International Migrants Day
Wednesday, December 18th
The Civil Rights Forum has started a new initiative to recognize immigrants as our neighbors! December 18th is International Migrants Day. We have submitted the following Letter to the Editor to our local papers:
International Migrants Day is December 18th
According to the United Nations website, on December 4, 2000, the General Assembly
of the United Nations, taking into account the large and increasing number of migrants
in the world, proclaimed December 18 to be International Migrants Day. On that day in
1990, the Assembly adopted the “International Convention on the Protection of the
Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.”
On International Migrants Day, we reflect on and celebrate the contributions of millions
of migrants worldwide. Migrants and displaced people represent some of the most
vulnerable and marginalized groups in society. Migrants have proven to be a source of
prosperity, innovation and sustainable development to the countries in which they
reside.
Locally, we recognize (im)migrants as our neighbors, especially when we hear their
personal stories, like Eduardo’s, a local nurse and cardiac sonographer. Eduardo
gained citizenship 30 years after crossing the border when he was 9. His parents made
the decision to cross the border to protect their family. A Mexican cartel had targeted
Eduardo’s father, who fought for better equality in the Mexican healthcare system. He
was very involved in social justice and publicly denounced the injustices and threats
brought on by the cartels, which exposed the family to danger. Once across the border,
Eduardo’s parents remained undocumented but worked hard to provide their two sons
with the American Dream, which Eduardo is happy to say he has been able to pursue.
Today, let’s celebrate our (im)migrant neighbors!
Allison Ambrose
Davenport
(This was written on behalf of the Civil Rights Forum of Progressive Action for the
Common Good.)
International Migrants Day is December 18th
According to the United Nations website, on December 4, 2000, the General Assembly
of the United Nations, taking into account the large and increasing number of migrants
in the world, proclaimed December 18 to be International Migrants Day. On that day in
1990, the Assembly adopted the “International Convention on the Protection of the
Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.”
On International Migrants Day, we reflect on and celebrate the contributions of millions
of migrants worldwide. Migrants and displaced people represent some of the most
vulnerable and marginalized groups in society. Migrants have proven to be a source of
prosperity, innovation and sustainable development to the countries in which they
reside.
Locally, we recognize (im)migrants as our neighbors, especially when we hear their
personal stories, like Eduardo’s, a local nurse and cardiac sonographer. Eduardo
gained citizenship 30 years after crossing the border when he was 9. His parents made
the decision to cross the border to protect their family. A Mexican cartel had targeted
Eduardo’s father, who fought for better equality in the Mexican healthcare system. He
was very involved in social justice and publicly denounced the injustices and threats
brought on by the cartels, which exposed the family to danger. Once across the border,
Eduardo’s parents remained undocumented but worked hard to provide their two sons
with the American Dream, which Eduardo is happy to say he has been able to pursue.
Today, let’s celebrate our (im)migrant neighbors!
Allison Ambrose
Davenport
(This was written on behalf of the Civil Rights Forum of Progressive Action for the
Common Good.)
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