Although the recent Loudoun County Board of Supervisors action regarding services for undocumented residents doesn’t directly impact the GLBT community, it’s hard to observe the fear-based rhetoric about “those people” coming from certain local politicians without saying “hmmm…where have I seen this before?”
The experience of our own community gives us a better than average ability to recognize hate speech that scapegoats a community, and separate that noise from the actual issue. It’s in everyone’s interests to show that fear-based campaigning in general is unwelcome and doesn’t work. We all deserve better.
Immigration law is complicated. The La Voz of Loudoun press release below is presented for those who would like to have the facts separated from the election-year grandstanding.
La Voz of Loudoun will sponsor a Panel Presentation open to the public titled
Immigration and the Undocumented
Fact vs. Fiction in Loudoun County and BeyondLa Voz of Loudoun is a 501(c)(3) community based nonprofit acting as a conduit between Hispanic/Latino and immigrant populations, government agencies and other groups in order to promote self-sufficiency through outreach, education, advocacy, and programs that strengthen family networks.
The panel presentation will take place on August 16 at 7pm at the Ida Lee Recreation Center in Leesburg, VA.
Panelists include:
* Rob Ruthland Brown, Executive Director of Just Neighbors, a United Methodist nonprofit that provides immigration legal services to immigrants of all faiths and nationalities.
* Loudoun County Sheriff Steve Simpson
* Hugo Carvallo, President and Business Manager of Laborers’ Local 11
* A Representative from the Washington, DC based Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration ReformThe intent of this panel presentation is to provide factual information and education relating to the issues of immigration, the undocumented, and how those issues relate to law enforcement, employment, and local enforcement measures.
As the Loudoun County Administration works on the Anti-illegal Immigrant Resolution unanimously approved by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, La Voz of Loudoun feels that it is imperative that the greater Loudoun Community be as informed as possible about the complex issues at hand. La Voz hopes to provide context to the local debate as well as connect the local debate to the broader issue of immigration reform at the national level. There will be an opportunity for attendees to ask specific questions to the panel.
Light refreshments will be served. For more information contact La Voz of Loudoun at 703-777-1417 or visit the web www.lavozloudoun.org.