Old Civil Rights Groups Missing-in-Action As Immigrants Hit the Streets
New America Media, Commentary, Earl Ofari Hutchinson, Posted: Mar 27, 2006
Editor's Note: As a groundswell of immigrant rights activism spreads across the country, the old-guard black civil rights movement is dragging its feet, writes Earl Ofari Hutchinson, an associate editor at New America Media and the author of "The Crisis in Black and Black."
LOS ANGELES--The great irony in the gargantuan march of hundreds of thousands in Los Angeles and other cities for immigrant rights is that the old civil rights groups have been virtually mute on the explosively growing movement. There are no position papers, statements or press releases on the Web sites of the NAACP, Urban League or SCLC on immigration reform, and nothing on the marches.
The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) hasn't done much better. It has issued mostly perfunctory, tepid and cautious statements opposing the draconian provisions of the House bill that passed last December. The Sensenbrenner bill calls for a wall on the Southern border, a massive beef-up in border security and tough sanctions on employers who hire undocumented immigrants. The Senate Judiciary Committee will wrestle with the bill this week.
Only nine of 43 CBC members initially backed the liberal immigration reform bill introduced by CBC member Sheila Jackson Lee in 2004. The lone exception to the old guard's mute response on immigration-related issues was their lambasting of Mexican President Vicente Fox last May for his quip that Mexicans will work jobs that even blacks won't.
The silence from mainstream civil rights groups and the CBC's modest support for immigrant rights is a radical departure from the past. During the 1980s, when immigration was not the hot-button issue it is today, the Caucus in 1985 staunchly opposed tougher immigration proposals, voted against employer sanctions for hiring illegal immigrants and opposed an English-language requirement to attain legalization. That was an easy call then. Those were the Reagan years, and Reagan and conservative Republicans, then as now, pushed the bill. Civil rights leaders and black Democrats waged low-yield wars against Reagan policies.
In 2002, the NAACP made a slight nod to the immigration fight when it invited Hector Flores, president of League of United Latin American Citizens, to address its convention. The NAACP billed the invite as a "historic first." But it was careful to note that immigration was one of a list of policy initiatives the two groups would work together on. That list included support for affirmative action, expanded hate crimes legislation, voting rights protections and increased health and education funding. There is no indication that the two groups have done much together since the convention to tackle these crisis issues, and that includes immigration reform.
The CBC and civil rights leaders tread lightly on the immigrant rights battle for two reasons. They are loath to equate the immigrant rights movement with the civil rights battles of the 1960s. They see immigrant rights as a reactive, narrow, single-issue movement whose leaders have not actively reached out to black leaders and groups. Spanish language newspapers and radio stations, for instance, drove the mammoth march and rally in Los Angeles. Their fiery appeals to take action were in Spanish, and many of the marchers waved Mexican and El Salvadorian flags.
Black leaders also cast a nervous glance over their shoulder at the shrill chorus of anger rising from many African-Americans, especially the black poor, of whom a significant number flatly oppose illegal immigrant rights. But illegal immigration is not the prime reason so many poor young blacks are on the streets, and why some turn to gangs, guns and drug dealing to get ahead. A shrinking economy, sharp state and federal government cuts in and elimination of job and skills training programs, failing public schools, a soaring black prison population and employment discrimination are the prime causes of the poverty crisis in many inner city black neighborhoods. The recent studies by Princeton, Columbia and Harvard researchers on the dreary plight of young black males reconfirmed that chronic unemployment has turned thousands of young black males into America's job untouchables.
Yet, many blacks soft-target illegal immigrants for the crisis and loudly claim that they take jobs from unskilled and marginally skilled blacks. Black fury over immigration has cemented an odd alliance between black anti-immigrant activists and GOP conservatives, fringe anti-illegal immigration groups and racially tinged America-first groups.
Historians, politicians and civil rights activists hail the March on Washington in August 1963 as the watershed event in the civil rights movement. It defined an era of protest, sounded the death knell for the near century of legal segregation and challenged Americans to make racial justice a reality for blacks. But the estimated million that marched and held rallies for immigrant rights in Los Angeles and other cities dwarfed the numbers at the March on Washington. If the numbers and passion that immigration reform stirs mean anything, the judgment of history will be that it also defined an era, sounded the death knell for discrimination against immigrants and challenged Americans to make justice and equality a reality for immigrants, both legal and illegal.
The battle over immigrant rights will be fought as fiercely and doggedly as the civil rights battle of the 1960s. That battle forever altered the way Americans look at race. The immigrants rights battle will profoundly alter the way Americans look at immigrants. The silence of civil rights leaders won't change that. But there is no better time than now to end that silence.
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User Comments
Terry Jacobs on May 01, 2006 at 16:55:24 said:
What would a day without illegal aliens really be like?
On May 1, millions of illegal aliens working in meat-processing plants, construction, restaurants, hotels, and other “jobs Americans won’t do” are supposed to stay home from work to show the importance of their labor to our nation’s economy. Doubtless, there will be some inconvenience if that happens, but there is another side to the story that is not being reported.
We are talking about illegal aliens, not mere “immigrants.” If legal immigrants stopped working for a day, we would miss the services of physicians, nurses, computer programmers, writers, actors, musicians, entrepreneurs of all stripes, and some airline pilots…as well as the CEO of Google. That would be more than an inconvenience, but it won’t happen because legal immigrants are not out marching angrily for rights that are already protected by our courts.
But if illegal aliens all took the day off and were truly invisible for one day, there would be some plusses along with the mild inconveniences.
Hospital emergency rooms across the southwest would have about 20-percent fewer patients, and there would be 183,000 fewer people in Colorado without health insurance.
OBGYN wards in Denver would have 24-percent fewer deliveries and Los Angeles’s maternity-ward deliveries would drop by 40 percent and maternity billings to Medi-Cal would drop by 66 percent.
Youth gangs would see their membership drop by 50 percent in many states, and in Phoenix, child-molestation cases would drop by 34 percent and auto theft by 40 percent.
In Durango, Colorado, and the Four Corners area and the surrounding Indian reservations, the methamphetamine epidemic would slow for one day, as the 90 percent of that drug now being brought in from Mexico was held in Albuquerque and Farmington a few hours longer. According to the sheriff of La Plata County, Colorado, meth is now being brought in by ordinary illegal aliens as well as professional drug dealers.
If the “Day-Without-an-Immigrant Boycott” had been held a year earlier on May 8, 2005, and illegal alien Raul Garcia-Gomez had stayed home and did not work or go to a party that day, Denver police officer Donnie Young would still be alive and Garcia-Gomez would not be sitting in a Denver jail awaiting trial.
If the boycott had been held on July 1, 2004, Justin Goodman of Thornton, Colorado, would still be riding his motorcycle and Roberto Martinez-Ruiz would not be in prison for killing him and then fleeing the scene while driving on a suspended license.
If illegal aliens stayed home—in Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, and 100 other countries—the Border Patrol would have 3,500 fewer apprehensions (of the 12,000 who try each day).
Colorado taxpayers would save almost $3,000,000 in one day if illegals do not access any public services, because illegal aliens cost the state over $1 billion annually according to the best estimates.
Colorado’s K-12 school classrooms would have 131,000 fewer students if illegal aliens and the children of illegals were to stay home, and Denver high schools’ dropout rate would once again approach the national norm.
Colorado’s jails and prisons would have 10-percent fewer inmates, and Denver and many other towns would not need to build so many new jails to accommodate the overcrowding.
Our highway patrol and county sheriffs would have about far fewer DUI arrests and there would be a dramatic decline in rollovers of vanloads of illegal aliens on I-70 and other highways.
On a Day Without an Illegal Immigrant, thousands of workers and small contractors in the construction industry across Colorado would have their jobs back, the jobs given to illegal workers because they work for lower wages and no benefits. (On the other hand, if labor unions continue signing up illegal workers, no one will be worrying about Joe Six-Pack’s loss. Sorry, Joe, but you forgot to tell your union business agent that your job is as important as his is.)
If it fell on a Sunday, Catholic Churches in the southwestern states might have 20-percent fewer parishioners at Mass if all illegals stayed home, but they would be back next Sunday, so the bishop’s job is not in danger. The religious leaders who send people to the marches and rallies will never fear for their jobs, because illegal aliens need their special “human-rights” advocacy and some priests and nuns seem especially devoted to that cause. The fact that most Catholics disagree with the bishops’ radicalism doesn’t seem to affect their dedication to undermining the rule of law.
All of this might be a passing colorful episode in the heated national debate over immigration policy if it weren’t for an odd coincidence: The immigration-enforcement agency responsible for locating and deporting illegal aliens is also taking the day off today. Of course, they didn’t call it a boycott. It is just (non)business as usual.
If illegal aliens stayed home just in Colorado, taxpayers would save almost $3,000,000 in one day if illegals do not access any public services, because illegal aliens cost the state over $1 billion annually according to the best estimates.
Tom Tancredo is a Republican congressman from Colorado.
nameless on Apr 26, 2006 at 10:13:20 said:
i am latino but i realize latinos are hard workers but htey people dont meet the american living...they are a mess, they are violent thats because i watch news ansd see latinos suspects doing illicit acts, they stink, they dont have good habits, traditions, education...i dont know.... a lot o people think working is only the most important accountable thing...no no... america is the ways it is because was funded by europeans who were different people to latinos... im dissapointed of viewing pregnant women walking in the streets with 3, 4 to 5 kids..come on, where are we going with this situation?
Edgar Hernandez on Apr 03, 2006 at 14:54:16 said:
If you go back to your history just a few generations you will find that the flood of immigrants that came from Eastern Europe were NOT called Illegal immigrants. WHY NOT? You'll find that instead of being confronted by border patrol and "minute men" they were simply screened for disease and then simply processed thru the gates of Ellis Island, a small immigration station that served from 1892 to 1954. Where it allowed over 22 million people from Europe to come to this country for the same reasons the immigrants of today cross our southern border, a better life. Yet why don't these immigrants of today have an "Ellis Island" of their own? SIMPLE RACISM! THAT'S WHY! As much as many people will deny it and use the excuse of TERRORISM to HIDE it, deep inside them, it's what drives them to use these immigrants as scapegoats and blame them for our nations ills. Even BEFORE 9/11 they've been pushing to militarize the border! Don't let them fool you and tell you it's for "National Security." It seems like the darker less assimilable the immigrants get and these newcomers are the more AMERICA PANICS!!
It frustrates me to see how the media is orchestrating their scare tactics against the American public and how we're just chewing it all up, believing that these simple, economic immigrants are terrorist! Ridiculous. Don't you see, if the federal gov't really believed that terrorist were coming thru the border they would BE AT THE BORDER and NOT IN IRAQ! But our ever-so opportunistic gov't only allows immigrants to come here because AMERICA NEEDS CHEAP LABOR!! WAKE UP!
Diane Smith on Apr 03, 2006 at 06:31:41 said:
I agree with Carlos, Mexico and Central America need to improve the conditions in their countries, for it's citizens. The United States cannot continue to take care of the world's poor. Black Americans do have a stake on the issue of illegal immigration. If you make 12 million illegals citizens, this will affect U.S. born blacks in this country. We had to fight for our rights as citizens, but some people think it's ok to grant amnesty to people who broke the law. The Congressional Black Caucus, NAACP, SCLC, and the Urban League are silent on this issue, because many of their contributors come from BIG BUSINESS. I agree with Bob Pickett on 98.7 Kiss F.M. here in New York, blacks have been sleeping on the issue of illegal immigration, but they are awaken, and they are against granting amnesty and citizenship to illegal aliens. If these people were from Haiti, these groups wouldn't be protesting on their behalf. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson have forged relationships with that racist organization La Raza.(THE RACE) These Negroes are not looking out for the best interest of U.S. born blacks. WAKE UP BLACK PEOPLE, and pay attention to what's occuring in this country. Illegal immigration and gentification is genocide on our people. Mexicans and Salvadorans only care about themselves, and they have their own agenda in this country, and it's not in the interest of U.S. born citizens.
Carlos Bright on Apr 03, 2006 at 05:39:43 said:
I must agree with Charles Johnson, blacks are not immigrants, their ancestors came here as slaves. The governments of Mexico and El Salvador need to improve the conditions of it's residents, so they want keep coming to the U.S. Looking at the protest around the country on the news, I saw many flags from Mexico, El Salvador, and other spanish speaking countries. Why didn't they carry U.S. flags? Well this turned off many whites, blacks, Cubans, and Puerto Ricans. Most Latinos or Hispanics identify themselves as being white, and they live in a very color oriented society based on skin color. Black organizations like the NAACP have been inclusive of Latinos, but I don't recall the racist group like La Raza, the race being inclusive of blacks. What is it that people don't understand about the word illegal? These people broke the law, when they crossed our porous borders. I see mostly Mexicans and Central Americans supporting open borders and amnesty for these criminals who broke the law. If these were blacks from the Caribbean and Africa, they wouldn't care. Or if they were black Cubans and Puerto Ricans, they wouldn't care. I say, send all of them back across the border, if they came illegal. Mr. Hutchinson never have anything good to say about black people. I think, he support illegal immigration?
Tom Grey on Mar 31, 2006 at 06:29:49 said:
Blacks have to stop voting in PC lockstep to the Democratic Party, which is beholden to the gov't employed Teacher's Unions, which allows most black kids to "graduate" without being able to read well.
And "poor black" culture needs to stop teasing blacks who choose to study rather than play basketball as being "too white" (or is that W I T E?)
Blacks were injustly treated in the past -- but it's ridiculous to think poor blacks in America are much worse off than poor blacks in Uganda, or Sudan, or Nigeria.
As long as blacks expect better treatment from whites, complain about the poor treatment rather than ignore it -- they won't be advancing much.
Neither Condi Rice (Rep) nor Colin Powell (Rep) were big complainers. They worked harder and/or smarter than other whites, much like Jews often do, and they got ahead.
The real problem seems to be poor native born American blacks don't want to be shamed by non-English speaking immigrants who are willing to work harder and/or smarter, and get ahead.
Joe R. on Mar 28, 2006 at 10:54:43 said:
Hutchinson refuse to understand we are not in 1960's anymore. Statements like "shrill chorus of anger rising from many African-Americans." The "shrill chorus?" Just because many Blacks don't agree with him?
For many native Blacks it is not a race issue as much as an economic one. Blacks also understand that once these immigrants become second generation, the Blacks who help them out suddenly are beneath them.
Blacks have always helped other races to our own detriment. Before we go worring about everyone else, please let try to uplift ourselves. Currently to the average native Black person this unchecked immigration is hurting us.
The airline stewardess always tells you to put on your oxygen mask first, then help others. Black elitist want Blacks to help others breath while we are choking to death.
Russell Rhodes on Mar 28, 2006 at 10:28:55 said:
There is no way you can equate the civil rights demonstrations with the current situation. The blacks were legal citizens who were being discriminated against. The hispanics who are being demonstrated for broke the law, are criminals and are in no way to be afforded the rights of citizenship.
Jay Bird on Mar 28, 2006 at 07:52:23 said:
As a group african-americans, particulary young male african americans have been hurt by the destruction and loss of jobs to offshore manufacturing. Now illegal immigration and the degradation of the american labor movement have further eroded opportunity. Why didn't the US take care of its own first - provide better education, make sure there were jobs for everyone before flooding the country with undocumented workers.
This was not part of the agenda of the American elite. Their solution was joblessness, homelessness and prison for many native born americans. Why wouldn't the black leadership be concerned? You need to understand history a little better instead of just back-biting. Additionally, you appear to be racist and ethnocentric. How could people unite for the good of human kind when you promote your own agenda? its sad
Santiago Gonzalez Jr. on Mar 28, 2006 at 07:01:10 said:
In all respect to the African-American community, I have to ask; Being that free black people were stolen from their native land, brought here to America, stripped of all their human rights and sold and slaved them,(legally according to our founding forefathers), should Blacks have simply accepted and respected that "law"? Do you think that because they made it legal to treat you like animals, that you should have never fought back for your rights? Americans stole half of Mexico, pushed most of its people back out of their own country, declared it illegal to step on their own land, and this ignorant, white-conservative, Lou Dobbs states that "he's surprised that so many of these illegals/criminals have the nerve to come out and demand their rights"!? I am the descendant of Mexican Immigrants and I am about two years away from getting my BA, and so is my wife whose parents are also from Mexico. My mother and father both came back into the U.S. illegaly at a very young age to work hard for the American dream. They both are now American Citizens and my father is a successful business owner, my mother is supervisor at a small factory, and my mother-in-law is a very hard-working, loving grandmother. My people do not come here to be criminals. They come here to work hard, raise their families and give the children a good chance to make something of themselves. Even if it means that they have to pick the fruits and veggies that you eat,
care to your beatiful lawn and garden, or clean your beatiful home, in order to pull their children ahead. No one but the Indian has the right to truely call himself a true American, if you want to take it there. "Que Viva La Raza!"
Sergio Sanchez on Mar 28, 2006 at 05:05:48 said:
The Fact that the NAACP,CBC or any other civil rights organazation doesn't have a major stance is not suprising. The motto has always been "look out for your own". Which is the main reason this country is so divided in the first place.The African Americans were brought here in ships, but the reality is so where "OTHER" nationalities with "riffles and bibles". The Euro, the Asian ,The Latin etc, etc. All were brought here to work in the US. The Social Studies lesson of the day is that these borders, which are being protected belonged to Mexico before.And the reason the Anglo's fought so hard to Aquire Texas, California and other States, was to keep their Black slaves and exploit their cheap labor. Now that the labor is coming to them, they don't want it???
Sergio Sanchez on Mar 28, 2006 at 05:04:53 said:
The Fact that the NAACP,CBC or any other civil rights organazation doesn't have a major stance is not suprising. The motto has always been "look out for your own". Which is the main reason this country is so divided in the first place.The African Americans were brought here in ships, but the reality is so where "OTHER" nationalities with "riffles and bibles". The Euro, the Asian ,The Latin etc, etc. All were brought here to work in the US. The Social Studies lesson of the day is that these borders, which are being protected belonged to Mexico before.And the reason the Anglo's fought so hard to Aquire Texas, California and other States, was to keep their Black slaves and exploit their cheap labor. Now that the labor is coming to them, they don't want it???
Willie Gray on Mar 28, 2006 at 04:30:51 said:
Dragging its feet? Where was the Latino community during civil rights? Where has there voice been on the issue of jobs undocumented workers took from Black Americans? Unless you live in a hole, other ethnicities employ their own and not Black folks. As for takingjobs Americans don't want, I know plenty who will be housekeepers, hold highway signs... jobs I see immigrants holding. It is smoke and mirrors to say they take jobs others don't want. They have their agenda and it aint jobs, because they have them. They want drivers licenses, in-state tuition, access to the same social services poor legal American hae.... so to castigate the Black folks for not siding with those who don't hire us, live in our communities, shop in our stores is a paradox to what has always been said about white society.
Willie Gray on Mar 28, 2006 at 04:17:22 said:
Dragging its feet? Where was the Latino community during civil rights? Where has there voice been on the issue of jobs undocumented workers took from Black Americans? Unless you live in a hole, other ethnicities employ their own and not Black folks. As for takingjobs Americans don't want, I know plenty who will be housekeepers, hold highway signs... jobs I see immigrants holding. It is smoke and mirrors to say they take jobs others don't want. They have their agenda and it aint jobs, because they have them. They want drivers licenses, in-state tuition, access to the same social services poor legal American hae.... so to castigate the Black folks for not siding with those who don't hire us, live in our communities, shop in our stores is a paradox to what has always been said about white society.
E.C. Harris on Mar 28, 2006 at 00:54:10 said:
I am not an immigrant. I am not the descendant of immigrants. I am the descendant of slaves, people who were kidnapped and brought here to build this country for free with their sweat and blood. If my ancestors and my family can walk the fine line of holding on to cultural ties while participating and building the fabric of this country, then others can too. Do not ask me to support people who do not care to learn our country's language. Do not ask me to support those who are willing to work for indecent wages to support families who do not live in this country while American can't afford to make a living with the wages they will accept. I am an attorney who has contributed to the NAACP and other civil rights organizations over the years. I would be quite dissapointed to learn such resources had gone to support amnesty for illegal aliens.
Jon Santana on Mar 28, 2006 at 00:20:38 said:
Thats garbage. No one in America came here the proper way. Our country is a series of injustices and as always we are leading the band wagon in injustices to another group! First is was the Native Americans, then it was the blacks, then it was the irish, the italians, the jews, the chineese, etc. etc. If you hadn't gathered by now our country has always been and REMAINS a good old boys club. These jobs that the illegal immigrants are supposedly "taking" from Americans is utter crap. These jobs were there long before the illegal immigrants came and they are STILL there. Our wonderful "industrious" citizens didn't want them then and they don't want them now. Rather griping about it is what they want. Flaming the issues by implying these "jobs" are stolen is ignorance and should be addrressed as such. The Civil Rights groups that bashed Fox for saying there were jobs that Mexicans would take which blacks wouldn't is stupid. Why? Because its true. The only difference that separates the two, an application.
Andrew S. on Mar 28, 2006 at 00:06:18 said:
I find it extremely ironic how most, if not all of those opposed to some type of humane immigration reform, would be singing a different tune if this issue had come up with their respective race generations ago. Would they be so quick to send Grandma and Grandpa packing?? A nation built by immigrants is now saying in essence, " We've Forgotten ".
Vince Thomas on Mar 27, 2006 at 22:33:29 said:
In response to Vera's comments, I have to point out that there are illegal Polish in Chicago, illegal Irish in California, illegal Italians and Greeks in New York, and illegal Canadians throughout the country. We took more than half the land from Mexico, and have helped keep the majority of its people in poverty. If US corporations paid fair wages in the maqiladoras, the standard of living would improve and people would not have to live in shacks on the borders or the colonias in Texas. We need leaders who are visonary not hacks controlled by the corporations and a reactionary State Department. And let's not talk about the havoc created by the CIA around the world. America's promise which brought your grandparents here has still to deliver. the race issue has not been "rectified" as you claim. There is a long way to go. Anyone brown skinned and looking Hispanic knows that.
Deshawne Banks on Mar 27, 2006 at 15:18:46 said:
I always displeased to read criticism of blacks when it comes to Hispanic and Asian issues. Everyone with brain knows that African-Americans are disliked by whites and non-blacks. Why make it seem as though African-Americans have enough political capital? It's so anti-black and counterproductive.
Dartanyan Brown on Mar 27, 2006 at 14:05:23 said:
This immigration issue has to be dealt with. The US can simply not allow people to come here illegally. If Mexicans or Central Americans want to come to this country they should do it like everybody else who doesn't have the option to just walk over. There are poor people from developing countries in Asia, Africa, and even eastern Europe and the Middle East that would love to come to the US, but because they are separated by the Atlantic Ocean, the option to just walk over and call yourself an American isn't there. Blacks aren't speaking up on the immigration issue because since they've been brought here 5 centuries ago immigrants (of all nationalities) have consistently received more rights than they have; and it's on their backs (through unpaid slave labor) that this country became the world power, both economically and agriculturally. I know alot of Asians and Mexicans that have come gone through the process to immigrant here legally, but let's face it not everybody's going to be able to come. Like Vera's comment before mine, some people are gonna be left behind, but that's a fact of life. If everyone who wanted to be in the US was here, then this country would have a population problem 100 times that of China.
Charles Johnson on Mar 27, 2006 at 07:12:17 said:
Readly your articles Mr. Hutchinson is very depressing. U.S. born blacks are not immigrants. They were brought here as slaves. I disgree with you on this issue of illegal immigration. Many of these people are coming from third world countries, and they are bring their customs with them. Look at all the different flags from other countries. You are a typical Negro who's sleeping through this crisis. I foresee Civil unrest in this country. I enjoy watching Lou Dobbs Tonight, because he tells it like it is on illegal immigration.
vera principe on Mar 27, 2006 at 05:06:51 said:
my grandparents had to wait years to come here legally. the rest of the family is still in italy, not being snuck into this country. you must respect america and come here the proper way. this has nothing to do with race, its got to do with legality of what they are doing. the blacks had no choice as they where sold as slaves and had a miserable life here, but we rectified that because we caused it. there is a big difference.
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