School organization goes to Santa Fe to lobby
By: Marina Piña
Issue date: 1/25/10 Section: News
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The short session of 30 days in the state congress has just begun, and it is the perfect time for activists who support a comprehensive immigration reform to make presence in the State Capitol.
Sen. Mary Jane Garcia from Las Cruces sponsors a pro-immigration State Memorial, the one she introduced during the lobby day. She has been working in the capitol for 21 years and she said, "We need to enact some type of immigration reform."
The AHORA organization was invited to attend by the Somos Un Pueblo Unido organization, which is the only community-based and immigrant-led organization actively committed to preparing immigrant leaders to create institutional change.
AHORA has been working closely with this organization to inform the Hispanic community about their rights and help them to succeed.
The Lobby Day started with a community training followed by a march from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church to the State Capitol. Even though the conditions of the weather were bad and it was snowing constantly, the people did not give up walking more than five blocks to get to the Capitol.
The community had the opportunity to talk to their Senators and Representatives and ask them to support the Senate Memorial 26, which is the Pro-Immigration Reform State Memorial.
David Coss, the Mayor of Santa Fe, who is well-known for supporting immigrants issues said, "Your success is our success." stating that immigrants have the right to succeed in this country, which will benefit the whole community.
Portales citizens attended the Lobby day, as well as the AHORA president. However, the Lobby day was only the starting point. Elsa Lopez, a community organizer from Somos, says we need to keep calling our legislators. "They need to know that we support the Memorial, we need to keep sending e-mails and making calls," she said.
AHORA's main goal is to raise funds for the scholarship they offer to Hispanics with financial need; however, the organization is also committed to support and fight for civil rights, and organize community projects to inform immigrants about their rights.