by the staff of El Reportero
A coalition of civil rights organizations filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging a provision under Alabama’s harsh anti-immigrant law that threatens to push people out of their homes. Section 30 requires persons to prove their lawful status before they can renew their mobile home tags and prohibits “business transactions” between the state and persons who cannot produce paperwork proving their citizenship or immigration status.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of two undocumented Latino immigrants in Elmore County who also risk being charged with a misdemeanor if they do not purchase the decals in addition to fines for failing to register their mobile home by the statewide deadline.
HIV in the Latino community: early testing and treatment makes it possible for people to live longer
Latinos are greatly impacted by HIV/AIDS. The rate of HIV infection in Latino men is twice as high that of white men. For Latina women, it is four times higher that of white women. For the past 3 years, Latinos represented 24 percent of all new HIV infections diagnosed in the Emergency Department at San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (SFGH).
Latinos tend to delay testing and they present for care in the advanced stages of the disease, as there are many barriers to seeking care, such as stigma, fear and isolation, cultural and language difficulties, immigration status and mistrust of medical system.
Nevertheless, advances in HIV-related care now make it possible for people to live longer. Patients are able to have children, return to work/school, and live healthy lives. In order to take advantage of the advances in medicine it is important that Latinos get tested, know their HIV status and access care early after diagnosis.
Hyatt housekeepers filed retaliation charge with the EEOC
On Nov. 18, housekeepers Martha and Lorena Reyes filed a retaliation charge against the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara with the federal agency, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”). The Reyes sisters were among many Hyatt employees whose faces were pasted atop bikini-clad cartoon images on the company’s bulletin board. Humiliated, Martha Reyes tore down the photographs of her and her sister and both sisters were later fired by the hotel.
OSHA or its state counterparts have issued 16 citations against the Hyatt or its subcontractors, alleging violations of safety regulations that protect housekeepers and other employees. Community leaders joined the Reyes sisters in calling on Hyatt to immediately reinstate the housekeepers with back pay and to issue a public apology.
