The Immigrant And The Progressive

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Roberto Lovato
December 22, 2006



Roberto Lovato is a New York-based writer with New America Media.

Progressives, as they prepare their New Year’s resolutions, should make waking up earlier a priority in 2007. Only by waking up earlier can you meet people like Juan, who I met at a naval base near New Orleans shortly after Katrina made clear the failure of government as we knew it.

When I met him, the immigrant worker from Mexico was waking up at 4:30 a.m. to work 14-hour to 18-hour shifts at the Belle Chasse Naval Air Facility. He was recruited by a Florida company subcontracted by Halliburton—the general contractor and ultimate business power on the base—as part of a multi-million contract to remove debris drenched in jet fuel and other toxic chemicals spilled during the disaster. He and hundreds of other immigrants woke up early and worked ferociously every day, despite not being allowed to leave the base for several weeks. They were bathing in petroleum-tinged water and going days on a diet of Oreos.

After the contractor refused to pay Juan and others for weeks of work, the undocumented workers staged a work stoppage. Despite threats, and exposure to environmental and legal risk, Juan spoke truth to one of the world’s most powerful corporations—and did so on a facility controlled by the most powerful military on earth.

If progressives want allies in their efforts to end militarism and war, if they need help reigning in corporate power, if they want to save the planet from environmental degradation, if they are serious about improving the condition of U.S. workers, if they need a hand in rebuilding cities and their very movement, progressives would do well to wake up earlier to the hope of immigrant power like Juan’s.

more . . .
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/12/22/the_immigrant_and_the_progressive.php

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