Freedom ride to aid immigrants

Afsha Bawany

Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2003 | 9:35 a.m.

Supporters of immigrants rights drew inspiration Tuesday from Dr. Martin Luther King on the 40th anniversary of his "I Have a Dream" speech at a rally near King's statue at Martin Luther King Boulevard and Carey Street.

More than 150 people showed up for the rally, where speakers said immigrants in United States are being treated unfairly, not receiving worker's rights, being paid low wages without adequate health insurance and finding it difficult to get citizenship.

"Many immigrants are being treated as third-class citizens. This is a great country, we should not let it happen," said Miguel Barrientos, president of the Mexican-American Political Association of Las Vegas.

Barrientos plans to be one of 40 Las Vegans joining the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride to Washington, D.C., Sept. 23 in the spirit of King's national Freedom Ride in the 1960s.

Barrientos, who was born in the United States after his parents immigrated from Mexico, said part of the purpose of the freedom ride is to educate America about the participation of immigrants in this country. He finds it ironic that a nation built by immigrants gives the group little respect.

"This is a time to take a stand. We live in this land and we are a part of it," Barrientos said.

The journey will take the freedom riders into 10 different cities across the nation, ending Oct. 4. The rally and trip to Washington is sponsored by the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride Coalition, which includes a diverse group including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Culinary Union and Episcopal Diocese.

Jose and Martha Flores, employees of a Spa Resort and Casino, a Indian tribe business in Palm Springs, Calif., traveled to Las Vegas to lend their support and find out how immigrants are being treated here because in Palm Springs they lack any workplace rights, they said.

Speaking through a translator, the couple, both food service employees, said they are treated with disrespect at their jobs.

"Why don't they treat us as others," Martha Flores said.

The Flores said their health insurance does not cover their children. They said would have to pay $120 each for their two children plus co-payments.

Karen Johnson, a Culinary Union member and employee of New York-New York, attended the rally to support her co-workers who have had trouble applying for citizenship. She said she has become more aware of the plight of immigrants in this country.

"Since 9-11 it has gotten harder for them to get their citizenship. It's quite an ordeal they have to go through," Johnson said.

The Rev. Phil Carolin, who works in the office of the Right Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schiori, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada, agreed that Sept. 11, 2001, had a negative effect on the treatment of immigrants, and the atmosphere toward them has worsened.

"The atmosphere is one of suspicion and fear," Carolin said. "We have a get tough attitude in terms of enforcing immigration law."

Carolin also said before the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, various bills were aimed at addressing immigrants rights, such as amnesty, family reunification and civil liberties. Now the nation is not paying attention to how slowly immigrants are losing the rights the United States guarantees to everyone.

Most Las Vegas immigrants are hidden in low-wage jobs, Carolin said. The majority of immigrant works are employees of casinos and service industries, and are not climbing up the workforce ladder.

"Immigrants are losing the possibility of owning a piece of the American dream," Barrientos said.

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