Comité Latino participated in the Caravana hacia la ciudadania (caravan to citizenship). Comite Latino and members of other local groups, such as Occupy Coachella Valley, departed on Wednesday at 3a.m. from Coachella to Bakersfield to put pressure on Republican Congressman McCarthy. The Comité, and dozens of California organizations, and hundreds of people put pressure on McCarthy not only because his vote is needed for immigration reform, but because he has the power to influence the vote of other Republican congressmen. Around 20 anti-immigrants argued that McCarthy does not represent the Coachella Valley, the participation of Comité Latino in the caravan was consistent with the popular demand of the Valley to Congress: a reform with a path to citizenship and family unity.
The caravan was a historical event for the pro-immigrant organizations. While the number of participants was not as expected, it has been a few years ago that thousands of people were not mobilize in Bakersfield. Community leaders, students, labor, political, political and pro-immigrant organizations all shared the microphone, as a symbol of equality and as a symbol of unity all united in their speeches for reform immigration with a path to citizenship.
What was missing in the official discourse of the organizers and participants was the demand or opposition to the militarization of the border with Mexico under the so-called “immigration reform.” Now that these same groups prepared dozens of actions to get the reform, it would also be good to take a position and to report on this issue which will affect the majority of the people in the border areas.
