 Dr. Agapito López-Rivera, M.D., came to work as a community organizer and activist late in his career. After a quiet life as an ophthalmologist, he found himself at the center of a national debate over immigration. Dr. López grew up in Puerto Rico and earned his Bachelor of Science degree together with his commission as Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army through the R.O.T.C. program, from the University of Puerto Rico. He served in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps during the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1967, retiring as a First Lieutenant, and graduated from the University of Puerto Rico Medical School in 1971. It wasn’t until many years later, after he retired as an Ophthalmologist from his private practice in Hazelton, PA, that he began to find a new path for himself.
Mayor Barletta, of Hazelton, Pennsylvania, invited him to be part of the Hazelton City Authority. His first project was to help Latinos find a place to practice baseball. The Mayor worked with him on that and other efforts. After continued collaborations with the Mayor and the City Council, Dr. López was asked to attend a symposium in Texas. Upon returning from that trip, Dr. López found that Mayor Barletta and the City Council had begun the process to approve the Illegal Immigration Relief Act, which penalized anyone found hiring or renting to illegal immigrants—primarily Latinos. Although this type of legislation is already covered by Federal law, it began a high profile debate on illegal immigration in PA that many feel fostered a climate of hatred that eventually lead to the beating death of Luis Ramirez by four high school students in nearby Shenandoah, PA. These events lead Dr. López to a new role in his community.
In an area of Western Pennsylvania that has seen a dramatic rise in Latino immigration over the last decade, there were few organizations to serve those communities. Dr. López founded and is Vice President of the Hazelton Area Latino Association. After the passing of the Illegal Immigration Relief Act in Hazelton, Dr. López began seeking out organizations in Scranton, Philadelphia and New York to bring more political clout and community building experience to Hazelton. In addition to co-founding the Hazelton Area Latino Task Force and the Northeast Latino Coalition, he sits on a number of boards representing Latino issues and was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs. He continues to speak on Latino issues and to provide support in the ongoing investigation of Luis Ramirez’ murder in Shenandoah.
What did you do when you found out about the work on the Illegal Immigration Relief Act in your absence?
I was shocked when I found out what had happened. Mayor Barletta had found language used by San Bernardino, CA, which called for restricting housing and jobs from illegal immigrants and copied it almost verbatim. It was a way to punish and criminalize people. When there is already a federal law dealing with these issues I felt that the city government should not do this.
I started meeting with people in Hazelton and then with different Latino groups from Philadelphia and New York. We decided to fight this law in a legal way. I got help from the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund (PRLDEF), the Community Justice Project in Harrisburg, the Pennsylvania Statewide Latino Coalition, as well as immigration lawyers in the area. We started a federal lawsuit against the town of Hazelton. The judge in the PA Federal Court ruled that the law was unconstitutional and issued a permanent stay on the law for landlords and businesses. Specifically, the allegation that illegal immigrants are draining the resources of the city could not stand. Hazelton is currently appealing the ruling but we will not know the result until next year. This is just one example. Similar laws are being adopted in more than 100 cities across the US. I had to do all these activities on my own time because I am still working with Mayor Barletta.
Why do you think Mayor Barletta did this?
You know, he had been very friendly with Latinos before that—on so many issues. Then he decided to run for Congress and wanted notoriety from this law. He was on television many times—The Lou Dobbs Show on CNN, The NewsHour on PBS. He got a lot of national publicity. He lost anyway.
Do you think the churches and the high school have done what they should to address the issues surrounding Mr. Ramirez’s murder?
I don’t think enough has been done—mainly because of people in high positions. The Catholic Church and other churches have helped and tried to talk about equality and tolerance. But, for instance, the high school has not responded very well. They had one guest speaker come and speak to an assembly. The Anti-Defamation League and the PA Human Relations Committee have tried to organize trainings and seminars at the school, but the school authorities above the principal have been very reluctant. All four students came from this school. I am worried that bigotry is getting to the young people. These are things that are being discussed at home at their dinner tables. The boys who were involved in the killing are intelligent boys. They should be going to college but their lives are spoiled. Now they will have criminal records.
What do you think happened in Shenandoah that led to Mr. Ramirez’s killing?
The root of bigotry has always been there. It is what happens in human beings. But, Mayor Barletta and the City Council have started a hate wave [through the debate about illegal immigrants] and given permission to people to spread hatred and bigotry in an overt way. Mayor Barletta has called illegal immigrants “parasites” on Hazelton. Shenandoah and Hazelton are very close to each other. They have also considered a similar law to the one Hazelton passed, although it has been tabled since the Hazelton law was overturned. This debate has spread. I had to go to a meeting in Shenandoah with a bodyguard because I am afraid. I don’t go there very often now. I feel I am becoming a target for some people.
Do you think right-wing groups like Voice of the People have a big following?
There was a meeting on hate crimes in Wilkes-Barre, PA, after Luis Ramirez’s killing. It is just north of Shenandoah. Of the 70 people who attended, 44 were skinheads. They have been meeting and recruiting in many of the towns around Shenandoah and Hazelton.
What have you found to be the most challenging aspects of organizing around immigrant and Latino issues?
The most challenging issue has been getting people together. I organized several meetings and rallies regarding the law in Hazelton. I also worked with others to call an interdenominational meeting in Shenandoah after the killing of Luis Ramirez. At that point we got together with MALDEF, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund. We worked to organize a unity rally, vigil and press conference before the hearing and after the sentencing of the teens. On August 30, a right-wing hate group, called the Voice of the People, held an anti-immigrant rally. We decided to hold a unity rally at the same time. Many local churches worked together to make it possible. We were pleased that the Shenandoah Mayor attended our rally. But it has been difficult. I think people are scared.
Slowly, Latinos are organizing just to be able to talk and get together with authorities to seek improvements after the killing of Luis Ramirez. Everyone who looks Latino is seen to be undocumented. These laws against illegal immigrants affect legal ones too. You can’t see the difference. These are the same things that have happened with other generations of immigrants. It is a product of fear.
What is most misunderstood in the national immigration debate?
Hazelton is a good example of what happens when immigrants come in. In 2000, Hazelton was almost a ghost town. Now one third of the city is made up of the recent wave of immigrants—mostly Latinos. They improve their houses, buy furniture and other goods at local stores, and buy cars from local auto dealerships. All of this helps bring progress to the city. Most of them are legal. The economy of city has improved. Cargill, for example, has a plant here. Over 95% of their employees are Latino. All across the country—in farming, meat processing and poultry processing—the progress of these industries is based on work by Latinos.
Almost everybody is an immigrant to this country. Latinos want to be recognized as an essential part of the United States. We have fought in wars and work in all levels of companies and government. All of us have come here to raise our families and children in better economic conditions. We want and to live in peace and prosperity like all other generations of immigrants from other countries.
Who do you look to for sources of inspiration?
My participation in different organizations gives me an opportunity to work for my people. All of these organizations offer me support. Right now, I’m looking for inspiration in Barack Obama. He has made a coalition between Blacks and Latinos. I hope he can do something to promote the passing of comprehensive immigration law by the Federal Government; perhaps he can set a timetable for this legislation or even suggest amnesty for undocumented workers. He is a big hope for the whole country.
Past Close Up Articles
Bill Habern, defense attorney
Anya Cordell, activist
Rais Bhuiyan, survivor
Allison Moore, Volunteer
|
