by debbie
Tuesday, May. 08, 2007 at 11:17 AM
Don Jose Fernando, 57 years old, elder to many and regarded as the "moral leader" of the Rancho Cucamonga Day Labor site on Arrow Hwy and Grove St., was killed by car during MinuteKLAN's 5 de mayo protest. The harrasing presence & distraction of the RACISTS held responsible -and- the DAY LABOR SITE that Don Jose fought for is DEMANDED even with even greater force!!!
Saturday, 5 de mayo, about 6 members of Minutemen / Save our State rallied as they usually do on the corner of Grove and Arrow Hwy to protest the presence of Day Laborers seeking work.
On this afternoon, the jornaleros stayed much later than they usually would to defend their site where they look for work since the CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA RECENTLY SHUT DOWN THEIR LABOR CENTER.
At about 12:30pm, a car accident occured by an apparent non-related driver who swerved to avoid a pole instead turning on the curbside of day laborers.
Don Jose Fernando, 57 years old, was regarded as the freind to many at this location. He often called the other workers son, and struggled his final years with the workers to provide a space of dignity and SAFETY where they can be free to seek work.
A year or so back, when a Peace & Dignity of workers made a run from Santa Monica to New York, the runners stopped by the site at Rancho Cucamonga to share with each other, and before they left--they asked the crowd of workers if anybody wanted to join them on their run for a block or two.
Don Jose was the first to raise his hand, and he joined them. Most thought he would not make it more than a block or two, surely no more than a mile. He was elderly and suffered from various illness. But--he marched with the runners--for not one block, not one mile, but for over 5 miles on the peace and dignity run.
Speakers today, friends of Don Jose, referred to himi as the heart of this movement, of this street corner, that he was the "moral leader' and always there to support and watch out for the others.
His wife and daughters in Guanajuato, MX are making arrangements right now to have his body transported to Mexico.
The Pomona Day Labor Center is accepting donations for his family, memo" to the Don Jose Trust Fund.
Tomorrow at 11am, a religious service in honor of their fallen friend will be held again at the corner of Grove St. and Arrow Hwy. in the city of Rancho Cucamonga.
Furthermore, action is being planned as to how to best hold the City of RANCHO CUCAMONGA accountable for their denial of the rights that these workers have been asking for, and in fact--have now died for.