America, however, has become a nation ruled by corruption, by a criminal elite above the law and too big to jail; an elite that chooses to “obey” only the laws they choose to obey. Our media, our colleges, our entertainment machine; all support this corruption, a ‘do-gooder’ class opposing inconvenient laws.
And there they were – again – outside Trump Tower.
When:11 am - August 31, 2016.
Where: Trump Tower (of course) 5th Ave and 56th st.
A small group of Illegal Migrants and their supporters (of the Left persuasion) gathered - peacefully- to decry "the Donald's" hypocrisy towards migrants and their families. They feel he should support an "An Open Door-No Boundaries America".
Question: "Why spend so much time and space on a small protest for Illegal Migration?"
.
Answer: Because these deeply committed, on-message protests meet often at our churches, our colleges, our schools- even our libraries. Community out-reach is a constant TOOL. Their lies become the new 'truth'. BUT, THEY ARE HERE ILLEGALLY!
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Answer: Because these deeply committed, on-message protests meet often at our churches, our colleges, our schools- even our libraries. Community out-reach is a constant TOOL. Their lies become the new 'truth'. BUT, THEY ARE HERE ILLEGALLY!
++ Hosted by Movimiento Cosecha, they demanded "Justice". They chose this day because Trump was in Mexico for a meeting with Mexican President, Enrique Pena Nieto
"Take Back America" grows more important with each outrageous protest.
++ WHO is Cosecha? (And WHY does the BLM logo seem to match the Cosecha logo?)
"Cosecha means "the Harvest (I reap)". "It's a new national non-violent movement for the permanent protection, freedom, and dignity for all immigrants in this country. It follows a decentralized model in order to grow exponentially without getting bottle-necked. We will be building momentum and direction action all across the country to lead us to a general strike of immigrant workers and students in 2017."
As for the actual protest, procedure (for myself) is to arrive early. To watch the set- up. To look for any opposition. This was an oddly QUIET process.
First I saw a familiar Patriot. (Too often a lone voice in the migrant wilderness) A counter-protest of one, bravely declaring support for Trump and America while holding high a double-sided sign.
Wish there were more patriots present. But, real people WORK! Have jobs. 11 am on a Wednesday has obvious complications.++ But, no problem for the Cosecha protestors. (so I thought). By 11:20 WE were all wondering,"WHERE WERE THEY?" There were still no protestors outside the Tower. So, when the media started heading towards Central Park, so did I.
At approximately 11:30, we found the protestors doing interviews with the press under the statue of Gen Tecumseh Sherman.
And, holding hands in a 'peace circle'. Where, in sweetly, gentle tones (English and Spanish),they prepared to meet their (possible) opposition with "Be Brave" "Be Calm" "Do Not Engage".
Once they practiced chants and an odd little song [the only words I could understand, Trump and "corazon" -- was this a LOVE song?]
++ Noon. Time to "MARCH" the two shorts blocks to the Tower.
The "Cosecha Eight" left the park, it seemed, with everyone else. Yet they managed somehow to get ahead of us and to discretely chain themselves to the Tower doors.
I missed the BANNER action, caught by NY1.
Once the 'marchers' arrived, all we saw was a crumpled banner in a corner.
++ WHO were "The Eight"? From the Facebook info I could gather, they seemed to be of college-age. Making attendance pre-Labor Day easy for them. School is still out. And for the Eight, who volunteered to get arrested AND to spend the night in jail, their admirers were in awe of their 'courage'.
Proudly they proclaimed: "Eight Cosecherxs (eros) were able to block Trump Tower, imagine what we can accomplish with 11 million." [Facebook photo attribution]
Amanda Jusino, Juan Pablo Orjuela, Maria Fernanda Cabello,
Carlos E. Rojas Rodriguez, Emily Bloch, Cata Santiago,
Phoebe Gardener and Thaís Marques.
Our brave Cosecheras and Cosecheros
"Even though 24hours in NYC jail was unpleasant I felt incredibly lucky to have the support of this crew, and so thankful for all the support we had on the outside. Special thanks to Catalina Adorno for legal coordination, Nataly Castaño Vélez for calling and reassuring my parents that everything was fine, Roberto Juarez for picking up your phone at all hours, Carlos Saavedra Diaz for excellent police liaisoning, Vera Parra for being an incredible media coordinator, and to Fhatima Paulino for sending love and guidance from afar and for managing our social media media accounts while we were locked up, and to so many others who worked tirelessly to make sure we had everything we needed. " (Always over-reaching)
What follows are STATEMENTS FROM the COSECHERXS
[arrest photos property of George A. Adorno, Erik McGregor
and Cosecha Facebook / Built By Us]
Carlos E. Rojas Rodriguez
Lives in Perth Amboy, New Jersey
"I am engaging in this civil disobedience to honor my parents’ labor. "I am engaging in this civil disobedience to honor my parents’ labor. My parents are one of the most vulnerable workers in this country-- they’re farm workers. We migrated from Oaxaca, Mexico to Homestead, Florida in 2005. The experience of the undocumented workers that worked on Trump Tower is parallel to the experience of my parents who work hard under the sun for a mMy parents are one of the most vulnerable workers in this country-- they’re farm workers. We migrated from Oaxaca, Mexico to Homestead, Florida in 2005. The experience of the undocumented workers that worked on Trump Tower is parallel to the experience of my parents who work hard under the sun for a mediocre salary. Donald Trump and his supporters don’t recognize the dependency this economy has on hands of working immigrants. I am getting arrested because I know that my parents aren’t the only ones who struggle because they don’t have permanent protection, dignity, and respect. I want to send a message to our community: we will not stand with Trump’s rhetoric of hatred and racism. His ideology is a threat to my family, to me, to 11 million people. The time is now to stand against hate and racism."
Amanda Jusino
Lives in East Boston, Mass.
Lives in East Boston, Mass.
"My parents grew up in New York City, both from Puerto Rican immigrant families. Because we are Puerto Rican my family never had to live with the fear and uncertainty of not having papers but they did have to learn to adjust to life in a different language, culture and country. Growing up in Western, MA I saw the disrespect my mom faced at her job in a doctor’s office. Everyday when she came home from work I saw the powerlessness she felt in the face of mistreatment and her inability to leave her job for fear of not getting another. This daily dehumanization wore our family down. I know this is just a tiny sliver of the injustice, disrespect and mistreatment that immigrant families face in this country every day. I’m getting arrested with Cosecha today because I want all immigrants, children of immigrants and grandchildren of immigrants to know that we don’t have stay silent and watch our families and our communities face mistreatment. We are here to demand dignity for our entire community from my mom, to the undocumented workers who build Trump Tower, to the farm workers who picked the apple I ate for breakfast this morning."
"When I saw the headlines that Trump started his campaign by saying “When Mexico sends its people, they are not sending their best” I became upset not by Trump, but by all his supporters that came out and agreed with him. It reminded me of the story of this country. Countless times I have seen racist and xenophobic people treat my family and people like us like we are less deserving because we are immigrants and undocumented. I am getting arrested today because I want to make a statement that you cannot talk down on immigrants while benefiting from our labor. I am getting arrested so that more immigrants join Cosecha and fight against this hateful narrative and to win permanent protection, dignity and respect for immigrants in this country. I want more people to join harvest and fight with us against the anti-immigrant sentiment, so that we can get permanent protection, dignity and respect for our undocumented community."
"Five years ago, I made a promise to myself and the immigrant community that I was going to fight for us the way they fought for me. That was the same day that the DREAM Act failed on the Senate floor. I had driven all the way down from New Jersey the night before, only to watch the votes come in against me, my community, our future. I saw everyone. The disappointment. The pain. I promised to never allow this pain to come to my community ever again. For five years, I failed to complete my promise and it has eaten at me and bothered me. Especially now. Now, we have the opportunity to start things up again, to take a step towards completing my promise. I’ve realized I’ve been trying to keep this promise by myself so I have to do something that reactivates my community so we can fight together, just like we did in 2010. So I want to tell our community: I need your help. I can’t do this alone anymore."
Cata Santiago
Lives in Florida City, Florida
From Coatecas Altas, Mexico
"My name is Cata Santiago and I am engaging in this civil disobedience to honor my parents’ labor. My parents are one of the most vulnerable workers in this country-- they’re farm workers. We migrated from Oaxaca, Mexico to Homestead, Florida in 2005. The experience of the undocumented workers that worked on Trump Tower is parallel to the experience of my parents who work hard under the sun for a mediocre salary. Donald Trump and his supporters don’t recognize the dependency this economy has on hands of working immigrants. I am getting arrested because I know that my parents aren’t the only ones who struggle because they don’t have permanent protection, dignity, and respect. I want to send a message to our community: we will not stand with Trump’s rhetoric of hatred and racism. His ideology is a threat to my family, to me, to 11 million people. The time is now to stand against hate and racism."
"It deeply bothers me to live in a country that does not remember its own history. My family came here as Jewish Immigrants from Eastern Europe almost 100 years ago. We came looking for a better life and fleeing persecution just like the 200 undocumented Polish workers that built Trump Tower. I stand with immigrants now because it does not serve this country to have a class of exploited workers who live in perpetual insecurity. I stand with immigrants now, in this civil disobedience, because the people close to my heart can’t get arrested. During this action, I will be thinking of Sonia, an undocumented woman from Peru, who has not seen her children in 12 years. She sees me as one of her children, but it pains me to know that she can’t give her own kids a hug. On her 12th year anniversary of her leaving her country, I called her and we cried on the phone together. We cried because of how deeply we value our relationship, and I cried because I didn’t want to be her substitute child-- I want her to see her own children. I want to tell the immigrant community that there’s hope, you have power, and you have allies. This country needs this movement."
Phoebe Gardener
Lives in Providence, Rhode Island"I have been organizing immigrant workers for 5 years and I have seen the pain of not being valued because of your status. I’ve seen the pain of working so hard, but not getting paid. The pain of not being treated as a full person. I am engaging in this nonviolent civil disobedience to say that we will not longer accept the pain anymore. I want to show my support and love for the undocumented workers across the country. I am also doing this because of the undocumented people who are making a sacrifice by my side during this action. I want to tell the immigrant community that I will be here until the strike-- we are not going anywhere. I see you-- I see the sacrifices that you make, the work you do, and I want to honor you. It’s time to do something bigger than we’ve ever done before to make this country recognize that this country relies on you."
From Belém, Brazil
++ ++ ++
There you have it. Eight very entitled ILLEGAL migrants (and friends) .
Chained. Chanting their Lies. Claiming ILLEGALS BUILT Trump Tower!
"Trump Tower was built by 200 low wage, undocumented immigrant workers.
35 years later, our people continue to work in fields, construction sites, restaurants, and other industries for less than minimum wage without any dignity or respect. Join us as we honor the undocumented workers who built this tower, but also the workers who continue to build this country."
WRONG.
In fact, a union lawsuit against the contractor was for pension and welfare benefits for 200 POLISH illegals who were hired to TEAR DOWN the Bonwit Teller Department store, not the CONSTRUCTION of the Tower.
Critical COMMENT made on-line to rebut the Cosecheros :
"Built by us? Unless you helped build it with your own hands you have no right saying that. You have no right taking credit for the hard work of Americans and immigrants. Immigrants are and always have been welcome here. Shame on you for trying to equate immigrants with illegal aliens."
++ In these two short video clips, the illegals proudly twist the narrative. VIDEO #1- I caught snippets of two press interviews.
Carlos Saavedra Diaz - speaking to NBC: "Once again, the hypocrisy of the message of anti-immigrant racism that Donald Trump has supported, while this building was itself and his hotel in D.C. has been built on the hands and the work of undocumented (aka ILLEGAL) immigrants (MIGRANTS)"Young female (unidentified) gave some of the correct historical background re the demolition of Bonwit Teller (before construction)
Q- What's going on in front of the door?
" In front of the door we have people that are willing to get arrested, they're here and in solidarity with this movement- and they're trying to show that this (?) messaging, this (?) racist,hateful messaging you can't send" (HUH?)
Q: What do you hope to accomplish then.
"We're hoping to accomplish, to recognize the labor of "undocumented immigrants" that it took to build this country. Took to build Trump's Tower which is called the most important project in the world and what it took to build his hotel in D.C."
Q: (chanting begins again)
"Undocumented workers" have always been misrepresented. We don't have enough voices (very loud chanting)
"Donald Trump is a hypocrite because he (has used) hate rhetoric against immigrants while (pointing skyward) this tower, before it was built, was demolished by over 200 "undocumented" Polish workers 35 years ago..."In VIDEO #2, illegal protestor, Thaís Marques, spoke while chained at the Tower Doors.
The police action was calm. Purposeful. Meticulous. Overly careful, perhaps, while CUTTING those blasted chains and locks. And there were LOTS of police.
Quite a few of the white-shirted officers, a few of the business-suit cops and lots of the average patrol cops.... 
Were joined by the strategic task force/terrorism cops, who came to CUT THE SAWS. (Maybe 40 or so once they'd all arrived)XX
Chains cut and bagged and the “Cosecha Eight” cuffed and locked in the police van. Over and Out.
That’s the story of ANOTHER protest supporting Illegal Migration, with some final thoughts from the Cosechas regarding their Declaration of “Dignity”.
“We have to confront hate and racism head on.”
“This summer, we celebrated the 10th year anniversary of the mega marches, which were the largest demonstrations in the history of the United States, but the out pour of support for the “immigrant” community hasn’t crystallized into something tangible.
Every four years, immigration (ILLEGAL MIGRATION) comes up as part of an election platform to win Latino votes but time and time again DC fails to turn promises into reality.
It’s time for a nonviolent "immigrant" (AKA ILLEGALS) uprising in this country to make the country feel its dependency on low wage workers, "immigrants", and people of color."Carlos E. Rojas Rodriguez
++ Meanwhile, "Never Forget" the intentions of the Cosecha movement: An "Open Door-No Boundaries America". We MUST Stop this Madness.
Make America GREAT Again!
Were joined by the strategic task force/terrorism cops, who came to CUT THE SAWS. (Maybe 40 or so once they'd all arrived)XX
The police, by encircling and blocking the SAWS, controlled the over-acting these protestors love, playing to the cameras, screaming as though they are being hurt. (NOT) But, all ‘good’ things must come to an end.
1 pm arrived. After an hour of planning and sawing, finally the chains and padlocks of the “Cosecha Eight” were sawed through and the Tower Doors were reopened. Chains cut and bagged and the “Cosecha Eight” cuffed and locked in the police van. Over and Out.
That’s the story of ANOTHER protest supporting Illegal Migration, with some final thoughts from the Cosechas regarding their Declaration of “Dignity”.
“We have to confront hate and racism head on.” “This summer, we celebrated the 10th year anniversary of the mega marches, which were the largest demonstrations in the history of the United States, but the out pour of support for the “immigrant” community hasn’t crystallized into something tangible.Every four years, immigration (ILLEGAL MIGRATION) comes up as part of an election platform to win Latino votes but time and time again DC fails to turn promises into reality.
It’s time for a nonviolent "immigrant" (AKA ILLEGALS) uprising in this country to make the country feel its dependency on low wage workers, "immigrants", and people of color."Carlos E. Rojas Rodriguez
++ Meanwhile, "Never Forget" the intentions of the Cosecha movement: An "Open Door-No Boundaries America". We MUST Stop this Madness.
Make America GREAT Again!
++ Video Playlist of 5 short clips ++
++ All photos and videos are property of Pamela Hall – except where other attribution is listed.++
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