'Stop raids and deportations'

A March 24 rally at Milwaukee’s Mitchell Park demanded: “Stop the raids and deportations” and “Legalization for all.” It was sponsored by Voces de la Frontera, a progressive community-based organization that educates and organizes low-wage workers and also operates the Centro de Trabajadores Workers’ Center on Milwaukee’s south side, where the majority of the county’s 100,000 Latin@’s live.

A kickoff for many spring actions, the rally drew hundreds from across Milwaukee and beyond. The main banner, which read, “To work hard and overtime is not a crime,” was bolstered by handmade signs reading: “Stop the war on the poor; Stop the war on Iraq,” “No raids,” “No deportations” and “Immigrant rights: Human rights.”

“Please wake up. It’s time to do something. We want to stop the raids. We need to fight for our rights,” declared a Latina worker from the main stage. She described how she was rounded up in an August 2006 ICE raid at the Star Packaging manufacturing plant in Whitewater, Wis., about an hour southwest of Milwaukee, by local Whitewater police and other local and federal agencies. She described being jailed for days, unable to earn sorely needed wages while her children and many others suffered severe trauma and terror.

One child’s sign read, “Please bring my mommy and daddy back.” In an emotional moment, many dozens of children came forward to light candles at the speakers’ stage in honor and remembrance of those deported, raided and terrorized.

Another Latina worker who spent nine days in jail after the raid at the Whitewater plant said: “We were treated worse than an animal. We need support.”

The owner of Star Packaging also spoke about the raids at his and other small businesses in Whitewater. He said: “This was all racial profiling. They [the U.S. government] are destroying families.” The owner said that about 100 workers toiled at his plant at the time of the raid; now about nine are working there.

Between the main talks chants of “Si se puede!” electrified the crowd.

The immigrants’ call for unity and solidarity had been heeded by a broad cross-section of unions and other progressive organizations from Milwaukee whose representatives attended, spoke and supported the mostly Latin@ immigrants under siege by the U.S. government.

Organized labor—including representatives of the Federation of Teachers local at the Milwaukee Area Technical College, Service Employees Local 150 and United Electrical Local 1103—pledged support. So did Peace Action Wisconsin, the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, the International Action Center-Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Bolivarian Circle. Many youths, students and whole families participated in the rally.

The rally was the beginning of spring actions. This month families facing deportation are touring the state to gain support for immigrant rights. On May Day a statewide immigrant rights march in Milwaukee will start at 12 noon from the Voces office.

Other actions this spring are picket lines for workers’ rights at various businesses, a Voces fundraiser and more. Tens of thousands of leaflets are being distributed and much other outreach is under way. For more information, contact Voces at 414-643-1620.