Last October the California Department of Motor Vehicles began to check the Social Security numbers of everyone applying for a license, a move that has implications for tens of thousands of workers beyond denying them the right to legally drive a car. Some 29 states now require a Social Security number when getting or renewing a drivers license, a backdoor attempt by the U.S. ruling class to establish a national identification card.

Miguel Moscote, a recent immigrant from Mexico, participated in a protest of some 200 people, mainly Mexican, in San Jose July 28. "They say this is the most democratic country in the world," Moscote said, "but they oppress people all over the globe, and even inside their own borders. This march shows that some of us just won't conform to their kind of politics."

Manuel Nava, at age 71, said he is demanding justice for agricultural workers hired under the bracero program, a guest-worker scheme of the U.S. government and the employers from 1942 to 1964. Nava, who worked for eight years under the program, and other workers are fighting to receive money the employers withheld from their paychecks during that period. They were told the funds would be given to them on their return to Mexico. "It's probably in some bank in Mexico," he said, "they just won't tell us where. License, legalization, justice for the braceros, and stop police harassment. That's why I'm here," he said. This was his first political demonstration.

María Marroquín organized a half-dozen Mexican day laborers from Los Altos to attend the demonstration in San Jose. "There is a principle here," she said. "We all need to march in support of this principle!" Echoing this sentiment, Sabino Torres, a self-employed tree-trimmer, carried a sign that read, "No taxes without license." "We must work, and there is no public transportation here," he said.

Armando Cruz, an activist with Centro Azteca de Información (Aztec Information Center), the main group organizing the marches, spoke from the platform. "They take tax money from our paychecks and use it to build highways and bridges so that everyone can use them. If we help pay for these, then we have a right to use them," Cruz told the crowd.

These boisterous marches usually wind their way for several miles through working class neighborhoods and downtown areas, attracting many immigrants from Mexico. Along the way marchers shout "¿Qué queremos? ¡La licencia! ¿Qué perdemos? ¡La paciencia!" (What do we want? A license! What are we losing? Our patience!), and "What do we want? License! When do we want it? Now!" Marches often double in size along the route.

At a demonstration July 22 in Antioch, Fidencio Vazquez, a welder, explained that having a license "gives you a little more security from the police. I have my license," he said, "but I march for all those who do not." His son, a student at Richmond High School who also attended the march, helped organize a protest at his school two years ago to force the school board to sponsor a program about Mexican-Americans on Diversity Day. The school is 50 percent Spanish-speaking.

Hector Acosta and Armando Cardona are members of Ironworkers Local 790. "We can't forget where we came from," Acosta said. "Driving in this country is a necessity." Cardona chimed in, "I support the rights of the undocumented. You need a drivers license to support your family, papers or not." Elias Silva, a member of Mail Handlers Local 302, was attending his first march. "Unions have to protect all workers," he said. "We all use the same hands when we work, we all need the same union protection."

The next marches are planned for early August in San Rafael and Salinas. For more information, call Centro Azteca in San Jose at (408) 929-9551 or 203-1696. A demonstration for legalization of all immigrants backed by a number of unions and other organizations and will take place in San Jose August 25.
 
 
Related article:
After demands by immigrants, Bush considers broadening legalization moves  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home