Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (May 3, 2006)
FILE COPY The FREE Clackamas Print [¡¡independent, student since 1966 ¡Manias Community College, Oregon City, OR Wednesday. May 3, 2006 Finally, a new Tool album Page 5 Volume 39, Issue 18 Right) Thousands of demon- iiators gather by Portland tate University for immigra ti and against new legisla- fo which targets [migrants. blow) A demonstrator kemtps to reunite a lost liild identified as “Oscar” th his famil brch began. ottom) Several anarchist [oups march to show soli- Irity with immigrant work- Thousands march for workers’ rights, immigrant solidarity C.J. Ciaramella The Clackamas Print M « * Photos by Jeff Sorensen Clackamas Print Continuous chants off “Si, se puede!” echoed off of the buildings of Portland yes terday as conflicting reports estimated 8,000 to 20,000 people, largely Latino, taking to the streets in support of immigration and labor rights. The impact was felt at Clackamas, where the ESL Department reported a heavy drop in attendance on Monday. “About 50 percent of my class yesterday was absent,” said ESL Instructor Suzanne Munro. “A few had essays due, and they deliv ered them before class.” ESL department secretary Irene Carrillo said that one class, besides two Russian stu dents, was empty. The march started at noon from the South Park Blocks by Portland State University. Following an opening rally, protesters weaved through downtown, bearing signs such as “No human being is illegal” and “My parents are Latino, not criminals.” After making its way to the Pearl District, the march looped back to the PSU campus for a follow-up rally. The rally and march were part of a larg er, national demonstration billed as “A Day Without Immigrants.” Event organizers urged immigrants, legal and illegal alike, to attend the rallies and not show up to work or school. The protests were largely in response to a federal bill, H.R 4337, currently making its way through the houses of congress. If passed, H.R. 4337, “The Border Protection, Anti-ter rorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005,” would make all illegal immigrants in the U.S. felons. Thousands of people in the march waved American and Mexican flags, as well as carried signs displaying their opposition to the bill. “It’s kind of like Nazism, you know?” said protester Juan Mayoral about H.R 4337. “It’s just racism - a bad piece of legislation.” Juan Antonio Xiapa said he just wanted the “freedom to live here and work. We’re not criminals.” Others, such as Benjamin Josue, echoed similar sentiments. “My dad, he’s been here for 20 years,” said Josue. “People like that, hardworking people like my dad, deserve their papers.” Besides the dominant Latino element, many local groups and unions, such as the International Woricers of the World, Portland Jobs with Justice and the Freedom Socialist Party, marched as well. “The big thing right now is we’re out in sup port of immigrant workers,” said demonstrator Matt Wilson. “We’re all workers. We’re all in the same boat We all support one another.” The event coincided with the traditional holiday of May Day, which celebrates the victories of the labor movement. This year, however, the labor groups involved agreed the most pressing issue was the plight of the migrant workers and immigrants. “They do jobs that nobody else wants,” said local activist Sarah Hopper. “They do a lot of work, and get a lot of disrespect That’s not right.” For many, though, there were more per sonal reasons for attending. “I’m here because my best friend is here, and he’s an immigrant from Mexico,” said Clackamas student Mitchell Hayes. “I’m here to support him.” An estimated 1.1 million people marched in other cities across the U.S., shutting down many companies that depend on migrant labor. “This is a group of people who traditionally haven’t been able to speak,” said Betsy Kraft, an ESL instructor at Canby High School. “It was pretty amazing to see non-violent protests all across the country. Last night, when I got - - - - - - . . ,, ' home, I felt proud to be American.’ tudents, staff dress for diversity in drag pageant htle Wilson l'®s Editor [Clackamas will experience a bit of pur next Tuesday. pie Rainbow Club is putting together R pageant in the Community Center I® 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ■‘’It’s just for fun and community I’olvement,” said club member Dusty ■dale. I ’The students really wanted some- thing that would make people talk,” said Club Advisor and English Instructor Carol Burnell. “Also, it’s a diversity issue.” Last term the Rainbow Club had problems with their signs being tom down. One sign was even tom from Burnell’s office door. “Not everyone would like to welcome the Rainbow Club to the campus,” said Burnell. According to Burnell, the drag pag eant has been orchestrated entirely by the members of the club. “They’re really the ones behind it,” she said. “I can’t take any credit ... they’ve been doing all the work.” Students who sign up will be com peting for a variety of prizes. The first place prize is a weekend at Seaside. The show will be set up cabaret style. Local professional drag queen Darcelle and his troupe will be joining the stu dents, first putting on an act themselves and then voting on the student acts. Besides just being a fun time, the show will also work as a fundraiser. According to Burnell, several faculty members have given pledges. Students will be asked to vote for which faculty member they would like to see in drag. The one with the most votes will per form. All votes must be cast by noon next Monday. Burnell encourages anyone who is interested to sign up, but she wants them to understand that they 'will have to perform: lip-sync or comedy rou tine, etc. For more information or to sign up, call Burnell at 502-657-6958 ext. 5188, or e-mail her at carolb@clackamas.edu.
