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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend April 1, 2006 Jose Enriquez, a concrete worker in the Rogue Valley for the past 11 years, was among hundreds who marched through downtown Medford during a rally Friday afternoon. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli ‘We are not criminals’ Medford rally calls for support of immigrants By JOHN DARLING for the Mail Tribune Waving the U.S. flag and chanting "Yes we can!" and "We are not criminals!" several hundred Hispanic residents marched through Medford Friday afternoon, rallying support for the McCain-Kennedy Immigration Reform bill now before Congress. The upbeat Latino crowd got a lesson in American politics as Maria Ramos Underwood of La Clinica del Valle reminded people that they not only have to speak up clearly to politicians for what they want, but also "share your stories" with non-Latino members of the community about "what brought us here to this country and the hardships we suffered back home (in Mexico), that inspired us to make a better life for us and our children." Latinos must take a cue from other political groups, "swallow a little pride about being poor immigrants" and stop being "the other," she said. "Join the community and get to know us, because I believe the laws they passed (the restrictive immigration bill passed by the House in December) are based on fear and xenophobia." The crowd got a good laugh from a chorus of call-and-responses, as Dago Morales of Medford, an organizer for the education advocacy group Unete, recited a list of typical jobs in orchards and motels, with long hours, low pay, toxic chemicals and harsh conditions — jobs few white Americans would take — then called out "Who wants my job?" The crowd heartily repeated the phrase. Advertisement Hispanic farmworkers should be treated respectfully, not as criminals, said Bill Eckart, executive director of the Fruit Growers League in Medford, because this country’s forest, farm and dairy industries would collapse without them. "Our agricultural work force is aging and the population doesn’t want to provide the labor to keep it going," he told the cheering crowd. "If you deported every illegal worker here, you’d need 200,000 Greyhound buses stretching from Alaska to San Diego. How are you going to do that? This country was founded on people who come here to work, and that’s what they’re doing." Medford City Councilman John Statler asked, "Where are the elected officials?" He was the only one evident at the rally and told the crowd members they should show up at government meetings and be heard. "The voices of my beautiful neighbors in (heavily Latino) west Medford are not being heard but if they’re not, I promise I will speak for them," Statler said. Chinese immigrant Debra Lee, executive director of the Center for Nonprofit Legal Services in Medford, warned the crowd that legal advice offered by her office would be illegal under the House immigration bill — and she reminded them that the Constitution mandates that Congress establish uniform rules for naturalization of immigrants. "Immigrants through the course of history have escaped oppression and famine for a life in the promised land, increasing the racial diversity in our society," said Lee. "They’ve all taken advantage of free education, financial help and liberty here. We want justice, fairness, inclusion and reasonableness — that’s in McCain-Kennedy (legislation). We do not want criminalization of Good Samaritans who help them. We don’t want fear and blame." Marchers carried signs hand-written messages. One said, "Help me fulfill my dreams." Another said, "Myth: Immigrants don’t pay taxes. Truth: annually they pay $85 billion." With much honking from passing cars, the cheery march stretched over three city blocks as it wound its way from Alba Park to Vogel Plaza, then to the Jackson County Justice Center for speeches in a light rain. It was part of a big series of Hispanic demonstrations this past week across the nation, after the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the McCain-Kennedy bill. John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at [email protected]. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Absinthe Supply Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Debt Consolidation California Casinos GMAT Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Hammocks Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada King of Spirits Email Security Advertisement s Advertisement