Campaign for Community Change

10/12/06

Thank you for joining us to day to launch this important Get Out the Vote program in Tucson and southern Arizona. My name is Ramon Garcia, and I am coordinating this GOTV campaign.

The Campaign for Community Change, an organization working across the nation and with southern Arizona residents, seeks to elevate the profile of issues of concern to low-income and immigrant communities and communities of color—economic, social, and racial justice; educate and empower these communities—person by person—to influence the public policies that affect their lives. We are “Neighbors Working for Immigrant Dignity.”

I was born in Tucson, Arizona and I grew up and continue to live in Bisbee, Arizona. Throughout my growing up, there have always been hardworking, caring Arizonans – citizens, residents and undocumented immigrants – living together in towns and cities characterized by diversity and community. I personally know friends, neighbors, community members who are undocumented or know or work with people who are undocumented. I think everyone in Arizona knows someone in this situation.

I am angry at politicians using the immigration issue to get elected in Arizona. They are using the politics of fear to excuse their own failings, and this has got to stop. We need to restore humanity and dignity to the immigration debate NOW before we go too far. Instead of coming up with real solutions to the concerns that Arizonans have about migration across our border with Mexico, politicians and political consultants are fanning fear, distrust, resentment and anger.

The four anti-immigrant ballot measures in this November election are perfect examples of this. They don't address the real issues faced by Arizonans. They do play to our worst fears by criminalizing our neighbors, family members, friends and co-workers.

It's time to take this debate away from the extremists and allow for real dialogue on this issue. That's why we'll be reaching out to thousands of voters in the remaining days before the election, because this message has to be heard.

This Campaign can turn the immigration discussion to a more humane and dignified discourse. The immigration debate is NOT about borders. It IS about people. It seems politicians have forgotten that. Enough of the rhetoric of fear.