A caravan of dozens of vehicles made an appearance in front of the town hall to ask that they recognize the work of immigrants who are also members of the community.
To the rhythm of cumbia and with songs dedicated to day laborers, dozens of vehicles began a caravan tour at Pasadena City Hall to ask their elected officials to help essential undocumented workers.
Pablo Alvarado, director of the National Day Laborers Network (NDLON), said millions of undocumented essential workers were excluded from any federal aid.
“The state government is already providing direct assistance to those who have been excluded. The question is, will our city do the same or will it continue the racist and fascist motivations of the federal government, ”Alvarado questioned.
Kimberly Douglas, co-chair of the Pasadena Organizational Progress, said the city cannot allow more families and impoverished children.
"We need the city to help with a recovery plan that addresses the needs of workers who have been deprived of their income and even of federal health during this pandemic," said Douglas.
He added that this was the "call to the community to include the workers we depend on so much for cleanliness, for all of our hospitality services, food, hotels, all of which is essential to the economy of Pasadena and the city and the community needs to come together to help those families. ”
The activists gave as an example the help that the city of Los Angeles and Mayor Eric Garcetti have provided to poor families, regardless of their immigration status, through the prepaid Angeleno Card.
By April 23, Mayor Garcetti said in his virtual meeting that approximately 1,100 families had benefited from $ 700 to $ 1,500 worth of cards; and another 15,000 families were expected to receive the card in the following days.
Alvarado said this is the leadership that the city of Pasadena should follow.
“The workers here clean the city, beautify their gardens, take care of their children. They deserve to be recognized, ”said the director of the organization.
Soon after giving their message in English and Spanish, protesters began their tour of the city.
"Pasadena supports your essential local workers," protesters asked with a loudspeaker as they marched through the main streets of Pasadena.
Just over a mile away, the caravan stopped in front of the Pasadena Huntington Memorial Hospital to send a message to all the essential workers inside.
"Thank you for your work, thank you for what you do," the day laborers said as they stopped in front of the hospital and got out of their cars to applaud the workers.
“As you can see we are following the hygiene and distance protocols because we do not want to cause more problems for you. And we are demanding the local, state and federal government to provide you with the necessary equipment to protect the people who care for the sick, ”Alvarado told them.
Activists claim that the federal government has increased racist federal exclusions; while day laborers, janitors, domestic and factory workers, among other industries, are considered essential workers.
They claim that while millions of people are safe at home, immigrants are working outside.
The caravan protest took place just two days before May 1, the date on which marches are traditionally held to support workers. This time, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the mass protests were canceled.
However, in the motorcade the activists told the city of Pasadena that, if you accept the work of immigrants, you must accept that they have the right to emergency aid, the right to health, the right to safe workplaces. and legal right.
"The health pandemic is now, but in a few months the pandemic of poverty will come," said Alvarado.
In response to the caravan protest, Pasadena City Manager Steve Mermell said he was present during the demonstration. In the recorded videos it can be seen a few steps from the workers, keeping their distance, but without covering mouths, in the Pasadena city hall.
"(I was) there to show my support for the workers because they are all essential," Mermell said. "I noticed that the City of Pasadena has provided food support to the neediest in our community, as well as electricity discounts to customers."
