Uniting for the El Balazo workers

WORKERS FOR the El Balazo taqueria chain in the Bay Area--the target of a sweeping immigration raid on May 2 that hit 11 restaurants and rounded up 63 workers--organized a successful fundraiser July 19 that brought out almost 150 people and raised over $4,000 in donations.

The successful event was the latest in a support campaign that began as soon as word of the raids spread. There was little media coverage of the largest Bay Area raid that Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) ever mounted, but that didn't stop 250 people from coming out to a rapid-response protest at ICE headquarters on Monday morning after the Friday raids.

"They treated us as if we were criminals on the streets, and all we were doing was working," said Lupita, one of the workers arrested on May 2. "We're not doing anything wrong. Everybody needs to work to eat. You work, you eat. You don't work, you don't eat.

"The officer who was questioning me said that he was helping me, and I told him that arresting someone and forcefully removing them from their family is not helping them."

Irma, another worker arrested that day, added, "The cops that arrested me and drove me to the station were racist. They were rejoicing in how wonderful a job they did, and celebrating their victory against immigrants. That's racism."

Explaining how the raid changed her life, Irma said, "I can't work. I suffer from anxiety and paranoia. My world was flipped upside down...[ICE agents] seem to delight in our misery. They pressure us with fear so that we will leave willingly. They tried to get us to sign papers that said we were giving them the right to deport us."

This early event provided an opportunity for immigrant rights organizations to meet with the workers and begin organizing a defense campaign.

Immediately following the raids, workers began meeting weekly with legal counsel, Bay Area Immigrant Rights Coalition, Manos Unidas, Movement for an Unconditional Amnesty and the International Socialist Organization to talk about the best way to defend themselves and all immigrants who suffer the same kind of racist attacks.

It was decided that a fundraising event--to bring together people and organizations fighting for immigrants' rights with the El Balazo workers in an informal atmosphere--would be the best kickoff to a long-term defense campaign. A call for immigrant rights activists in San Francisco to help organize the event turned out 22 people at the very first meeting, among them union representatives, faith-based organizations, political groups and members of the community who were excited about being involved in challenging ICE raids.

THE ENTHUSIASM in the local communities was reflected at the fundraiser. All the food served at the party was donated by El Balazo, and community businesses were quick to give to the cause. Among many others, one bakery donated a box full of pan dulces, and one meat market gave $100. A man at a grocery store immediately opened his register to donate when asked about making a contribution.

Unions also showed solidarity, passing resolutions in favor of donating to the defense fund, in addition to sending members to the party to meet with the workers and organizers. Immigrant rights and social justice organizations showed up in full force. Organizers from the Day Laborers' Center, Black Alliance for Just Immigration, POOR magazine and Equal Justice Society, among many others, joined organizers and workers at the party.

Among everyone at the event, discussions were begun and continued about how to build solidarity and strengthen ties between groups from around the Bay Area to amplify the voice of the immigrant right movement.

While workers continue to meet weekly, there is also another defense committee meeting scheduled for August 2 to discuss next steps. Some further events include a benefit party in San Francisco that a local DJ is organizing to raise money for the Balazo Worker Defense Fund and the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant. Plus, there will be a mega-town-hall meeting in Richmond in September to address the real needs of the immigrant community--like safety from ICE terrorism.

When asked how she thought we could change what is happening to the immigrant community, Lupita replied without hesitation, "We all unite and show them what we are capable of."