5-24-07, 1:00 pm

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.


Last year there was a sudden national uproar on immigration. Media coverage was constant, Congress was in debate (well, at least they pretended to be) and the public was intent.

Congress was finally tackling an important issue. The optimism, however, was dampened by the racist tones of the proposed bills. That previous December the House of Representatives had passed the anti-immigrant bill HR 4437 causing many immigrant communities to feel the pressure from racist sectors of the US population. There were instances of harassment and discrimination reported across the nation; and California, with one of the largest Latino immigrant populations in the country, was no exception.

I was born and raised in the “Heart of California,” the lush Central Valley home to immigrant workers both of legal and illegal status. The valley is our kitchen, producing a myriad of vegetables, nuts and fruits like the famous grapes used to make Gallo wine. It is no surprise then, that immigrants are an integral part of the economy and the community. It was in response to the unbalanced and xenophobic talk that our community came together in solidarity with our brothers and sisters.

Local residents saw a vacuum in terms of assistance and support and decided to take action. Our town’s Family Resource Center sponsored our forum to educate our citizenry on the immigration bill proposals in Congress and their impact on the nation. We also provided assistance to those feeling intimidated by the national debate due to their legal status.

As a consequence of this first effort to help those in need we have now formed a permanent body, the Latino Committee, under the direction of the Hughson Family Resource Center (HFRC). This committee was formed to focus on the needs of the Latino community in the area. The HFRC offers bilingual counseling services, parenting classes, case management, ESL classes and educational forums. In this past year we have successfully put on several forums on immigration issues and health. Moreover, we plan on continuing our work by expanding forums to cover education, workers’ rights and a heritage celebration already in the works.

I was asked to join the committee as a student and activist and have found immense satisfaction serving my people. The Latino Committee is diverse composed of 10 members, each bringing their own skills to the table.

From teachers, counselors and students to homemakers and long-time activists, we all are here because we seriously believe that no human being is illegal. We believe that this country truly is for everyone. Just like many of our parents and grandparents came here to make a better living so are the new waves of immigrants. More importantly, we realize that the real push and pull of immigration are neoliberal trade agreements wreaking havoc on developing countries and the environment.

Even in small seemingly conservative places like the Central Valley, there are citizens taking a stand when injustice appears. Our committee is only one example of many. I consider these local actions to be the backbone of national change. We witnessed the power of citizens this past November. Can one imagine the transformation if more people were to put aside the minutiae and came together?