On Saturday, June 27th, 2015 President, Dolores Huerta, addressed a well attended and highly informative community forum on immigration with the theme “KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER WITH DACA & DAPA.” She encouraged the crowd to be aware of political campaigns claiming to support the people’s interests, while pushing a voting agenda that goes against their own interests. “Don’t be blind voters. Become educated voters!” She shed light on the Koch Brothers’ funded *LIBRE Initiative a deceptive campaign targeting Latino voters.
DHF staff members, Jess Contreras, Yesenia Ocampo, Timo Prado, Elizabeth Martinez, intern, Melissa Martinez, and volunteer, Wendy Greenfield, worked with local community leaders and organizations to coordinate and host this successful event held at the Beale Library in Bakersfield, California. In addition they shared information and collected pledge cards supporting The California Endowment’s #Health4All campaign which highlights the important contributions of undocumented Californians to our state’s communities and economy, while raising awareness of their lack of access to affordable health care coverage.
Community leaders and local experts addressed many other important issues of interest to the immigrant community, including recent executive actions by President Obama on immigration. Community members benefited from free consultations with immigration attorneys. Attendees were warned of immigration fraud and given tips on how to avoid being scammed by unscrupulous lawyers and notaries. Participants also received information on naturalization and the process for becoming a U.S. citizen.
*Koch-funded Libre Initiative passes as a grassroots organization founded “to empower Hispanics” and advance “liberty, freedom and prosperity.” In reality, the group urges Hispanics to support policies that experts say go “against their own interests” and “disenfranchise Hispanic voters.” a grassroots organization founded “to empower Hispanics” and advance “liberty, freedom and prosperity.” In reality, the group urges Hispanics to support policies that experts say go “against their own interests” and “disenfranchise Hispanic voters.” . http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/03/02/the-libre-initiative-a-koch-funded-group-being/202450
