Sunday, August 03, 2008

Fliers in Suffern aim to ease tension over immigrants

This group is trying to educate immigrants about what is and is not accepted in this country. Some are things that are fine in their country, but not here. DP

By Suzan Clarke • The Journal News

lohud.com: In a bid to improve the perception of the village's Latino immigrant population amid tensions stirred up by a village plan to partner with federal immigration enforcement officials, a community group today will distribute fliers asking people to refrain from unlawful behavior.

Community Power - a group that provides information and educational outreach - will staff a table at the village's farmers market this afternoon where members will hand out fliers designed to sensitize the Latino immigrant community to key aspects of American society that, if not observed, could bring them to the attention of village police.

"The purpose of the flier is to educate our Hispanic community of the issues that are causing problems with the community, and basically, it's to educate about the customs that are different," said Frances Glick, the secretary of Community Power.

Glick, a Peruvian immigrant who owns Mateo Communications, a money service business on Lafayette Avenue in the village, said the fliers would address five points.

People will be advised to refrain from driving when they have had an alcoholic drink; buying or using fraudulent Social Security cards or driver's licenses, or other similar documents; riding bicycles on sidewalks or on the wrong side of the road; and gathering on the streets in large groups.

Glick said the flier also will advise men in particular that they should refrain from catcalling at women, as that action could be perceived as threatening or harassing by those who are not of their culture.

"With the Hispanic community, it's very common for people to say, oh, what beautiful legs or eyes or something, but women who do not understand … they think it is offensive," she said.
Be sure to read the rest of this story! This is only a small part of it.

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