COACHELLA, CA — Up to the 2012 elections members of Comité Latino worked hard organizing for the candidates that best represented their interest, particularly on immigration. During September and October, the Comité Latino organized campaigns to raise the demands of the immigrant community for basic human rights, and especially for a law declaring Coachella a sanctuary city. The Comité worked for the defeat of the Republican candidates, because they had declared war on immigrants. For example, Mitt Romney, Republican presidential candidate, declared that the immigrants “should auto-deport themselves by leaving the U.S. voluntarily.” Republican Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack has expressed her contempt for the city of Coachella, calling it “the armpit of my district,” and “a third world toilet.”
The Comité organized two caravans where their members went to busy intersections in six cities in the valley—Coachella, Indio, Palm Desert, Cathedral City, Palm Springs, and Desert Hot Springs. They carried banners eight feet long which read, “OBAMA YES, ROMNEY NO,” and “MARY BONO OUT OF CONGRESS.” The Comité focused its work on the elections for city council and mayor of Coachella. The Comité supported a slate of candidates who have promised their support to enact a law making Coachella a sanctuary city if elected. Once again, the members of the Comité went to busy street corners in Coachella with new political banners. They have also organized campaigns to register voters and get out the vote.
The Comité is looking for any information about sanctuary laws in existing sanctuary cities. Please send any information to the Comité Latino at 1comitelatino@gmail.com or the Tribuno del Pueblo.
