In search of a better life, Homestead man is beaten

By Weekly Archive On Dec 17, 2008

Please
help with contributions for January immigrant march in Washington

December
traditionally is a time of the year when we celebrate our good
fortune with family and friends. But there are some who are not as
lucky. Just recently, in the Homestead area, a man at home was beaten
up and then kicked while on the floor in front of his young son. The
savagery was performed by representatives of the U.S. government who
work for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.), a Homeland
Security department.

His
crime: no valid papers allowing him entrance into the United States.
What is never mentioned in cases like this one is that this human
being (an important two words, I believe) was here in search of a
better life, and work, in order to provide his family the possibility
of a better future. That man now lives in limbo while U.S.
authorities determine what to do with him — and his family. Chances
are he will not
celebrate the holidays with them this year. This is
a travesty of justice.

For
this and other reasons, there is a large group of persons, all
immigrants in one form or another, who will travel to Washington,
D.C., on January 19. This group will be attending the Obama
inauguration the next day, but its main purpose for going is a
Wednesday (Jan. 21) concentration of thousands of persons from all 50
states who will clamor for a fair and humane immigration policy under
the new Obama Administration. Plans are to stage the gathering before
the Homeland Security Offices in Washington, D.C.

There
are at least 100 persons planning to attend from South Florida alone.
These persons will travel in buses and stay, while in Washington, in
churches and other places in solidarity with the immigrant cause.
Many who’d like to participate cannot pay the full price of the bus
ride, a place to stay or even food for the three days.

That
is why we are reaching out to you for help. Any amount you may offer
will help offset the cost of this trip. Plans are to reduce the cost
to a point where any person can travel for minimal dollars. Your
contribution for this most worthy cause would help to achieve this.
Any contribution made would be tax
deductible:
both organizations receiving the contributions are not-for-profit
501.c.3 corporations.

Thank
you for your help and cooperation.

Happy
holidays!

Alvaro
F. Fernandez

Write
checks out to:

Florida
Immigrant Coalition

(or)
Centro de Orientación del Inmigrante (or C.O.D.I.)

Mail
to:

Progreso
Weekly

1602
Alton Road #28

Miami
Beach, FL 33139