Phoenix AZ, part I

Phoenix, AZ

Both Jenny and I had been to Phoenix before but were amazed (and not in a good way) with the climate of fear, intimidation, and racial profiling that has become the norm.

Our first stop of our two day stay in Phoenix was to the Macehualli Day Labor Worker Center. The name Macehualli means, “the one who sacrifices for others”.The center is approved by the city of Phoenix and has been created in cooperation with local businesses, the neighborhood, law enforcement and the day laborers.

The amount of time the workers at the center have lived in the U.S. ranged from as recent as one week to over twenty years. Many had been deported before and came back to find work. Supporting their children is the priority. They are willing to risk jail time to support their families and find work. This situation can be found around the country but what makes this situation unique is the Sheriff of Maricopa County, Arpiao.

The second morning that we stopped at the worker center they told us that there had been five police cars near the entrance to the worker center, which is literally a parking lot with some established shade tents. Not only does this intimidate the workers who are already fearful that they could at anytime be picked up, regardless of their actually status, but this also keeps potential employers away.

Many of the workers recounted to us that the work has been slow. They surmised that it was because of the economic slow down and that many of the employers are also intimidated by the tactics that are being used by Arpaio and his police force.

Another level of intimidation is the vigilante, white supremacist, minute men folks who are continually camped out in front of the workers center. The one women that we encountered was video taping all traffic in and out of the center, had a gun holstered to her belt.

The workers asked us to not limit our work to immigrant rights, but to work on human rights for all. One worker suggested going to the United Nations with some of the human rights violations that are happening in Arizona and across the county to immigrants.

We later visited with Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ) at their new worker rights center. They are being confronted with many families that are suffering from a loss of wages. Workers come in to the center for help getting back wages from employers who refuse to pay for work these people did, write checks that bounce or use scare tactics like threatening to call ICE. At IWJ we met with Rev. Trina Zelle who works with many of the workers that come in. Many are fearful but also feel betrayed and used. They trusted their employer and did good work for them. It is hard to understand how anyone could use people for slave purposes. Trina also highlighted the importance of continuing to raise up the all immigrants and workers as human beings who deserve to live with dignity.

(written by Stephanie)