AMA-MAPA Caravan Rally
Highlights Immigration & Civil Rights Issues
By Hazem Kira
Stockton, CA: It was
a sight worth seeing. A bus decked out with larger-than-life
size motto “Restoring Ethics to Congress’ and
followed by a caravan of about forty cars, including a limousine
and a Hummer, drove through four cities - Tracy, Manteca,
Lodi and Stockton – to highlight opposition to controversial
immigration bill HR 4437, demand restoration of civil liberties,
and support Pete McCloskey’s campaign for congress.
Each car had an American flag and a McCloskey poster.
Jointly organized by the American Muslim Alliance (AMA)
and the Mexican American Political Association (MAPA), the
caravan was met with enthusiastic response from fellow Americans.
Streets were abuzz with back and forth honking by people
in the caravan and people in other cars.
“Regardless of the outcome, Muslims and Latinos have
made their mark on this election”, Mr. Tashie Zaheer
said.
The three-hour caravan – a visual narrative for good
government – ended with a rally in the Atherton Park,
which was attended by about 100 activists, roughly equal
numbers coming from Latino and Muslim communities.
Mr. Saif Khawja, a Stockton resident, welcomed the participants
to the AMA-MAPA rally and urged them to remain active till
the last vote is cast on Tuesday.
Taj Khan, a former candidate for Lodi city council, denounced
“those who are trying to inject their own sleaze into
the 11th District Congressional politics by trying to vilify
Mr. McCloskey.” The sleaze politics, he said, is bound
to fail.
Luis Magaña, a local community leader, informed the
audience, “We will be going from door to door to remind
all voters to go to the polls Tuesday and vote for our friend
McCloskey. Pombo has sent a message against our community
and we are going to respond with the full power of our votes.”
Labor leader Angel Picon, who had organized massive rallies
in the last few weeks in Stockton and elsewhere, said: “This
is a historic meeting because we have laid the foundations
of a long-term Latino-Muslim coalition. Today my family
has been extended by millions because millions of American
Muslims have joined us.”
Nativo Lopez, National President of the Mexican American
Political Association (MAPA), said: “We will not allow
any one to divide us. Let them know that I am a Muslim and
a Christian. No human being is illegal. Richard Pombo will
fail because his politics has already failed. Those practicing
politics of hatred and racism are living in the dead past;
they are historically obsolete.”
Pointing out four members of Congressman Richard Pombo’s
campaign staff, who had spent entire afternoon following
and photographing the AMA-MAPA caravan and rally, Dr. Agha
Saeed, National Chairman American Muslim Alliance, said:
“Here is one directly observable difference between
Mr. Pombo and Mr. McCloskey: Mr. Pombo spies on fellow-Americans,
Mr. McCloskey doesn’t. But do you know why Mr. Pombo
has sent these spies? Because he has run out of vision,
ideas, and programs. Mr. McCloskey has brought here labor
leaders, community organizers, teachers, doctors, lawyers,
thinkers, writers and poets. Mr. Pombo has brought these
spies. The record speaks for itself.”
Former Congressman Pete McCloskey, who is challenging Richard
Pombo for the 11th District Congressional seat, said this
is time for change. “I have come back from retirement
because I want to save my party. I want to help restore
ethics in Congress. My opponent is running away from issues
and from public debate. Our campaign will not end with this
election. It will continue till we get rid of corruption
in government.”
Mr. McCloskey’s honesty, integrity and steadfastness
have won endorsements at the eve of the primary elections,
including one from San Jose Mercury, whose editors have
written: “Finally, for California’s 11th Congressional
District (among our readers, that’s mainly Morgan
Hill), don’t miss the chance to unseat Rep. Richard
Pombo, the 13-year congressman whose ties to the Abramoff
scandal and record of radical anti-environmentalism make
him unfit to represent California. Former Rep. Pete McCloskey,
a moderate with impeccable credentials and the drive to
clean up corruption in Washington, is the best choice in
the Republican primary.”
AMA and MAPA have planned a full-fledged voter turn drive
on the election-day.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
