I went to a
meeting last night of many groups discussing immigration issues with specific
focus on LGBTQ people. Speakers were an Attorney,
organization leaders and community organizers (a meaningful distinction). I went, not just to support some very special
people in my life, to learn about the deportations locally and express my
support for a fast path to citizenship.
Hell, I just would like to change the entire border to a welcoming
platform for people going in any direction.
More specifically I want to encourage protests, demonstrations and NVDA
here in the O.C.
A young man who reminded me of many in GetEqual spoke. “There is a short window for action as Congress will only be in session about 25 more days in 2013.” At the Q&A, I said I would really like to meet him and made the observation that it means that these uber conservative men will be in their home offices here in the OC, prime for protests and I mentioned Dana Rohrabacher. The Atty on the panel said, “He is a waste of time.” I suppose that is his POV but it sure isn’t mine. (and I don’t appreciate being dismissed like flicking an insect. He might have asked, what would that achieve?).
Changing the mind of a blind conservative is never the point of protesting at their home office. Gov. Brewer, Gov. Walker, Rep. Campbell, Rep. Hunt, Senator Cruz are never the mission. They are used on one side of the tension between change-makers and conserve-atives. It irked me to no end that an atty would just dismiss this fundamental in the Civil Rights, Human Rights movement.
I waited for the meeting to end and approached the org leader who made the original comment and said, I am very interested in your work, the congressional vacations are great time to protest and how can I help. He proceeded to tell me his org facebook page and said I could check him out there. I continued asking about NVDA and protests and he said, “you can check me out here, while he was checking out the guys in the room.”
I thought, dude you should check me out. I could not stop thinking about it. I woke up today thinking how much could be gained if we integrated the shore of change – where the progressives in each group on the matrix of oppression stand. There is so much to be gained by integrating the minorities who have the very same opponent – SAMENESS. And, obviously it would be the progressives who would go first. I hope most understand the crackling splendor of watching Representative John Lewis being arrested at an immigration demonstration last week.
One thing that was truly new news for me last night was how much the repeal of DOMA assists in immigration rights. It is an intersection to be proud of. A little old white lady, Mrs Edie Windsor did that.
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