La Union Hace La Fuerza

by Liz Rodda/PNN Media intern

A wire door stood vertical to the iron numerals: 3358. Never before had a line up of two threes, a five, and an eight looked so fantastic. This, my friends, was the aftermath of incredibly bad Muni directions from a foul roommate of mine. I lapsed around the door feeling relieved and suddenly attacked by twenty pairs of eyes in my direction. I had stepped in on the weekly meeting of San Francisco Day Labor Program conducted by the enchanting Renee Saucedo. I attempted to melt into the white walls, taking a vacant seat between two men of latino descent . Renee smiled at me, continuing to exchange a rapid flow of Spanish with workers who were addressing personal crises. As the final bit of green lettering on the posted agenda was addressed, the workers stood to return to the streets.

With the recent appointment of Police Captain Gregory Corrales to the Mission Police station, the Mission District has become a very different place for these workers as well as several other very low-income residents of the Mission. Three blocks of the Mission District have been painted yellow, screaming off-limits to all "lingering" workers. They now suffer the piercing sting of Corrales policy to "clean" the Mission District. It was not long ago these workers, predominantly of Latino descent, immigrated to the Mission District, coloring the streets with incredible diversity. A Day Labor Program was founded in 1984, when the community saw the need to organize an agency that would allow workers to access city resources and find work. For the first time they were presented with the opportunity to seek literacy classes, Health Care, and agencies that provide food and clothing. The Mission streets became the place workers found either temporary or permanent jobs from visiting employers. The workers spirit began to flood the streets, expressing their new life and the adversity they had faced along the way. These Mission streets became the workers’ home and source of livelihood.

Renee’s black locks fell beside her mouth as she spilled perfect English before me. She explained how the day laborers had recently led a protest at City Hall regarding the incessant harassment they endured from police officers. "They brought him (Mayor Willie Brown) a beautiful Fathers Day card, explaining this was why they would not be having a good fathers day." Mayor Brown responded to the non-violent protest with an incredibly disturbing message for La Raza Centro Legal, the Day Labor Program’s parent organization. The program was informed that the funding for the Day Labor Program is to be put up for public bid where they will no longer receive the same city funding they have depended on for operation. Program leaders of La Raza Centro Legal were dismayed to find they would now be up against two other groups to receive any city money. With this new measure, the city appears to have completely ignored the incredible success the program has had over the past years. La Raza Centro Legal has been recognized as a model for day laborers in major cities across the nation, far exceeding the expectations of job development the city had set earlier this year. Over forty letters have been sent to the Mayor’s office in support of La Raza Centro Legal’s administration from program workers, Mission residents, and relative agencies.

I eyed a quiet man who lingered in the room, wondering how this would affect him personally. Renee agreed to translate: "Putting the program up for public funding will affect me directly. I have been a volunteer with La Raza Centro Legal for over a year and a half and work with the men on Cesar Chavez every day. We are supported by La Raza Centro Legal as it works endlessly with the Latino Community." The carefree smile Daniel Rosas had worn when I first addressed him turned dry and his eyes lost their former glow. He continued to tell me that because he has been organizing with fellow workers for many years, he has often been present in the face of serious police harassment. Even though he is supported by La Raza Centro Legal, "there is still a bald police officer that comes in a van often. He says, ‘Don’t you understand you bunch of wetbacks you can’t be on these streets?’ and continues with his obscene harsh words. I was there." His deep brown eyes probed into mine hoping I could understand. It is a strange and beautiful situation watching translation occur. I watched the words from his lips travel to Renee and miraculously become something meaningful to me. His skin was sun scorched but still had softness. "I don’t have immigration papers. I realize I have to deal with reality when it comes to the authorities. Even the bald police told us that he is on our side, but must follow orders of Police Captain Corrales and neighbors who live on the District."

Renee motioned that she was growing pressed for time as our conversation came to a rapid conclusion. "Gracias" I said to my new friend. He smiled and returned a few words in Spanish. He gestured to ask if he could walk me to the bus stop. I turned to wave a grateful goodbye to Renee, as she parted with a friend in the opposite direction. Although Daniel and I could not communicate in words there was a speechless communication that occurred between us. He handed me a leaflet written in Spanish with his picture on the front amongst other day laborers. "Me", he said, pointing to his image and the text he had written in the body of the paper. The bus lurched up with an impatient sigh as I shook his hand, reluctant to say goodbye so suddenly. He waved me off until we might meet again. I sat back in my bus seat wondering where he would be returning to and how he would face the tremendous political battles ahead of him.