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Not
Having Papers Is A Cross To Bear
From El Diario
April 20, 2003
By Rosa Margarita Murphy
For the fifth consecutive year, hundreds of Catholic immigrant New
Yorkers, celebrated the Way of the Cross of Immigrants
Friday [April 18th] in memory of people who died in their struggle
to live outside of their own country.
The act began about 5 oclock in the afternoon in front of
the office of immigration. Christian immigrants staged the Way
of the Cross of Jesus Christ live, marching behind a cross
of wood, remembering Jesus Christ walking to martyrdom in the Calvary
and at the same time asking for a general amnesty for all undocumented
immigrants.
We pray for world peace and also we cry out to the authorities
to help us carry this cross, which we have been carrying on our
backs by not having documents, said Emerenciana Guadalupe,
42 years old, while advancing the procession that was directed towards
Bowling Green in Lower Manhattan.
Women and children paraded in tunics, with cards that read The
Worthwhile Work is Amnesty,
What do I have thats different? and Although
I am no different I cant walk free because Im an immigrant.
Because we are immigrants, things dont look good for
us. It is not fair that we dont count because we are undocumented.
We also contribute to this country, we pay taxes, and even so, my
children cant continue their studies. They dont have
a right to education because they dont have papers,
said Igancia de León, mother of three.
The faithful gave testimonies of their poverty, at the same time
begging God to make the Senators and Congressmen of this country
reconsider their positions and revise the immigration laws that
have kept them without documents. The laws pressure and exploit
those who know what it means to be without papers, taking
away most benefits possible to them if they could change their immigration
status.
We carry out this activity for the dignity and for the rights
of immigrants. Also, we want to let people know of the abuses and
injustices that are committed against undocumented immigrants,
stated Alfonso Chino, a member of Tepeyac.
Those present followed the passion and death of Jesus Christ, calling
for a better world without borders.
We are struggling for a general amnesty, and we will continue
our fight. May 1st, the day of the worker, we will be in Washington
with the goal of having a dialogue with different congressmen about
this theme.
Translated from Spanish by Joshua Brustien
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