Monday, September 07, 2009

African-American churches in the East Bay give immigrants voice

This is a great idea. These two groups distrust and fear each other, if they work together for a common cause, they will all benefit. - - Donna Poisl

"I HOPE YOU SEE ME AS A FRIEND"

By Matt O'Brien, Contra Costa Times

OAKLAND — Latino immigrant workers took to the pulpits of African-American churches in the East Bay on Sunday morning and sought to gain allies in the fight to overhaul America's immigration system.

"I hope that my presence here helps you see me as a friend," said Rolando Rodriguez, speaking with the help of an interpreter before a receptive and boisterous crowd at the Bay Area Christian Connection, a church in downtown Oakland.

The 46-year-old described how after a long career in Guatemala's sugar cane fields, he was forced to flee political persecution in his native town and now struggles to find odd jobs on the streets of East Oakland.
Click on the headline to read the rest of this story! This is only a small part of it.

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