The Los Angeles-based writer and activist comments on the silence of the civil rights establishment on the immigration issue.
“The great irony in the gargantuan march of tens of thousands in Los Angeles and other cities for immigrant rights is that the old civil rights groups have been virtually mute on immigration and the marches. There are no position papers, statements or press releases on the websites of the NAACP, Urban League or SCLC on immigration reform and nothing on the marches.”
“The silence from mainstream civil rights groups and the CBC’s modest support for immigrant rights is a radical departure from the past. During 1985, when immigration was not the hot button issue it is today, the Caucus staunchly opposed tougher immigration proposals, voted against employer sanctions for hiring illegal immigrants and an English language requirement to attain legalization.”
TheStateOf . . . Immigration. As I expressed in my post last week, African Americans are divided on the issue of immigration, and black politicians are in a tight space. If blacks take a hard line against illegal immigration, we risk alienating Latinos, usually an ally, and America’s fastest growing ethnic demographic. If we take a soft approach, we may continue the loss of African American jobs. Tough call.
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