Stand up for immigrant workers during Hispanic Heritage Month

By Jessica Rios Viner

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in a country where immigrants and Latinos are increasingly vilified is an act of resistance.

Unprincipled politicians and their supporters in the media wield immigration as a political weapon, portraying immigrants as threats rather than as our neighbors, co-workers, friends and family members. Fear is deliberately cultivated, and families are divided for political gain.

Fear and division are used to tear communities apart, and immigrant families are living through a period of enormous uncertainty. Here in Pittsburgh and across the country, immigration enforcement is affecting our workplaces, businesses and communities.

That fear doesn't stop at the front door of someone's home. It follows people to work. When workers fear that speaking up will put themselves or their families at risk, they become more vulnerable to exploitation. Workers should not have to choose between standing up for their families and standing up for their rights at work.

That is why celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in Pittsburgh matters so much right now. 

Celebrating the history, culture and contributions of Latinos and Latinas is a reminder that we are not outsiders. We are part of the fabric of this country. We are here. We belong here. And our history is American history. And Pittsburgh’s history, too. 

For those of us in the labor movement, this also means fighting for the recognition that immigrant rights are workers' rights. Our workplaces and our communities are stronger when every worker can organize, speak up and stand together without fear.

Hispanic Heritage Month gives us an opportunity to celebrate where we come from, to honor the generations who built lives and communities here, and to recognize the contributions Latinos have made to this country. But celebration alone is not enough. We must also use this moment to remind ourselves of the strength we have when we stand together.

That is especially important when the forces trying to divide us want our neighbors to feel isolated and invisible.

So let us celebrate our culture. Let us share our food, music, stories and history. Let us teach our children to be proud of who they are and where they come from. And let us take care of one another and refuse to be divided.

In a time when fear is being used to push people apart, coming together is an act of resistance. And when our neighbors are under attack, solidarity means making sure they know they are not alone. We will fight back and support them.

¡Que Viva Clemente!, the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement's celebration in honor of Roberto Clemente, will be held from 6-10 p.m. Sept. 19 at the Jeron X Grayson Community Center in Pittsburgh’s Hill District.

Jessica Rios Viner is president of the Pittsburgh chapter of the LCAA, a leading advocacy group for Latino and Latina working rights in the U.S.