Standing Up For Immigrant And Worker Rights at May Day Rally & March
Members of the Adelante Mujeres staff march in the May Day Rally.
On May 1st, our team rallied together at the Salem capital to stand up for immigrant and worker rights. The event was organized by Causa, and featured a rally including speeches from Govenor Kate Brown who signed two pro-immigrant bills during the rally. The engergized rally was followed by a march around the capital building.
While the rally and march is broadly focused on immigrant and workers' rights, this year's event specifically called attention to:
1. Driver Licenses for All
2. Defending Oregon's Sanctuary law, No to IP 22
3. Together for Education
4. Standing with Unions
Cristina Delgado, Immigrant Solidarity Project Coordinator at Adelante Mujeres, organized Adelante's presence at the May Day rally.
"There are many families who don't have a drivers license and can't take their children to school, and it is a limitation when having medical appointments, just to mention a few examples", says Cristina. "We were also marching to say NO to IP-22. This initiative seeks to repeal our Oregon 30-year-old sanctuary law that was passed in 1987 to address racial profiling towards communities of color in the state."
Cristina Delgado, Immigrant Solidarity Project Coordinator, at the May Day rally.
A proud first-generation immigrant, Cristina grew up in Washington County and graduated from Oregon State University with a BA in Political Science and a Minor in Philosophy. She was also a participant in our Civic Leaders Project.
"I feel fortunate that I was able to participate in the first cohort of the Civic Leaders Project", says Cristina. "I was able to meet passionate and talented leaders who are doing great equity work in their area of work. Now I have a better understanding of the various county departments and ways on how I can be involved at the County level."
As Immigrant Solidarity Project Coordinator, a brand new position for our organization, Cristina will lead the Solidarity Project which seeks to respond to the trauma and fear facing the Spanish speaking community in Washington County. Cristina will recruit and support Promotores de Apoyo a los Immigrantes who will address immigration issues through resources, workshops and civic participation.
"I look forward to seeing the Immigrant Solidarity Project be a sustainable grassroots initiative that can open more opportunities for collaborations, resources and an effective response to trauma and fear that Spanish speaking immigrants are facing in Washington County", says Cristina.
As downtown Salem echoed with chants of "Si Se Puede!", the crowd proudly marched, holding their signs tall and proud. A feeling of hope radiated through the crowd like an electric wave. This. This is what community looks like.