Vermonters Organize Demonstration and Vigil for Racially Profiled Farmworker Leaders after Three Arrests of Demonstrators at Middlesex State Police Station
**************For Immediate Release****************
WHAT: Demonstration and Vigil for Racially Profiled/ Arrested farmworkers
WHO: Vermont Migrant Solidarity Project, Vermont Workers' Center, community allies
WHERE: 80 Main St., Richford, VT
WHEN: Tuesday, September 13, 2011, 6 pm
WHY: To stand in solidarity with arrested workers, protest violation of anti-bias policing, unjust immigration policy
Brendan O'Neill, VT Migrant Farmworker Solidarity Project, 802.825.1609
Natalia Fajardo, VT Migrant Farmworker Solidarity Project, 802.497.7027
September 13, 2011-Richford, VT-In a continuing story after VT Farm Worker Leader Danilo Lopez and co-worker Antonio were racially profiled by State Police in Middlesex on Rte. 89 at routine traffic stop 3 farmworker allies were arrested by State Police officer outside the Middesex Baracks. John Mclean, one of the allies arrested said, “We've petitioned our Senators, the Governor, and even President Obama to fix our broken immigration system. Today, we were left with no other choice but civil disobedience to halt this injustice.” The allies stood in front of the Border Patrol Car as the farm workers were being hauled away, attempting to stop the deportation.
Now, Danilo and Antonio are being taken to Richford and Vermonters are following them, where tonight at 6pm they will hold a public vigil and demonstration calling upon:
Governor Shumlin to intervene due to the State Police breach of its own Bias Free Policy
Senator Sanders and Leahy to use their powers at the federal level to intervene and stop the detention and removal proceedings
Just 3 Weeks Ago Danilo Lopez, a VT Migrant Farmworker, visited the State House to talk with Governor Shumlin and the Department of Agriculture to ask the Governor to stop Federal Programs like 'Secure Communities' that blur the lines between Police and Immigration Agents (more here . Today, in a bitter twist of irony Danilo is now behind bars awaiting possible deportation after State Trooper Hatch pulled over one of Danilo's friends for speeding on I-89 in Middlesex.
Danilo, who was able to send a text message as he was being detained wrote, "My name is Danilo. Today the police stopped us. Though there was no reason to ask for my documented status they did and only for being a different color from our friend who was driving. We chose to remain silent to not have more problems. He called the Border Patrol quickly. If this message reaches the governor it is so he can see our cruel reality. We spoke with him not too long ago about this 'Polimigra' and we have another meeting that now I will not be able to attend."
Apparently, State Trooper Hatch, leaned into the driver side window and at some point asked the workers, who were not driving nor violating any crime, for their documents. When the Trooper determined that the workers were here without legal status he called up the chain of command and was told that since the farm workers were not 'victim or witnesses to crime' he should call Border Patrol. This points to a big failure in the State Police policy that still, one year after the AG recommended a broader protection, has ignored this short coming.
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