400 Attend Annual Immigration Action Day in Salem on Saturday

400 Attend Causa’s 15th Annual Immigration Action Day in Salem


Salem, Ore. -- On Saturday, Causa, Oregon’s Statewide Immigrant RightsOrganization, held it’s 15th Annual Immigrant Action Day at Chemeketa Community College in Salem. 400 Causa affiliates and allies from around Oregon attended the morning event to get information and to hear plans for 2013 actions to advocate for a Legalization Program at the Federal Level, and Driver’s License Restoration and Tuition Equity in Oregon.

Speakers this year included Francisco Lopez, Executive Director of Causa Oregon, Ramon Ramirez, President of PCUN, Laura Isiordia, Executive Director, of the CAPACES Leadership Institute, Causa Board Member and attorney Barbara Ghio and several panelists.  Topics covered ranged from Driver’s License Restoration, Tuition Equity, Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the national Keeping Families Together Legalization Campaign. Family Unity, and Civil and Human Rights for Farmworkers, Children, Women and members of the LGBT community.

This year’s Immigrant Action Day was special as it included the first-ever wedding ceremony and celebration as part of the day’s activities. Carmen Gutierrez and Jensi Albright, a same-sex couple with mixed immigration status, exchanged vows before the energetic crowd. The special occasion was part of Causa’s commitment to the gay and lesbian immigrant community.

In an interview with the Salem Statesman Journal, Causa’s Executive Director Francisco Lopez discussed the inclusion of the wedding ceremony in this year’s Immigrant Action Day and why it is important to Oregon:

“One of the things we want to do is (emphasize) legal rights should be for everybody,” Causa Executive Director Francisco Lopez said. “We have a couple that loves each other. One is a citizen of the U.S.; one is undocumented.

“Whether it’s men with men, women with women, it doesn’t matter,” he added. “We in Oregon need to get the message out that we do not discriminate.”

Read the story of Carmen and Jensi in the Oregonian by linking here

Press covering this year’s Immigrant Action Day included The Oregonian, Salem Statesman Journal, El Hispanic News, and KGW News Channel 8. Check out the links to the reports below.

For more details on Causa’s work, please visit www.causaoregon.org15th ANNUAL 

IMMIGRANT ACTION DAY PHOTOS http://www.flickr.com/photos/78143566@N04/sets/72157632732867525/show/

News Coverage:
Causa's 'Action Day' includes same-sex wedding Statesman Journal - ‎Feb 10, 2013‎http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20130210/NEWS/302100025/Causa-s-Action-Day-includes-same-sex-wedding
Causa event features same-sex wedding Statesman Journal - ‎Feb 9, 2013‎http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20130209/UPDATE/130209009/Causa-event-features-same-sex-wedding
Portland women use wedding ceremony to illustrate immigration, same-sex OregonLive.com - ‎Feb 9, 2013‎http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2013/02/portland_women_use_wedding_cer.html