Locals Gather to Supp0rt Hispanics and Education

A mixed crowd that grew throughout the afternoon to as many as 80 adults, children and students recently gathered in front of the Blount County Courthouse in Oneonta, Alabama to show support for Hispanic workers, families, students and the importance of education.

The event was coordinated by Ernesto Rivera and Alex Estionoza, a local organizing group. Participant Morelia Tinajero explained their main goal was to "do a good and peaceful demonstration" to show support for area Hispanic workers, families and importance of education.

Tinajero said she grew up in Blount County and Oneonta with family and friends, attended Appalachia High School and Wallace State Community College, got a double major at the University of Athens and is now on her way to become an immigration attorney

Tinajero stressed the importance of education for everyone and explained that her father, who worked in the fields, gave her the option of doing the same or staying in school, getting a good education and following the "American Dream".

She said there are many Hispanics living and working in Blount and surrounding counties but President Trump's new immigration crackdowns have many concerned as they fear "mass deportations by ICE agents"

"We feel they (ICE) should focus on big criminal records and not go into churches and schools which causes great concerns and fears. She said there were local police and sheriff department officers presence during their event but everyone enjoyed the activity as no one was unruly and a lot of friends visited, participated or blew horns and shouted support as they drove by in front of the courthouse.

"We all need to rely on each other and support each other. This was the first organized event in Oneonta and it was peaceful. everyone showed support in their own way and it was fun. It really hit home for me as this was where i grew up." she said.

Asked about ICE raids in Blount County, Tinajero said she was not aware of any but there had been some reports of areas around Birmingham, Alabama. She explained that she was hearing that individuals taken were mostly men but there had been some reports of women taken.

She noted that Alabama does not have an immigration court system and there is much concern in the Hispanic communities about several bills that the Alabama Senate recently passed including:

SB 53 which establishes a process to determine immigration status of an individual held by law enforcement as well as establishing the crime of human smuggling of a person who knowingly transports another living in the US without authorization into Alabama.

SB 55 invalidates driver’s licenses issued by Connecticut and Delaware to individuals without legal presence verification.

SB 63 requires fingerprinting and DNA collection from non-citizens when taken into custody.

She noted that the state has had problems in the past in dealing with migrants, many who come to work fruit, vegetable and produce fields, particularly tomatoes on nearby Chandler Mountain and other areas around the state.. "It is unfortunate that there have been periods in which migrant workers were not welcomed and many had to leave the state which has adverse affects on businesses who hire them and the communities where they live. It will take all of us to be united. Its about humanity and human rights." she added.