Ivette Luna, of Ocean State Action, a progressive coalition to win public policy and political victories for economic, social and environmental justice, calls out ‘Unite for Fairness’ at an immigrants’ rights and awareness rally at the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center in Pawtucket Saturday. Close to 100 people turned out for the event, to unite Rhode Islanders for fairness, equality and civil rights. Call Photo/Ernest A. Brown

 Rally calls attention to the plight of those caught in the battle over immigration

By DANI ELLE BRISSETTE

PAWTUCKET — The title of Saturday morning’s event, “Unite for Fairness,” held at the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center, became the mantra of the day as Ivette Luna, lead organizer of Ocean State Action, led the audience in a chant of those three words.
Unite for Fairness was an immigrant rights and awareness event sponsored by Immigrants United, intended to unite Rhode Islanders for fairness, equality and civil rights.
With diverse organizations such as the International Institute Rhode Island, Ocean State Action, Progreso Latino, the Olneyville Neighborhood Association, Fuerza Laboral, Rhode Island Jobs with Justice, Immigrantes en Accion, R.I. Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Connections Co-op comprising the alliance of Immigrants United, the group’s mission is to fight for the civil rights of illegal Rhode Island immigrants.
“Thousands of immigrants live in Rhode Island today, working in a variety of fields, making concrete contributions to local economy by paying taxes and investing locally,” said Luna. “Despite all of this, Rhode Island is facing the same fear filled with anti-immigrant propaganda and public publicity that is sweeping the nation.”
According to Luna, many immigrants who were left with no options but to migrate to states like Rhode Island are treated poorly and are not entitled to the civil liberties that U.S.-born citizens automatically receive. From harsh legislation aimed at immigrants to fear-mongering in media outlets such as talk radio, Luna explained the injustices that immigrants face. She emphasized the importance of eliminating anti-immigrant actions such as deportation, racial profiling and employment hindrances.
“Any body that is divided within itself is sick. In this civilization of capital, the division between the super-satiated and those who are simply struggling to survive is a glaring symptom of disease. The danger is that we accept the sickness as normal,” said Father Raymond Tetrault of St. Teresa Church. “We need to judge our health not on how much we produce but on how well we share. Not on how many houses we build but on how many families can afford to live in those houses. We need to judge our civilization not on what or who is legal or illegal — slavery was once legal — but on what is honorable, what is human, what is just.”
To reinforce Tetreault’s message, Dania Flores-Heagney of Connections Co-op and Shannah Kurland of Asociacion de Vecinos de Olneyville moderated a fishbowl discussion in which numerous immigrants from various locations around the world explained the hardships they’ve endured and voiced their hopes for equality in the future.
Many speakers explained the need for migration from home countries in order to pursue a better quality of life, and the fact that it’s nearly impossible today for immigrants to migrate to the U.S. legally which labels them “illegal” and strips them of the any rights that Rhode Islanders are entitled to, such as Social Security benefits or financial aid, forcing them to work for substandard wages and consequently branding them criminals and creating stereotypes which prevent fairness and equality.
“It’s about understanding that we are all one people. We breathe the same, we bleed the same. We’re one,” said Luna. “An injustice to one is an injustice to all.”