(Atlanta, GA) -

Statement by Representative Cynthia McKinney read at the National Day of Action for Immigrant Justice: April 10, 2006

Día Nacional de justicia al inmigrante:10 de Abril, 2006

Dear Friends:

Congratulations on taking to the streets and standing up to make America a better country for all of us.

I stand with you in solidarity as you fight for dignity and justice.

Thousands of constituents have participated in our District Days and many of them have told us that the bills that are currently before Congress and on Sonny Perdue's desk, are more about hate than about a policy that is fair to all the stakeholders on the immigration issue.

I voted against HR 4437, the so-called Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 and I will continue to vote against legislation that smears individuals struggling to make ends meet and support their families.

It is clear, now, that too many companies are all too happy to circumvent current law by hiring undocumented workers far below minimum wage, even in sub-human conditions, in order to lower their costs of production.  At the same time, families wait years for legal
immigration.  Wait times are excessive.  Earned legalization shouldn't take so long.  While the legitimate needs of US employers for immigrant labor must be accommodated, HR 4437 is a simplistic response to a complex question.

Instead of solving America's problems equitably and fairly, the Republicans would rather promote hate and pay for war.

I want you to know that as the Representative for the southeast's most diverse district, I celebrate and respect our diversity and stand with you for dignity, justice, and peace.

Sincerely,

Cynthia McKinney

Member of Congress

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