Immigrants, refugees, and advocates come to the Capitol to make their voices heard
As about 250 people from around the state flocked to Olympia for Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Day Wednesday, a local group of advocates welcomed and hosted the visitors.
Strengthening Sanctuary Alliance (SSA), which formed after Olympia adopted its “sanctuary city” resolution, arranged for space and food to be provided to the day-long event’s attendees. Group members also escorted some to meet with legislators, member Ellen Saunders told The Olympian.
Saunders said attendees met with just under 70 percent of Washington’s state legislators or their staff. The group’s legislative priorities for the day included a bill to ban private prisons and a bill that would, in part, ban civil arrests inside or near state court facilities in most cases.
The day was organized by Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN) and included advocacy training, a march to the Capitol, and a rally, in addition to the meetings with legislators. People joined from 42 of the state’s 49 legislative districts, according to WAISN Co-Director Brenda Rodriguez Lopez.
Rodriguez Lopez told The Olympian that, as someone who is undocumented and has lived in eastern Washington for 15 years, advocacy day is an important opportunity for her.
“For me, it’s extremely important to make the trip of over four hours to come down to Olympia and meet face-to-face with my senator, with my representative, because they need to hear from me,” She said. “I need to remind them that I live in their district, that they also represent me.”
Lucia Tafoya, who said she brought two of her children with her from Moses Lake, voiced a similar sense of import.
Tafoya said she’s been in Washington for 16 years, and that she’s in the process of becoming a U.S. citizen. She said she sees her friends not going to court because they’re scared, and she wants to set an example for her children.
“I don’t want to be scared all the time, so I show them they have to be powerful and they have to represent themselves,” she told The Olympian.
Alejandra Hunt, a spokesperson for Strengthening Sanctuary Alliance, said SSA is uniquely positioned, as a local organization, to elevate the voices of visitors.
“I might go (meet with lawmakers) just for support, but we want to give the opportunity to people who haven’t done it,” Hunt told The Olympian.
Bob Zeigler, another SSA member, said: “We’re not leaders of this movement, we stand with and support.”
That warm welcome seemed to be felt by attendees who made the trek, at least according to Rodriguez Lopez.
“I think, especially for the community in Olympia, we’re very grateful that, year after year, they welcome us with open arms,” she said. “It really encourages a lot of us to come from afar, because we don’t get that type of support back in our hometowns. So, thank you for that. We’ll always be grateful.”
This story was originally published February 6, 2020 at 2:25 PM with the headline "Immigrants, refugees, and advocates come to the Capitol to make their voices heard."
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