 .. |
 Sunday, August 01, 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Politics -
Commentary
|
|
Dr. LUIS BARRIOS
|
|
Friday, April 28, 2006 |
"LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL"
The April 10 immigrant rally in Downtown Manhattan was also used to prepare the working masses for the general boycott on May 1. Although the bold "Libertad y Justicia Para Todos" placard was provided by the AFL-CIO, the union conglomerate has been slow and quiet at acknowledging the May 1 boycott, and have done little to nothing to realign Labor Day to its appropriate day on the calender along with the rest of the world. Ironically, it was the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions, the predecessor of the American Federation of Labor (the AFL in the AFL-CIO), in the summer of 1884, that set May 1, 1886 to kick off a nationwide movement for the eight-hour workday. Photo: Rafael Merino Cortés/grupoHuracán
 n the
middle of the campaign that is being carried out with respect to the
national boycott in support of immigrant rights, one of my parishioners
asked me about the historic meaning of May 1.
In our
conversation I told him that to find the answer it is necessary to go
back to the city of Chicago, to May of 1886, when the 10 to 18-hour
workday was enough reason to inspire an industrious town to fight for
an 8-hour workday. That is to say, a dignified workday.
Likewise
I told him that this reality, without a doubt, let loose a series of
confrontations between two groups: the working class, or laborers, and
owners of industry, that is to say, in biblical language, a
confrontation between the mass proletariat and the ruling class.
In
our reflection I clarified that the government -- to not lose sight of
business management tradition in the United States -- opted to support
the bosses. Since there were strikes [like the ones proposed for this
Monday], demonstrations and physical confrontations, the mass media --
also to point out tradition -- on the one hand gave the workers support
and on the other hand demonized and criminalized the struggle.
Nevertheless the working class was organized and carried out its
demands and claims through a movement of general strike, which fell on
May 1, 1886. From here on May 1 appears linked to the struggle of the
working people, preserving in an ideal way their victories in labor
reform. Of course, you also had an endless number of labor struggles
taking place throughout the world. [The recent mass unrest in France
and the Transit Worker strike last year in New York City just months
ago are testament to the ongoing struggle between the working class and
management]
So why then do we have division at this time regarding the call for a national boycott in support of immigrant rights?
On
the one hand, in this occasion, the call to boycott did not come from
union leaders or from elected officials. That is to say, the call
itself was realized from a community base. For some people this is a
serious conflict because they base their struggles in partiality and
activities that feed their egos through patriarchal ruling ideologies.
| The
call itself was realized from a community base. For some people this is
a serious conflict because they base their struggles in partiality and
activities that feed their egos through patriarchal ruling ideologies. |
To
this, we need to add the idea of a call of solidarity in support of the
May 1 boycott. There are people realizing what my grandma, Doña
Barbara, use to say: envy is an evil counselor. We need to keep in mind
that May 1 is a date that has been practically [and deliberately]
erased from historical context in the United States. To that extreme,
our government and corporate system, with the blessing of the unions,
changed the date we celebrate the efforts and struggles of our workers
to Labor Day, which falls on the first Monday in September. This day is
distinguished for promoting rest, picnics, barbecues and overall
consumerism [Labor Day “specials” are popular with retailers] instead
of reflecting on the reality of the working class.
This matter
of choosing May 1 hurts a lot because for many people in government and
in unions [what’s left of them], with exceptions of course, May 1
smells of socialism, communism, the power for the working class, etc.
Instead of being spooked like frightened children by opposing political
theories [which change year to year -- just look at “communist” China]
we need to remember that, more importantly, this is a day of
commemorating working struggle, labor emancipation and the
re-establishment of justice. It is for this that it seemed to me the
ideal day to call al boycott.
It was interesting to see the
Mexican Consulate as one of the first in publicly stating that they
would not support the boycott. With so many Mexicans in this country,
President Vicente Fox decided to stay in line and protect free
trade. [Possibly the last political breath of el PAN for some time]
Then they tell us, unofficially, that they support the boycott under
the table but, to not antagonize President Bush, they had to publicly stay clear. When will these people understand what my grandma used
to tell me: “Grandson, he who bends over a lot shows his ass.”
In
the same way the Church as an institution that blesses the ruling class
was hooked in the same ambivalent process bending over a lot. Now the
leadership is telling us that they will have their places of worship
open on May 1 so that the people can go to pray. As if this is going to
resolve our problem. Already the Venezuelan prophet Ali Primera has
told us, “It’s not enough to pray; there is a lot more that we need to
find peace.”
In other words, the stress over those who carried
out the May 1 movement -- the grassroots organizers -- and the
inconvenience of the day that was chosen are two fundamental reasons
that explain the division that we have at this time, where the
leadership of the immigrant community decided to boycott the boycott.
Another
reason, or excuse, for the divisions over the boycott is that this action is dangerous because people
will risk loosing their jobs, businesses will suffer and participants
and organizers of the boycott risk retaliation from the government. If
this is the case then I have bad news: the boycott as a measure of
resistance is exactly in protest against any and all dismissals, unjust
payments, violation of human rights, illegal arrests, criminalization
of immigrants, deportations and murders. How much longer should we wait?
Inside
this reality there are those in the boycott that will go the extra
mile. I say extra because they will lose their wages for that day.
While there are other people, who because of their contracts or work
agreement can simply charge the absence (sick day, emergency, etc.) and
get paid for it. Then, of course, there are the few who may not be able
to take off that day. If this is true, and we believe in justice, could
we not share our salary from this day with those in need? Or perhaps,
to be on the same level of common sacrifice, where we all dance or
break the record player, why not donate our salary from this day to a
community organization? As my grandma use to say: “Here he is where the
pig twists its tail.”
From here then I invite you to throw
away any silly divisive ideas that establish adoration to status and,
with fear or without fear -- that is, without being cowards -- shout
loudly that “¡El 1 de mayo, es pa’la calle que vamos!” (“On May 1 is to
the streets we go!”) Also, I invite people to bring out flags of their
respective countries and show their pride. We’ll meet here, in New York
City, in Downtown Manhattan at 4:00PM in Union Square, 14 Street and
Broadway.
And just to inform those who did not already know, God
has confirmed and endorsed the May 1 boycott. Therefore, don’t stay
inside Church praying because God will be outside, with the people. God
will be where he has always been: walking and feeling the joys and
anguish of our lives and taking the side of those who have been
excluded and marginalized.
Peace with justice.
REV. DR. LUIS BARRIOS is professor of criminal justice at John Jay College in New York City. He
is also a prominent community and spiritual leader in New York’s Latino community, a priest in the Episcopal Church and Spiritual Advisor for the Church of San Romero de las Americas.
|
|
|
|
Events Calendar |
 |
July 2010 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
New York Latino Journal, NYLatinoJournal.com and the red box with 'ny' device followed by the 'LATINO JOURNAL' text are service marks of grupoHuracan. All content is copyright 2005-2008 grupoHuracan or respective authors.
The New York Latino Journal is not responsible for content from external sites. The comments and opinions throughout this publication belong to their respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the New York Latino Journal publication, grupoHuracan or any of their affiliates and/or partners. GrupoHuracan provides technical and marketing support to the New York Latino Journal and is not involved in its editorial process.
The New York Latino Journal is a non-profit venture. Please contact: info(at)nylatinojournal.com for any questions, comments, sponsor inquiries, or story submissions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
