Western Oregon Journal

Issue date: 2/4/09 Section: News

David Bacon signs books while discussing immigration with Cristal Sandoval.

A wide array of students, staff and community members trickled into the ITC auditorium on Super Bowl Sunday, keen not on watching football, but on discussing issues of immigration and globalization with author and photojournalist David Bacon. With 20 years of experience as a labor organizer and immigrant rights activist, Bacon has continually promoted equality for the entire working class of America.
As a reporter and photographer, Bacon has had a variety of his articles and photographs printed within such magazines as "The Nation," "American Prospect" and "The San Francisco Chronicle," and had his work recognized internationally in such countries as Mexico, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Within his presentation, Bacon focused on the human side of globalization, which is also the theme of his new book, "Illegal People: How Globalization Creates Migration and Criminalizes Immigrants."
His speech dealt primarily with illegal immigrants from Mexico, explaining how immigrant workers continue to be exploited by corporations while simultaneously battling the government for the right to make a living.
"If we wish to talk about where we want to go," Bacon said, "we have to talk about where we have been."
Referring to the continual struggle that immigrants from around the world face in their quest for a better life, Bacon said, "Traditionally, our immigrant policy has not been to deter people from coming. Instead, the United States has told immigrants: come when you are needed and disappear when you are not."
Bacon articulated the integral part that U.S. corporations play in immigration, and how they-along with government policies-have continually terrorized immigrant people.
"Call someone 'illegal', and you can do to them things that you cannot do to others," Bacon said, explaining the mindset of many American corporations.
However, the average U.S. citizen is not aware of the variety of issues surrounding immigration. Instead of analyzing the larger social implications, a sense of antagonism builds between many American and immigrant workers.
Bacon explained the need for the working class to come together, emphasizing the idea that, "When you demonize immigrants, it threatens us all."
Bacon showed photos of immigrant mothers who were forced to wear monitoring bracelets that allowed the US government to track them until they are deported. For most Mexican immigrants, these monitoring bracelets act as another measure to show them that they do not belong.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools