Ohio Democratic Congressman & candidate for Governor, Ted
Strickland, speaks of regret for the way he voted on the
Sensenbrenner-King Bill, also known as House Bill 4437, after being
confronted with a protest which included signs calling for Bush to Step
Down.
Saturday, Feb 11–Cleveland
About 50 people gathered outside the “grand
opening” of State Senator Strickland’s Cleveland campaign headquarters
to protest a bill he is supporting that would immediately deport any
undocumented immigrants with possible imprisonment. It would also
punish a family who one or more undocumented immigrants are staying
with.
At the protest, there were many Mexican
immigrants there as well as some Latino business representatives, a few
activists who take up the attacks on immigrants and other professionals
in the Latino community.
A couple activists with “The World Can’t
Wait- Drive Out the Bush Regime” joined the protest. They brought Bush
Step Down signs, which people immediately held, and handed out World
Can’t leaflets in Spanish. People took stacks of the fliers to take
back into the Latino community. The protest (including our signs) was
broadcast on a few local tv news stations.
This protest obviously had an effect,
because when Ted Strickland made his speech that day, he APOLOGIZED for
his vote! You can see the apology, and the protest with the Bush Step
Down Signs at:
http://homepage.mac.com/captainkirkby/tedstricland/iMovieTheater56.html
Below is the original call for the protest from the Coalition of Latino Pastors of Northeast Ohio:
Protest Ted Strickland’s Immigration Stance by Coalition of Latino Pastors of NEO Saturday, Feb. 11
Protest at the Grand Opening of Ted Strickland’s New Campaign Office in
Cleveland, SATURDAY, 2/11, 3pm 1400 Detroit Ave (at West 25th) – (some
notices say 3PM, some say 4PM)
The Coalition of Latino Pastors of Northeast Ohio
Contact: Pastor Jesus Laboy
Coalition of Latino Pastors, President and Co-founder
(216) 509 ( 9297
February 10, 2006. Cleveland, Ohio ( The Coalition of Latino
Pastors of Northeast Ohio will be holding a protest at the Grand
Opening of U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland’s Cleveland campaign office for
governor on Saturday, February 11, 2006 at 4 p.m.
The Coalition of Latino Pastors strongly objects to Rep. Strickland’s vote to approve the
Sensenbrenner-King Bill, which passed back in December. Strickland was
one of only 16 democratic congressmen to approve the bill. The
Sensenbrenner-King Bill, also known as House Bill 4437, was opposed by
all the major Latino civil rights groups in the country because of its
devastating impact on Latino families and children, businesses and
churches.
The bill will convert all undocumented Latinos into aggravated felons.
In addition, it will make it easier to separate families, and to
prosecute those who help immigrants. It allocates millions of dollars
to build large detention centers to jail members of the Latino
community. The Coalition of Latino Pastors believes it is important for
people to understand what the Sensenbrenner-King bill will do to the
Latino community.
‘We are appalled that Rep. Strickland voted for this,’ said Pastor
Felix Muniz, of Nueva Luz Church of the Nazarene. ‘This affects my
congregation and the compassionate way we do ministry.’
‘He has disappointed us,’ said Pastor Jesus Laboy, of Elim Church, who
leads one of the largest Latino congregations in Cleveland. ‘We urge in
the future there be better leadership. Elected officials and candidates
need to know they cannot sell out the Latino community and still get
our vote. No Mas. No More. We will not be taken for granted anymore. We
are doing this for our community, not for any political party.’
The Coalition of Latino Pastors, which represents about 60 churches in Northeast Ohio,
represents a significant group of Latinos, and is the political
consciousness of Latino churches. The Coalition is committed to issues
of social justice and advocacy for the Latino community.
Go to http://thomas.loc.gov/ type “hr 4437” in the search box. Click on “Border Protection,
Anti-terrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005″.
Also visit http://www.aila .org (American Immigration Lawyers Association)
This bill criminalizes an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants
in the US, gives local police the powers of federal immigration
authorities, demands a five-year prison term for any humanitarian who
helps any undocumented person in any way and more.
Go to http://thomas.loc.gov/
type “hr 4437” in the search box. Click on “Border Protection,
Anti-terrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005”. also visit
http://www.aila .org (American Immigration Lawyers Association)