UCLA student rides for freedom
By Melody Hanatani
Oct. 1, 2003 9:00 p.m.
A UCLA student was among the many detained at an immigration
checkpoint in Texas this past Friday as a bus full of immigrant
workers and supporters made its way across the country.
Daniela Conde, the community and labor commissioner of MEChA de
UCLA, is one of the participants of the Immigrant Worker Freedom
Rides which aims to raise national awareness of immigrant
workers’ rights.
The national movement was inspired by the Civil Rights Movement
of the 1960s, according to some of its organizers.
“The purpose of this event is to raise awareness for the
need to reform immigration laws,” said Carlos Duarte, a
community organizer for the Roofers Union in Phoenix.
Many members of the Roofers Union are involved with the rides.
Duarte added that more than 90 percent of his union consists of
immigrants.
The freedom rides originated in nine major cities across the
United States, including Boston, Miami and Los Angeles. Conde is
part of the group who departed from Los Angeles on Sept. 23.
That same day, Conde, along with fellow freedom riders from Los
Angeles were detained for four hours by the U.S. Border Patrol in
El Paso, Texas.
Duarte said the group had been warned ahead of time about the
risks involved. Everyone was given a Freedom Rider identification
card that stated several rights, including the right to remain
silent.
When approached by border patrol agents, the group remained
silent when asked about their nationality, according to
conversations Duarte had with some of the detained riders.
Jessica Cruz, Conde’s roommate, was told by Conde in a
phone call that the freedom riders were afraid but that Conde was
able to calm some of them.
“That was a really good experience for her,” said
Cruz, a second-year physiological sciences student. “They all
stayed united, no one broke down.”
Conde could not reached for comment after several phone calls
Wednesday.
Duarte said the incident was indicative of the unfair
immigration practices in the United States.
“Immigration status is checked when you enter the
country,” Duarte said. “Since this started in the
country, there was no reason to check.”
But Border Patrol spokesman Mario Villarreal said the stop was
routine and no immigration violations were detected.
The L.A. group is taking a southern route, stopping at 13 cities
to pick up more freedom riders before arriving in Washington, D.C.
today.
In the nation’s capital, L.A.freedom riders will unite
with other riders from other cities to meet with Congress to
address their grievances regarding immigrant workers’
rights.
Freedom riders will then converge in New York for a mass rally
finale on Oct. 4.
The Undergraduate Students Association Council unanimously
passed a resolution Tuesday night in support of the freedom
riders.
“We hope the campus will be educated through the printing
of this resolution,” said USAC Academic Affairs Commissioner
Sophia Kozak.
Cruz has been in contact with Conde on a daily basis, hearing
about Conde’s experiences.
“She loves it, she talks to a lot of people …
she’s learning a lot from everything,” Cruz said.
With reports from Daily Bruin wire services.
