For you nay-sayers out there who don’t believe immigration is (or should be) a top-tier issue, I have a little bit of reading for you. Not only will this issue be on the forefront of Obama’s agenda, but it intersects with almost every other issue that is at the top of the American public’s list right now.
In a great article at Politico, Gebe Martinez discusses why Obama cannot, and will not, avoid the immigration issue when he takes office next year.
But in the presidential transition offices, immigration is cited as a top-tier issue that Obama will have to tackle early in his administration. It has also been assigned its own study group, one of seven working groups created by the transition team to examine high priorities.
Given that it intersects with the economy, health care, education and other key concerns, immigration is too complex a topic to ignore. As economic and health care initiatives are rushed out of the gate in January, proposed immigration reforms will likely be close behind.
Hey guys! I’m back on the blog after a few days away. I hope you all enjoyed the fabulous live-blogging of the Realizing the Promise forum this past thursday. A BIG shout-out to Will Coley for his great work!
The event itself was amazing. So many people, so much energy and a palpable sense that we WILL ENSURE that the change we want becomes a reality.
Below is a round up of the articles and live-blogs of the event.
After Rev. Timothy McDonald charged us to “go get it did”, everyone is slowly making their way to the buses outside.
Since I was tasked with covering this event from an immigration angle, it’s interesting how the topic was often listed as one of the challenges facing American communities. Many speakers mentioned immigrant rights alongside access to health care, economic opportunity, the worsening economy, etc. When I did some video interviews before the event, I noticed how many participants, even US citizens with no recent immigrants in their families, saw the issue much the same way: as one of many challenges to address. And maybe that’s the point: as a “community value”, immigration is central to what the United States is about. Now if we can just tackle how to overhaul our current system and make it work for all of us…
What an inspiring event! and maybe a little the daunting because of all the work we have ahead us. (Whew!)
Get fired up!
- Will Coley, guest blogger, signing off (and rolling up my sleeves)
Pastor Michael Harrison introduced Valerie Jarrett, Obama’s Senior Advisor, like she was a professional wrestler. I was ready to hear him say “Are you ready to rumble?!” They even strobed (flickered) the lights to let us know that she’s a heavy hitter.
Valerie received an amazing ovation and she electrified the room. I almost had to elbow my way to the front to get this photo for you (to left).
After a rousing challenge to everyone in the room, Valerie ended with “I wanna know: Are you fired up?” And everyone screamed even louder than they had before.
On the second roundtable (where is the table, by the way?), the panelists are talking about democracy in the New America.
Melody Barnes, Domestic Policy Council for President-Elect Obama’s White House, says that Obama will be a different kind of president. She talks about Obama economic stimulus shock plan and what it will mean for hard-working people in American communities. She says “We’re making a down payment on the promises” to Americans.
Joseph Hansen of the UFCW says that the last eight years were a “train wreck” and gets cheers.
Juan Williams closes this panel reminding us that we are in midst of history and to “keep our eyes on the prize“.
Journalist Juan Williams moderates the first panel on the Old America and New America. “How’d we get here?” he asks.
The audience is responding just as vocally as they did to the earlier rallying cries. “Yes!”, “Whooo!” (Sorry for not getting Representative Luis Guitterrez in my photo to the left: see photo below. He’s speaking so powerfully, folks know he’s here!)
The best part of being in a room full of organizers is that they don’t hesitate to yell “Louder!” when they can’t hear the speaker. And they don’t stop ’til they can!
Props to Juan Williams to continually reminding the panelists to focus on what people here (and you out there) can do to realize the change we seek.
Man, if you could tap into all this pent up energy in here right now! Get ready America!
Teresa Anderson and Rev. Timothy McDonald open the event and invited representatives from different faiths to lead us in prayer at this pivotal moment in our nation’s history.
Deepak Bhargava and Ana Garcia-Ashley welcome us. Garcia-Ashley announces that “Community organizing finally comes to Washington” and that Obama is our “Community Organizer in Chief.”
TODAY, December 4th, over 1500 grassroots leaders will gather in DC to talk directly with members of Congress and Obama’s transition team, to help shape the agenda for the new administration. “Realizing the Promise: A Forum on Community, Faith and Democracy” will mark the first large-scale progessive event since last month’s historic elections. No longer are our communities on the outside looking in at the powerful decision-makers: we have become the decision-makers.
And YOU CAN BE A PART OF IT! Watch the LIVE WEBCAST TODAY from 3PM to 6PM at www.realizingthepromise.org and check out the LIVE-BLOG.
Community members, REAL PEOPLE, will be sharing open dialogue with people as powerful as Valerie Jarett, who aims to be on of the 3 to 5 people IN THE ROOM WITH OBAMA when major policy decisions are made, AND Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), who is the 3rd most powerful Congressman in the House. This is our time to be heard, this is our time to make sure that the agenda for the next administration is the agenda OF THE PEOPLE.
And IMMIGRATION is sure to be on that agenda. Prior to the Forum, there will be a press conference on the Hill, where Rep. Luis Gutierrez will push immigration to the forefront of the country’s political landscape, and ask the new Congress and new Administration for an immediate moratorium on the raids and a renewed effort for comprehensive immigration reform. In the afternoon, Rep. Gutierrez will join “Realizing the Promise” to engage in more dialogue around these demands.
This is truly a historic moment in our Nation’s history and YOU can be a part of it. TODAY, visit www.realizingthepromise.org from 3PM to 6PM to watch the entire event LIVE on our WEBCAST. We will be live-blogging the event here at Standing FIRM, so be sure to check back for that too.
On December 4th, 2,000 grassroots leaders from low-income and communities of color are coming to DC for “Realizing the Promise: A Forum on Community, Faith & Democracy”, a “meet the press”-style public discussions with members of congress and the Obama transition team.
Juan Williams, Senior Correspondent for NPR will be moderating! And our confirmed attendees include: Members of Congress:Rep. Luis Gutierrez, (D-IL), Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Rep. Elect Tom Perriello (D-VA), Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD) and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD)
Members of the President-elect Obama’s Transition Team: Ms. Valerie Jarrett – Co-Chairman, Obama-Biden Transition Project & White House Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Relations and Public Liaison and Ms. Melody Barnes (Named as Director of the Domestic Policy Council for President Elect Obama’s White House)
This is YOUR chance – make sure that real people set the agenda for the new administration.
Click here to visit the Realizing the Promise blog and submit your question to the Forum panels. And be sure to tune into the LIVE webcast on www.realizingthepromise.org from 3PM to 6PM on December 4th. Maybe your question will be posed LIVE to the panels….
Make your voice heard! We need YOU to lift up the stories of the immigrant rights movement - from the grassroots up! If you have something you'd like to see on this blog, please email: rachelfirm1@gmail.com
We are a national coalition of grassroots organizations fighting for immigrant rights at the local, state and federal level.
Tonight, Lou Dobbs hosted his last show ever on CNN. Yes, our dear friend Lou has officially resigned from the nation’s ‘most trusted name in news’ to bring his special blend of xenophobia and hate-mongering elsewhere. This is incredible news and due in no small part to the efforts of the Drop Dobbs and Basta Dobbs [...]
Yesterday, a video of Chuck Norris being interviewed by Geraldo Rivera was making the rounds. The clip shows Chuck Norris – yes the same Chuck Norris who has counted to infinity, twice – talking about his ideas for immigration reform. Check it out: Not that I have ever doubted Chuck Norris’ superhuman powers (the man can slam [...]
Folks, we are in the home stretch of the long and brutal fight for health care reform. After months of vicious debate, this weekend the House of Representatives will be finally voting on the bill. The truth is, we are still short the votes we need to finally pass this vital piece of legislation. And, right on [...]
The most recent post from Standing FIRM’s guest blogger, Robert Gittelson. In the wake of Tuesday’s off year elections, the results of which were decidedly mixed and thus open to wide interpretation, the so called “Blue Dog” moderates are whimpering for their mommies. On Wednesday, their cries were pathetic. They were begging their fellow democrats [.. […]
Yesterday, the Senate voted 60-39 to stop any further debate on the census effectively killing the Vitter amendment requiring proof of citizenship. I blogged about the politicization of the census and the use of immigration, yet again, as a wedge issue last month. The pro-migrant community has been awaiting the vote on this amendment for [...]
After Rev. Timothy McDonald charged us to “go get it did”, everyone is slowly making their way to the buses outside.
Pastor Michael Harrison introduced 
On the second roundtable (where is the table, by the way?), the panelists are talking about democracy in the New America.
Joseph Hansen of the 
Journalist 
April Page of 
Teresa Anderson
