DAY LABORERS RACE ACROSS NATION TO RAISE AWARENESS.Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer Day laborers from North Hollywood will join those from across the nation today for a two-month race from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic to bring awareness to migrant rights. Twelve core runners expect thousands to join them along the way. The 3,000-mile run begins in Santa Monica Santa Monica (săn`tə mŏn`ĭkə), city (1990 pop. 86,905), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1886. Tourism and retailing are important, and the city has motion-picture, biotechnology, and software industries. and winds through Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. with a stop at the Federal Building for a rally, before continuing on through Arizona, Texas and Washington, D.C, and ending in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. . ``It's not only a run, it's a protest against injustice, against labor exploitation,'' said Oscar Paredes, a labor organizer from New York City, who is one of the core runners. ``It's about the hate out there from the paramilitary groups and the Minutemen along the border. We want to tell them, you have to stop the hate.'' Day laborers, mostly Hispanic men without legal citizenship documents, have been at the center of immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. debates. The Senate Judiciary Committee The U.S. Senate established the Committee on the Judiciary on December 10, 1816, as one of the original 11 standing committees. It is also one of the most powerful committees in Congress; among its wide range of jurisdictions is investigation of federal judicial nominees and oversight of began crafting an immigration bill this week to tighten U.S. borders, while President George W. Bush's proposed temporary-guest-worker program has been met with less than enthusiasm. Locally, about 125 protesters - both opponents and proponents - rallied outside a day labor center Day Labor Center Models In the last twelve years in the US, there have emerged two main models of day laborer programs: the social service agency model day labor program (the traditional model that San Francisco, Los Angeles, and many other cities based their programs on) next to a new Home Depot in Burbank in January. The National Day Laborer Organizing Network is sponsoring the run to call for immigration reform and recognize that about 12 million undocumented immigrants are in the United States, according to the agency. Along the way, the runners hope day-laborer supporters will participate. Runners will stop at work sites, talk to community members and hold marches and ceremonies. ``The slogan of this is running for dignity and running for peace,'' said Antonio Bernabe of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) is an American political advocacy organization. History Following the passage of the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, representatives from Central American Resource Center (CARECEN), Asian . ``The experience of running in a marathon brings us together. We will be from different cultures, running as equals, going in the same direction. The challenge is huge, but the message we are sending is huge. We want unity and understanding.'' Susan Abram, (818) 713-3664 susan.abram(at)dailynews.com |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion