Fear on U.S. 101

[IndianaGreen]

Fear on U.S. 101

Author: Tim Wheeler
People's Weekly World Newspaper, 09/10/08 04:50

PORT ANGELES, WA—Edgar Ayala, who graduated with honors from Forks High School last June was arrested at a Border Patrol checkpoint on Highway 101 Aug. 20 just a mile or so from the place that has been his home since he was an infant.

That made no difference to the enforcers of George W. Bush’s draconian crackdown on undocumented immigrants across the U.S. Ayala, 18, was hustled off to a detention center in Seattle and deported post-haste to Mexico. Similarly, 16 year old Carlos Bernabe was arrested at that same checkpoint and taken to a Seattle jail where he is awaiting deportation to Mexico.

These arrests are spreading a climate of fear Latino immigrant communities here on the North Olympic Peninsula. ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and the Border Patrol, with 45 officers, have clamped three checkpoints on the Peninsula, an isolated region where U.S. 101 is the only through highway.

The arrest of Ayala and Bernabe stirred such outrage that 90 residents of Forks, a tiny logging town in the West End of Clallam County, joined a picketline in the center of downtown protesting the deportations. They held signs that read, “Border Patrol Terrorize Children,” “Justice for All” and “Edgar Lost His Chance.” Forks was the scene of a march by 700 people May 1, 2006, a day when more than one million demonstrated for immigrant rights across the U.S.

Nenita Bocanegra, who helped organize the picketline told the Peninsula Daily News (PDN), she opposes the targeting of immigrant workers, mostly employed as salal pickers, tree planters, and other forest industry workers in the West End. This community of immigrant workers has added riches to the local culture including the cuisine. Mexican restaurants abound and Spanish is the second language. “I don’t think its right for them to be taken out of their homes when their children are here and they’re not doing anything wrong,” Bocanegra said.

http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/13670/

[The empressof all]

1. I was over in that neck of the woods a few weeks ago

I was a little disheartened to see all the Rossi for Governor (GOP) signs along the highway coming into PA from the Ferry. SO and I love it over there and toy with the idea of retiring close to there in a few years but have become a little wary if our "Progressive Ways" would prevent us from fitting into the community. This gives me hope and makes me love the Peninsula even more. Thanks...Sequim is still on our retirement destination list.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. Hey...I used to live in Forks..

Born and raised on the Wa. Peninsula.
Been gone since '85, tho.

Glad to hear there are enuff people still in the area who can put together a picket march.

thanks for the link to the Pen. paper.....
I shall wallow in nostalgia for a bit on the site..