Everyone wants to know where Ohio Republican Senator Rob Portman stands on immigration reform. We all want to meet with him. The perfect storm happened when Senator Portman accepted an invitation to speak at the Ohio LULAC Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio on May 11, 2013.
As in most cases, it started with a powerful and personal invitation. The Senator was invited by a few close friends in the Latino community: LULAC members who have a personal relationship with him and call him friend. After all, friends invite friends and friends accept invitations from friends. But in the fight for justice for immigrants, inviting and accepting an invitation is just a start.
When others in the community heard that the much sought after Senator was going to speak at the event, movement and pressure began. People began asking powerful questions: What is he going to speak on? Is LULAC meeting with him on supporting immigration reform? How can we be included? How can immigrants be included? Will LULAC have the will to push the Senator to take a stand on immigration reform?
As a new member of LULAC Ohio and community activist on immigrant rights, I was no exception. Communication quickly began with the LULAC State Director and others in the Cincinnati area on how to meet with him privately and ask for his stand on immigration reform, how to move him to address the issue in his remarks. There was much conversation from the Cincinnati community, Portman's hometown. Many outside of LULAC Ohio have the perception that they are an organization high on photo ops, press conferences and "showy" events and low on substantial, meaningful and sustainable change. Certainly from a national perspective, LULAC has been bold in social action taking stands of support on immigration reform and the right to marry.
The immediate response from LULAC was resistance. "He will only be there from 1:00-1:30, there is not enough time to engage Senator Portman on this issue...the fact that he is attending our conference speaks volumes for his support to LULAC and the issues facing Latinos", was the response received from the LULAC State Director. It appeared LULAC was just grateful for the Senator showing up and didn't know what he was going to speak on.
Too often, Latinos (and people of color) as a collective have an attitude of just being grateful when people of "importancia" show up. “Be respectful and don't ask for anything” we think. Ingrained in our collective psyche is the saying: "No le pides nada, ni un vaso de agua". Which basically translates to; don’t even ask for a glass of water if you're thirsty. Respectfully, elders were attempting to build self-reliance. But today and in this case, this is OLD STORY thinking in our community. We have to ask for water if we are thirsty. In fact, we are the source of water and have every right to not only ask but demand it. And such is the case with immigration reform and holding our elected officials accountable.
We need NEW STORY thinking. But the transition from old story to new story is difficult, painful and often personal.
There was talk of having an action during the Portman speech. A twitter bomb to the Senator was organized and implemented: "It's time to take a stand on immigration reform at the #OHIO LULAC conference @robportman".
LULAC Ohio became nervous and activists grew impatient. It was felt there were many ways to push the senator on the issue in a half hour: hand him a letter asking him to take a stand, have the speakers preceding him lay the groundwork for him to take a stand on immigration reform, highlight LULAC's national priority on immigration reform. This is a delicate and critical space where things can either break down or grow.
Then the idea emerged to simply ask to pray with the Senator before his speech. We wanted a prayer circle with him. The request was made and the Portman staff agreed. We were given time as the Senator would arrive through the back service entrance. This is where the transformation began, where old story and new story merged in the power of prayer, in wholeness and greatness. Too often as organizers, we forget the power of prayer or it becomes perfunctory.
The Senator and his wife arrived, exited their vehicle and walked directly to the circle where a handful of activists and immigrants gathered. He graciously shook each of our hands and we were able to individually speak to him about the immigrant story, immigration reform and ask him to support us. A reading was shared and we prayed for the Senator to support immigration reform and immigrant rights.
The Senator then went on to the room of waiting LULAC members and supporters. The LULAC State Director looked at him right in the eye and spoke of LULAC's national priority for immigration reform and the need to have him support us. The Senator listened with intention and attention. When he spoke, he shared his support for reform and included comments like: "We need immigration reform and we need it now" and talked about justice for immigrant youth (DREAMers). He continued; "For too many in my party, this begins and ends with border security. I think this misses the point and moves is from the real issue. We have to bring people out of the shadows"
In the end, we were able to reach the Senator in a "half hour". We did so respectfully but had to hold fast to our expectations for the Senator and from LULAC as an organization. Often organizations do not respond in time, but people do. Members of LULAC Ohio responded and credit goes to them as well.
But rest not, my friends. In politics and in this world, things change very quickly. We cannot be content with a successful moment and a good photo op. Today is a new day and the Senator can easily back down or qualify his remarks differently. There is much more to do. The threats do not wane and the power to undo is always on the loose. Still we cannot lose faith.
We keep praying but we keep moving with new story action to accompany our prayers.
