This week I felt privileged to be one of over 1,500 participants in the NC Latino Coalition’s Statewide Delegates Assembly in Durham calling for comprehensive and compassionate immigration reform. Leaders from religious organizations, organized labor and businesses joined the grassroots audience in making the compelling case for immigration reform now. These speakers included:
- Father Martin Juarez on behalf of Bishop Michael Curry, Episcopal Diocese of NC
- Rev. William Barber, President, NAACP-NC
- Father Carlos Arce on behalf of Bishop Michael Burbidge, Catholic Diocese of Raleigh
- Rev. Dr. Gregory Moss, President, General Baptist State Convention of NC
- Ben Monterroso on behalf of Eliseo Medina, President, Service Employees International Union
- James Andrews, President, AFL-CIO of NC
- Bert Lemkes, Van Wingerden International, Inc.
- Deborah Johnson, Executive Director, NC Pork Council
The Council has long called for a comprehensive immigration reform that reflects both the values of our faith and the ideals of our shared history as Americans. Events like the Delegates Assembly are happening all over the state and across the country as Americans wake up to the reality that our current immigration system is archaic and ill-equipped to deal with the realities of a global economy. And in the wake of Arizona’s new immigration law – parts of which have already been struck down by the courts as unconstitutional – we’re also realizing that we cannot enforce our way out of this problem.
We don’t need any more partisan bickering. We need workable solutions that uphold our values and help us move forward together.
WRAL covered the story here:
-Chris Liu-Beers, Program Associate
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