Vigil Marks 2nd Anniversary Of Agriprocessors Raid

A Wednesday prayer vigil marking the second anniversary of the immigration raid in Postville was a quiet affair.

Vigil marks second anniversary of raid
By MARY STEGMEIR • Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier

WATERLOO - A Wednesday prayer vigil marking the second anniversary of the immigration raid in Postville was a quiet affair.

Most of the workers detained have since been deported, but for the roughly 30 people in attendance, the fight continues.

"It's important not to forget because we're all humans and we're all in the same world," Armando Gomez said following the gathering at Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Waterloo. "God would like us to be working together and not hating each other."

On May 12, 2008, federal agents arrested 389 illegal immigrants at now-bankrupt Agriprocessors' Postville kosher meat processing plant. Plant operations have now been taken over by a separate company, Agri Star Meat and Poultry. The majority of those detained in the raid were from Guatemala and Mexico and had left their homes to escape poverty.

After the raid, Gomez and his wife, Vanessa, opened their home to immigrants displaced by the raid. One of the families seeking shelter was traveling with a month-old child.

"I have a little girl, and to think of that poor baby ..." he said, wiping tears from his eyes. "I think about those people all the time. I pray for them."

The incident still looms large in the mind of Cedar Valley residents. The state's child labor case against Agriprocessors executive Sholom Rubashkin continues today at the Black Hawk County courthouse. In November, a federal jury convicted the former CEO of 86 federal counts of financial fraud.

Two years later, the raid is still frequently cited by immigration reform advocates as an example of the need for policy changes. The Postville economy collapsed in the wake of the incident, and lawyers for the undocumented workers say their clients were denied proper legal counsel in the days following their arrest.

"We're here seeking justice and an end to the prejudicial system that we have now for immigration," said Carlos Ledesma, president of the Waterloo Latin American group. "Why do people have to wait 10 years to get a visa when you can walk across the border with a passport?"

The prayer service was sponsored by the Intercommunity Peace and Justice Task Force of Northeast Iowa. Attendees recited psalms and sang hymns in both English and Spanish during the gathering.

"The history of the world is a history of migration," Sister Kathleen Grace told the crowd. " ... It is history of the powerless seeking better opportunities. It is a history of families searching for a way to survive."

Comments

[Dr. Moe]

It is the fault of the goverment that made these peoples lives misarble.

[WoolSilkCotton]

It is always everyone else's fault. It is never the fault of the Rubashkin Crime Family.

The entire world realizes it was the fault of the Rubashkin Crime Family. Only the hasidic Jews think it is someone else's fault.

Why is this? Moe, you're a doctor. Please explain.

[sage]

Hi WSC,

I've offered Moe a one way ticket to an insane asylum in my local area.

Waiting to hear if he'll take the deal.

[Dr. Moe]

Wools,

We don't know what your smoking today but the guatmalan workers were sad that they lost thier jobs due to the raid as per their testimoiny the potsville community lost buisness cause of the raid, the only one who benefits from this raid is rabbi Morris Allen.

[shmo]

WoolSilkCotton You are insane there is 10 million elegal immigrants in the US. While im writing more are crossing the border.

[WoolSilkCotton]

As someone else mentioned on another thread, Dr. Moe, you must be a proctologist.

In any event, please take your head out of your ass and stop listening to the stupidity and lies being repeated in Crown Heights.

[WoolSilkCotton]

Can any of you hasidic idiots write a coherent sentence in English?

[Yosef ben Matitya]

Vigil Marks 2nd Anniversary Of Agriprocessors Raid?!
wow, it is becoming evident now that the mamesh is not boreinu any longer.
boreinu, would be rubashkin.

[sage]

Rubashkin's Dangers

If I were SMR, I'd be shaking in my shoes, pissing and defecating in my pants, all at the same time.

Now that it's getting out that he's also a child abuser, in addition to being a crook, prison might be a really fearful place for him.

I've read in many sources over the years, that of all classes of prisoners, child abusers are in the greatest danger from violence, at the hands of other prisoners.

For his long term safety, it would be best for the Feds to put him in some safe super max facility.

But they may not do this, and that could become a real problem.

[FirstGenerationBavarianAmerican]

KWWL-TV has video of the prayer service at St. Bridget's Church in Postville on Wednesday night.

[justice seeker]

Sage: you make a great point!

[Dr Moe]

Sage,

Your the only one who is saying SMR is a Child abuser, the Illegal Emigrants are in Guatemala now sad and wishing they could go back to work at Agri processors.

[sage]

Thank, JS.

Although I have a very dim view of SMR, I do pray that he serves his prison term in a safe environment.

[A E ANDERSON]

A vigil? Over an immigration inspection? I suppose they all hold candles and sway, arms interlocked, singing "koombayya." Ha, and you people laugh when Rubashkin celebrated his release on bail.

[Dr. Dave]

Although I am not an SMR supporter, A.E. has a point.

If you are going to mock the hassidic prayers and vigils, then fairness would have you mock those of the other side as well.

[sage]

Prayers and vigils for one, who has mocked G-d by his documented deeds, are not in order.

[Yosef ben Matitya]

Prayers and vigils for one, who has mocked G-d by his documented deeds, are not in order.

u r right sage!
i would even go further that vigils und wakes are דרכי האמורי but these guys are emorim anyway!

[state of disgust]

Interesting that VIN has run very few stories about the trial. Maybe bc its so embarrassing to report child abuse by St Rubashkin.

[AGRI-vated Angel]

[A vigil? Over an immigration inspection? I suppose they all hold candles and sway, arms interlocked, singing "koombayya." Ha, and you people laugh when Rubashkin celebrated his release on bail.]

A E ANDERSON -

I ask that you please consider . . .

G_d desires us to be a peaceful people. H_ celebrates and encourages us to witness & promote justice; thereby, showing love for/toward our fellow man. H_ asks that we apply this behavior-in all instances, at all times. H_ made this clear through H_s Covenant(s). G_d HATES evil.

H_ commands/wills us to rebuke evil ways . . . not to 'toast' them. In celebrating his release, Sholom defied G_d's will. In other words, when Sholom was granted bail, he merely-'beat the system'. Sholom has NEVER & will NEVER beat/win against G_d.

A E ANDERSON - How can you continue to be supportive of Sholom knowing he continually denies his responsibility for his actions/inactions?

G_D's formula goes like this -

1. Recognition of transgression
2. Admission/taking responsibility for transgression
3. Showing sincere remorse for the wrongdoing (contrition)
4. Striving to live a life that pleases G_d.