a march on the White House next year if our newly elected president doesn’t use his power to ensure prompt passage of a comprehensive, compassionate immigration bill.
In their messages to Hispanic audiences, both Barack Obama and John McCain have promised to give immigration reform highest priority if elected. McCain said he’d start working on it on his very first day in office.
Gutierrez chairs the Democratic Caucus Immigration Task Force and also heads up the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ task force on immigration.
In his emotional CHCI presentation, he described the infamous federal raid on a Postville, Iowa, meat-packing plant—the biggest such operation yet—with parents snatched up and hustled out of the country.
Nearly 400 Guatemalan and Mexican families were torn apart.
“For every two people deported, you leave a citizen in this country; a brother, a mother, a child,” Gutierrez said.
Luncheon guests rose to applaud the Illinois congressman several times.
Weekly Report asked audience members and others afterwards.
“Would you march on the White House with Luis Gutiérrez, even at the risk of being arrested?”
Some responses: Juan Andrade Jr., president, U. S. Hispanic Leadership Institute. Chicago:
“I would be on the first plane to D. C. to join him in solidarity. This is the greatest moral issue of our time. The risk of going to jail would be an honor.”
Josiane Martinez, La Alianza Hispana, Boston.
“Of course I would be part of a march. To take action and get involve in the matter is essential. The mobilization of our people is needed to make changes. It is little probable that one will be arrested because of a protest. I think it shouldn’be be necessary to get to this point.”
Grace Napolitano, Member, U.S. House of Representatives, 38th District, California: “We can get El Piolín and some of those gentlemen who were very effective last time. In a peaceful way we can tell the rest of the nation that we are ready to move forward on getting a fair immigration reform. We do what we need to do.
Henry Cuéllar, Member, United States House of Representatives, 28th District, Texas.
“I’ll let Luis Gutiérrez do the marching for me.”
Carmen Delgado-Votaw, long-time activist, Washington D.C. “Absolutely. We can’t wait anymore. There are lots of feminists, civil rights marchers, lots of people who have been arrested. We are not afraid of that.
Fred Rodríguez, president, Veterans in Community Service, Calif.
“Yes. if you believe in an issue strong enough, you should be willing to accept the consequences.”
Mario Solís-Marich, radio show host, Los Angeles.
“One of the most important things that we can do is to be much more aggressive.
One good way is to visibly demonstrate that now we know how powerful we are.
Absolutely, I would participate.”
Eliseo Medina, SEIU executive vice president, Los Angeles “Of course, but the bottom line, to w/n we have to change the conditions that we are working on. We need to do two things.
“We need to make a huge impact in November. That is absolutely critical.
“Second/y, we have to keep every mobilized community that /s engaged in the elections and turn ad those activities into legislative advocacy.” Hispanic Link.
