Farewell Address
I must share a secret with you. You are not the first group of immigrants we have worked with. Twenty four years ago, Laura and I were living in Athens Ohio. We learned how the over-ground railroad was helping Central American refugees get to Canada. Through our church and peace group, we formed the Central American Refugee Assistance Committee (CARAC). We helped three families get to Canada. I personally drove one of them to Sarnia, Ontario for a border presentation. Then, in 1987, Laura and I decided that I should accept a job offer here in New Philadelphia, and we moved. It was sad then to part from so many friends. At the time, I thought my work with Central American refugees was over. Soon I would learn that CARAC's work would go on without us, and we, too, would find new opportunities to work even more closely with immigrants.
Actually, that day was July 19, 1995. That is when Sherrel Reiger brought five Guatemalans to my brand new law office. They were arrested in an immigration raid at Case Farms. Within the following months, Sherrel and I were finding others in the community who wanted to learn about immigration, get to know immigrants, learn about their culture, and share information about life and health in our community. For two years, we planned activities with the Hispanic Support Group. I remember a meeting we had in my office to meet with some of the union leaders who came from Morganton North Carolina. They said it was hard to negotiate a contract with Case Farms. I supposed someday we would find out for ourselves.
I remember when Father Kevin came to celebrate the first Spanish language mass at Jim's Place. That was in December of 1996. By February of 1997, the sanctuary doors opened for mass, at the altar, in Spanish. It was an emotional mass for everyone there. So many had gone for so long without. As we understood these deeper needs, we understood the need for a deeper response. We formed the corporation, Hispanic Ministries of Tuscarawas County. We found allies in many churches throughout the county. We started regular services for Catholics and evangelicals. We provided information for newspaper articles about the new immigrant community. We let the community know that the new immigrants had new stories to share with us, new cultures to enrich our lives, and new opportunities for our community to grow. I know some immigrants suffered acts of hostility, but I like to think our community was spared the worst of what happened in other communities. Simply letting the community know about the real needs of real people made a difference.
I remember a challenge we faced in 2001. Case Farms announced a massive lay-off. The work force dropped from 525 to 168. We scrambled to help as many as we could adjust to the change. Several area factories stepped up, and now our community is diversified. Never again can one company set us so far back.
The most memorable trips Laura and I have ever taken have been those we took to Guatemala. Meeting your families, seeing your homes, visiting your churches, and walking the streets of your native land brought your ancestry up close to us. I realized how much you lose when you come so far from home. Your separation brought me closer to understanding my own ancestors. They too traveled far from Europe to make a better life with their families, including me. I found my great grandfather's naturalization certificate so it could hang in my office. Thank you for giving me the gift of appreciating my own heritage.
While each of you is a special friend to us, you are also special to us as a community. As we may come and go, the community always flows like a river. Laura and I are just two people in a canoe sharing the journey from one point to another. Of course it is obvious that the river is much wider now.
You opened our eyes to opportunities for us to build bridges with you here. You opened our eyes to the opportunity to visit Aguacatan, Chex, Llano del Coyote, Canilla, Paxixil, Rancho de Teja, San Francisco el Alto, Santa Lucia de la Reforma, San Cristobal de las Casas, Nebaj, and Xela.
I remember the hard time after we lost the union election vote in 2004. We learned from that experience, better then the other side did. We came back in 2007 to win the election, by a vote of 192 to 99. You did that while Laura and I were away in Virginia. Winning this election meant as much to me as winning any case I have handled, and I am so very proud of those leaders who understood the risks, and accepted the suffering, to help make a better life for everyone. Of course, so many of you have taken a greater risk by coming here. Many of you have accepted separation from your family, for too long, and risked all the perils of the desert to find a better future.
Now it is time for me to take a risk, share in the suffering of our separation, in hopes that it will be better. For me, there is a special depth in the suffering in seeing Laura leave the Corazon de Jesus group. For seven years, Laura has met with the women, prayed with the women, listened to the women, and trusted the women as they shared their lives. For some, it has taken seven years to build the bond of trust with Laura so they could too could take a risk, and make lives better for them and their children.
The profoundness of what Laura has accomplished for immigrant women adds to my responsibility in this move. It is my responsibility to make my work and life as meaningful as Laura's bonds have been here.
Soon, I will go to the offices of the National Whistleblower Center to begin my work as their legal director. I will be responsible for helping every worker in this country find legal protection when they speak truth to those who have the power to retaliate. With our allies, we will be responsible for informing Congress of the need to change our laws to make them better for working people.
One law that needs to change is our immigration law. I hope each of you appreciates that the problem with our immigration laws is a problem us citizens must fix. The problem of racism in this country is not a problem of the minorities. Rather it is a problem of the majority. The recent elections have shown that racism is still a problem here in Ohio, and the other states of Appalachia. Us white people have to fix that, but it will help to have the understanding assistance from leaders of each minority community. I remember the march in Columbus in 2006 and the speeches by Miguel, Jeff, Sherrel and Melvin. You can make a network with allies because your cause is just. What a victory! I endeavor to be a better citizen of my country. I am must be effective at getting my representatives to make a just immigration law. I am called to stop the laws that have taken Jose and Edgar from us. I know this community is strong enough to grow for the centuries ahead.
I am though, so very thankful that each one of you could be here with us and share this special moment as we say good bye. Maltiox!