Bolivian Nashvillian lives his passion for indigenous people, hand in hand with United Methodist church (updated)

Kathy Gilbert of the United Methodist News Service profiles Nashville resident and Bolivia native Erick Veliz in this story. Veliz, 23, has a fascinating personal history of working for the rights of indigenous people, currently as an employee of the Tennessee Fair Housing Council and a member of the United Methodist church. Veliz participated in the 2005 Ethnic Young Adult internship program sponsored by the United Methodist Board of Church and Society in Washington, and before that he lived with farm workers in Florida and later advocated on their behalf.

"Veliz, a native of La Paz, Bolivia, is working for the Tennessee Fair Housing Council. In his spare time, he is helping establish English as a Second Language classes at his local church, the United Methodist (Nashville) Hispanic Fellowship; working for Amnesty International USA; and looking for any opportunity to advance his three top priorities: working for the rights of indigenous people, promoting equal rights for women and stopping torture."

"His passion for human rights grew stronger and more focused after he spent two months in the 2005 Ethnic Young Adult internship program sponsored by the United Methodist Board of Church and Society in Washington."

"While a senior in college, Veliz took time out to work and stay with farm workers in Immokalee, Fla., where they labored in the scorching sun picking tomatoes for $3 an hour. Then he traveled with their union leader to Washington to persuade members of Congress to improve the farmers' conditions."

"'The empowerment that I was given by the Board of Church and Society was to see the worth, the possibilities and the options that we can do as groups of faith,' he says. 'They talk about human rights and quote Jesus Christ at the same time. As Christians, we should all do that.'"

update 4/3/2006: Veliz has also been active in Amnesty International USA and is currently running for that organization's Board of Directors.

Sounds hope to attract minority contractors with April training

The Nashville Sounds issued the following press release announcing training beginning in April for minority and women contractors. The classes will be taught by Turner Universal, the construction manager for the new Nashville Sounds Baseball Stadium. This is the third year the course has been offered. Minority participation in the new stadium construction was part of the reason Turner Universal was selected for the project.

A reduced course materials fee is available to members of either the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce or the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Turner Universal, the construction manager for the new Nashville Sounds Baseball Stadium, will offer training to minority and women owned contractors. This program has been designed to enhance the technical, administrative and managerial skills of minority and women businesses in order to make a profit and build a reputation for efficiently managing construction projects.

Individuals enrolled in the program gain insights and meaningful tools that help them target their business for quality and growth and develop new, strategic business relationships.

“Emerging businesses face many challenges,” said Shannon Hines, president of Turner Universal. “Our goal is to assist them in developing strategies for the specific issues faced in our industry.” Turner’s School of Construction Management has been offered in many cities around the country and was first introduced in 1969.

Vanderbilt University will host the six-week course beginning in April. During the past four years, Turner has partnered with Vanderbilt to increase minority- and women-owned business participation in Nashville’s construction projects.

“The Nashville Sounds indicated in their original request for proposal their commitment to minority utilization. Their support of this program will help to attract additional interested and active contractors,” Hines said.

“In addition to their experience constructing similar facilities, Turner Universal’s track record in the utilization and development of minority contractors was a key factor in the Nashville Sounds selecting Turner Universal for this project,” said Sounds general manager Glenn Yaeger. “Sponsorship of this program is an extension of our commitment to the community."

Interested contractors can contact Bob Grimes, Turner Universal’s manager of marketing, at (615) 231-6343, for registration and course information.

A PDF version of the registration brochure can be downloaded by clicking here.

The new stadium is scheduled to open in April, 2008.
As early as 2003, Mayor Purcell's office showed interest in minority participation in the construction of any new baseball stadium (story here), and the Metro Council withheld approval of the stadium earlier this year until Sounds management pledged to incorporate minorities in the construction process. A smaller, three-hour minority workshop was held at the Sounds' current stadium in January (story here).

Five to fourteen thousand march in Nashville (updated)

Yesterday's immigrant solidarity march was covered by The Tennessean in this article, by the Nashville City Paper in this story, and by Tennessee Independent Media in this story.

Reports of crowd size varied widely - from 5,000 (City Paper), to 8,000 to 9,000 (Tennessean), to 13,000 to 14,000 (Tennessee Independent Media).

First photos from immigrant march (updated 2x)

Pictures are starting to come in from the immigrant solidarity march:

Flickr user cwage's photos

Yahoo! News Photos

update Thursday noon:
Flickr user Brittney's photos

update Thursday 12:30pm:
Flickr user predsprowl's photos

Two immigrant solidarity events today, March 29

The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition sent a reminder this morning of the two opportunities it is sponsoring for Tennessee immigrants and friends to be heard today, Wednesday, March 29th. Another, third event, is also rumored.

1. Immigrant & Refugee Legislative Reception
5:00-7:30pm
Offices of Waller, Landsen, Dortch and Davis, PLLC
511 Union Street, 27th Floor Conference Center
Nashville, TN 37219
Space is Limited, First Come First Serve!!!

2. March and Rally for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
6:00pm March from Nashville Coliseum to War Memorial Plaza
(please show up early)
7:00pm Rally at War Memorial Plaza
301 6th Ave North
Nashville, TN 37243

The Nashville City Paper published this article about the two events sponsored by the group. The Tennessean published this graphic mapping the march and rally. It incorrectly limits the scope of the march to solidarity with Hispanic immigrants. The City Paper story correctly states that immigrants of all backgrounds are sponsoring the march.

update 9am: Rumors of a third event today have not been confirmed. Announcements were made at churches and in workplaces, and some participants have been authorized to leave work early to join the effort, but updated reports indicate that those preparations are for the 6pm rally at the Coliseum.

Bloody March claims third Hispanic merchant

The Tennessean reports in this article that Nashville resident Rodolfo Padilla was killed Saturday in the Hispanic market he owned and operated in Dickson, Tennessee.

"Rodolfo Padilla, 34, owner of La Estrella Grocery Store on Highway 46 was shot in the head about 8:30 p.m. Saturday [March 25] during an attempted armed robbery, police said. He died Sunday afternoon at Vanderbilt University Medical Center."

Padilla was the third Hispanic business owner killed in Middle Tennessee in a span of eight days. On Saturday, March 18, in two separate incidents, Shelbyville businessman Fermin Estrada was shot and killed by police at his backyard barbecue (story here), and La Hacienda owner Aureliano Ceja was beaten to death by an intruder in his Nashville home (story here).

Nashville's police chief Ronal Serpas is meeting with the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce* at 1pm today, according to this brief in the Tennessean. The Chamber's letter of concern to Chief Serpas and its subsequent meeting with police officers (story here) prompted a response from community organizer Juan Canedo, published today in the Hispanic Nashville Notebook (here). Canedo praises Serpas and calls for complaints to be more constructively specific.

"Police said anyone with information can call 441-9592," according to the Tennessean.

*There are two Hispanic chambers of commerce in Nashville: the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Legislative reception and rally for immigrants and refugees: Wednesday, March 29

The Tennessee Immigration and Refugee Rights Coalition will host Tennessee political officials at its third annual Legislative Reception Wednesday, March 29, 2006. The purpose of the event is to network with government leaders to convey statewide support for immigrants and refugees and express concerns about negativity in current and proposed laws affecting individuals and families from other countries.

The reception will be accompanied by a rally to accomodate the expected large crowd of support.

The coalition's web site has more information about the reception here.

Last year's sponsors included the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Conexión Américas, Egyptian National Association, Lao Association of Tennessee, Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, American Association of Refugee and Immigrant Women (AARIW), Nashville Chapter, Asociación Latina de Tennessee, Columbian Solidarity Network of Tennessee, Centro Latino of Shelbyville, Highlander Center, Hispanic Achievers, Iranian Association of Middle Tennessee, Iraqi House, Knoxville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Nashville Kurdish Forum, National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP), Middle Tennessee Chapter, Nashville Immigrant and Refugee Task Force, Nigerian National Association, Somali Community Center, Woodbine Community Organization, Ajax Turner, Nashville Hotel and Lodging Association, Stewart Clifton, Tennessee AFL-CIO, Tennessee Foreign Language Institute, Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, PLLC, El Crucero, El Paisano, La Campana, La Noticia, La Prensa Latina, Mundo Hispano, Solo Nashville, and Telefutura Channel 42.

Nashville Task Force on Refugees & Immigrants meets this afternoon, March 28

The Nashville Task Force on Refugees & Immigrants meets today, March 28, at 2pm at United Methodist Church, Room 318, 3200 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212.

Presenters include Francisco Guzman, Special Projects Coordinator of the Tennessee Human Rights Commission and Jonathan White, who will speak regarding two student organizations at Vanderbilt: "Model United Nations", and "Students Taking Action Now: Darfur (STAND)".

Opinion: Chief Serpas and Metro police committed to reaching out to Hispanic community

As a member of the Hispanic immigrant community in Nashville, I would like to address the letter from the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (NAHCC) to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) that was made public on March 23, 2006.

The opinions about MNPD expressed by the NAHCC business owners in this letter do not necessarily generalize to the entire Hispanic community in Nashville. Personally, I strongly disagree with the tone and content of this letter because it undermines the sincere effort of MNPD to reach out to the Hispanic immigrant community in Nashville.

The senseless murder of business owner, Aureliano Ceja, is truly a tragedy, as is any murder of an innocent victim, and our community has expressed sincere condolences and sympathy for the Ceja family.

Nevertheless, it is not fair to blame the existence of crime or a perceived increase in crime on MNPD, nor is it appropriate to make reckless accusations of racism, discrimination, unsatisfactory handling of crime reports, or other problems in MNPD in relation to the Hispanic community, without any substantiating evidence.

According to the MNPD website, any alleged abuses committed by MNPD officers should be reported to the MNPD Office of Professional Responsibility so that they can be investigated. In addition to this office, several community organizations—including NAHCC—are listed on the website as alternative places to file such complaints.

However, during the meeting convened by NAHCC on March 23, when a MNPD officer asked the NAHCC Chairman to provide him with specific cases to substantiate his allegations, he was unable to respond with any.

If these problems do exist, then I believe that there are alternative and constructive ways to document and address them in a collaborative manner without causing confusion in the community.

One concrete example of the commitment of MNPD to the safety of the Hispanic community is the implementation of the “El Protector” program. This program has the intention of helping our community to understand the importance of collaborating with MNPD for the safety of our families and community members.

The implementation of “El Protector” program has included the involvement of members of the Hispanic community. An advisory committee was formed, which includes business owners (such as the chairman of the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce) and other organizational representatives in the Hispanic community.

It is my understanding that the role of the advisory committee is to coordinate the implementation of strategies to encourage local Hispanic residents to trust the police; and most importantly to explain to our community how the law enforcement system works in Nashville.

I am sure that MNPD would be more than willing to engage in continuing dialogue with members of the Hispanic community regarding any possible concerns. The Hispanic community is quite diverse, so the MNPD would benefit from hearing from a wide range of perspectives and experiences.

However, as members of the Hispanic community, we also have the responsibility to report specific problems to MNPD and to propose concrete solutions.

Finally, I want to convey my appreciation for Chief Serpas’ leadership and that I support his efforts to maintain a positive relationship with the Hispanic community.

Juan Canedo
Antioch, TN

The comments posted here are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Hispanic Nashville Notebook. Material that should not be attributed to the Hispanic Nashville Notebook is often indicated on this site in green text or in quotes.

Southern Baptist leader: "deeply offended" by lack of immigration enforcement

The Southern Baptist Convention's Baptist Press reports in this article that the religious denomination's ethics leader Richard Land met with President Bush March 23 at a White House meeting on immigration. Land's message, according to the article: Southern Baptists are "deeply offended" by U.S. immigration policy - more specifically, they're offended that it's not enforced enough. "As Southern Baptists, we believe that Romans 13 teaches the government is to punish those who break the law and reward those who obey the law," Land said. Two months ago, Land was quoted in Christianity Today as saying that there was no consensus among Southern Baptists on immigration law.

The Southern Baptist Convention has over 16 million members and has seen its share of theological divisions, so it is logical that not all Southern Baptists agree with Land. The denomination has many active Hispanic-focused congregations, including the "more than 250 Southern Baptist churches" who have showered visiting Hispanic workers in Ashe County, North Carolina, with resources and affection, according to this article in Reason magazine.

Based in Nashville, the Southern Baptist Convention considers its member churches and associations to be autonomous, free to "determine their membership and set their own course," according to the denomination's official web site.

update 4/23/2006: The Tennessean has reported on the split of Southern Baptist opinion on immigration in Tennessee in this article.

Nashville event for immigrant understanding: tomorrow night, March 25

The public is invited to a immigrant-focused gathering Saturday night called "Looking Outward, Looking Inward", sponsored by the East End United Methodist Church:

LOOKING OUTWARD, LOOKING INWARD will be an opportunity to engage our hearts and minds with the human realities of migration into the U.S. and explore ways we can increase our understanding and build stronger relationships with our new neighbors.

Along with the music of Pablo Garzon's Serenata and art of Martin Cadeaux, we will:

• hear from Jerry Gill of BorderLinks in Tucson AZ & Nogales Sonora


• view a video excerpt about a young man's migration to Kentucky,


• learn about the costs of immigration to families, and


• consider ways we can work together to welcome and create links with new neighbors from Mexico and Central America.

Bring handouts about programs you are involved in to build community, and enjoy a fun yet challenging evening.

The Border Links gathering will be Saturday, March 25, 6-9 pm at the Art and Invention Gallery, 1106 Woodland Street, Nashville.

Directions may be found at www.artandinvention.com

It is a free event sponsored by the Outreach Committee of East End United Methodist Church. For more information, please email or call Jim (227-4963) mornings, cell phone 812-3759) or Karlene at 973-2303.

Please forward this to friends, and come join us Saturday!

Business owners' message to police: protect us against crime, not immigration; public meeting tonight

According to this article in the Tennessean, the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce* has requested that the Metro Police department adopt a policy banning immigration-related inquiries, citing the recent violent crimes against Hispanic families and businesses in Nashville and the concern that immigration investigations impede crime-solving.

In a letter yesterday (published here by the Tennessean), the Chamber explained its reasoning and offered to meet with the Chief of Police Ronal Serpas, Mayor Bill Purcell, Governor Phil Bredesen, and the Tennessee Human Relations Commission.

Chief Serpas responded immediately but cautioned that no formal policy would be adopted. "Please understand that it would be improper for this department to implement a written policy that would preclude enforcement of any legislative act," Serpas said in a letter issued last night.

The public is invited to tonight's meeting:

The Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
announces its 1st 2006 Hispanic Businesses Forum:

Crime and Law Enforcement
"Listenning to the problem, the first step towards finding solutions"

You are invited to participate and share your views with the community. The offices of the Mayor, Governor and Metro Nashville Police Department have been asked to participate with local Hispanic Business owners in South Nashville to discuss increasing criminal activity in our neighborhoods and the need for solutions and better avenues for communication. Recent tragic events have resulted in the loss of several members of our Hispanic community victims to crime. Most recently Mr. Aureliano Ceja, operator of La Hacienda Restaurant, a Nashville dining landmark for Hispanics and Anglos alike, died as a result of a robbery.

This tragedy prompted an emergency meeting last Monday night where more than 30 business leaders met to express their concerns and outline information to share with the Police Department and other local authorities. Today we will create an opportunity for their voices to be heard. A petition accompanied by the signatures of more than 120 business owners was hand delivered yesterday to Chief Ronal Serpas and the NMPD. His inmediate response reflects support and concern about what affects us, addressing the need to continue improving the lines of communication between his department and our Hispanic community.

Please join us!
March 23rd 2006
5:30 pm to 9 pm
Salón de Fiestas “Fantasy Hall”
located at 2332 Antioch Pike, Antioch, TN 37013.

For additional information please call NAHCC 216-5737

*There are two Hispanic chambers of commerce based in Nashville: the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Family mourns, TBI investigates Shelbyville shooting of Hispanic business owner

The Shelbyville Times-Gazette reports in this article on the Saturday slaying of local businessman Fermin Estrada, who was shot by police while at a backyard barbecue with family and friends. Estrada had been shooting a gun; police say he had fired in their direction, but his family insists that he was celebrating and had aimed only at the ground.

"Fermin had been cooking fajitas and making tacos crisp on a grill because classmates from school, years ago in Mexico, came here from their home in Dalton, Ga., to see Fermin, his family, the land he bought and the house he owned, relatives said."

"I am so worn out, I cannot cry anymore," said Fermin's son William Estrada, who will now become the head of the Estrada family.

The Tennessean reports in this article that the matter is under investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Shelbyville Times-Gazette photo by Clint Confehr

Hispanic buyers create $700b in business opportunities

The Tennessean reports in this article on a U.S. Census Bureau report that Hispanic-owned businesses are booming: 1.6 million U.S. businesses with Hispanic owners in 2002, up 31% from 1997, which was more than three times the growth of all U.S. companies. Hispanic consumer spending, which now stands at $700 billion per year, fueled the growth.

The story quotes Nashville business owners Robert Chavez and Diana Holland, who say that the opportunities in a strong economy attract Hispanic entrepreneurs.

It appears that an angle of the story about the impact of immigration law on Hispanic businesses was deleted in editing. Without explanation, the caption under a picture in the story describes the business of Tennessee resident and Mexico native Rodolfo Guerra "legally questionable."

Human Rights Commission and Nashville Chamber target housing and employment discrimination

According to this press release, a new public/private initiative is underway to prevent housing and employment discrimination against Hispanic people in Tennessee:

The Tennessee Human Rights Commission (THRC) and the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce* (NAHCC) announced recently that the agencies are partnering in an initiative to raise awareness in Nashville’s Hispanic community on the illegalities and widespread but subtle forms of housing and employment discrimination. Through a series of educational forums hosted by the NAHCC, the partners are seeking to eliminate barriers to fair housing and discriminatory employment practices that this community has witnessed.

“According to the most recent HUD housing discrimination study, Hispanics experience discrimination one in four times when trying to rent a home. We have heard of Hispanics being charged per person to rent apartment units. Our goal is to ensure that the Hispanic communities throughout Tennessee are made aware of their housing and employment rights. We have started in Nashville because of its significant number of Hispanics, nearly 80,000,” said Amber Gooding, executive director of the THRC.

Commenting on the partnership, Yuri Cunza, president of the NAHCC, said, “We are very confident that partnering with the Tennessee Human Rights Commission will improve the chances of getting this vital information out to the Hispanic Community. Population growth plays a key role on the economic development of our city, we need to make sure Nashville is the best place to live, work as well as visit. It is our responsibility to create these conditions. As the president of the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber, I have received calls from people who need assistance with employment and housing issues. This is a natural step towards progress for any community, and it is not only restricted to Hispanics”. The first of a series of educational forums is scheduled to begin this month. The NAHCC will promote and advertise the forums that will be held at various venues around the city.

The THRC’s role is to safeguard the citizens of Tennessee from discrimination, through enforcement and education in the areas of employment, housing and public accommodation because of race, creed, color, religion, sex, disability, age (over 40), national origin, or familial status.

Anyone who believes they have experienced housing or employment discrimination is asked to call the THRC at 1-800-251-3589 or visit the agency’s website at www.state.tn.us/humanrights/.

For more information about this partnership or for assistance in Spanish please call the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (NAHCC) at 615-216-5737

*There are two Hispanic Chambers of Commerce in Nashville - the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Catholics talk immigration with state leaders

The Catholic Explorer reports in this article that a recent "Catholic Day on the Hill" addressed immigration as an issue important to Catholics in Tennessee government.

"'One of the most important things we can do as citizens is to be here and learn to understand the issues,' Father Ragan Schriver, director of Catholic Charities of East Tennessee, told 250 middle and high school students at the Capitol. 'It's a great day to recognize what our faith tells us as Catholic Christians to advocate for.'"

"Like other Catholic Day on the Hill participants, Bishops David R. Choby of Nashville, Joseph E. Kurtz of Knoxville and J. Terry Steib of Memphis met with state legislators in their offices throughout the day to discuss immigration, abortion, health care and other issues. The bishops also met privately with Gov. Phil Bredesen."

La Hacienda owner murdered in home, wife survives

The Tennessean reports in this article that Nashville resident Aureliano Ceja was murdered in his home Saturday night in an apparent robbery attempt. His wife Teresa Ceja survived the attack. The Cejas own and operate the La Hacienda restaurant on Nolensville Road.

The Metro Police department is improving its policing skills by reaching out to Hispanic Nashville, according to this article today in the Tennessean. Until the Ceja murder, the most heinous crime to hit a Hispanic family in Nashville was the murder of a young mother and her three-year-old daughter, which Metro Police appear to have solved with recent arrests, according to two recent articles in the Tennessean (here and here).

update March 21, 2006: In the wake of the Ceja murder, the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce* is circulating a petition for improved cooperation between the Hispanic community and police, according to this article in the Tennessean.

*There are two Hispanic chambers of commerce in Nashville: the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Opinion: Legal Duty vs. Moral Duty

What a lot of buzz in the media and in the community about “legality!” We hear so much information on this topic and don't even understand it all, but as Hispanics, we're expected to be the ready-answer pundits.

“And what do you think about the 'illegals' issue?” the dissheveled cashier at the grocery store asks me anxiously, as she tries at least ten times, unsuccessfully, to scan my tooth brush with the bar code reader.

“I think we ought to think about morality,” I respond briefly, with no intention to start a hurried conversation with someone who knows me only as a frequent customer with a certain Hispanic accent.

In my view, legal duty is what a country, a state or just a group of people considers to be within their law. It is made up of those codes that bring a little order to a community. In this country, those codes are decided by a consensus of sorts, where agreement by the majority is sufficient. So, doing things according to the law that the majority decides on, sounds reasonable, right? “It's all good,” like my brother says when he disengages from conversation to keep from making any waves.

But...what happens when those in the minority, who although they were not in the position to agree with the decisions leading to those laws, continue to live in, or arrive to live in, that same community? How do they happily coexist within the law, without being in agreement with or understanding those codes that purport to bring a little order to the community?

This is where moral duty plays its role. In my opinion, it is the majority’s moral duty to reach out to the minority, in order to facilitate the dialogue to talk about what it is like to be the majority, and what it is like to be the minority. On the other hand, it is the minority’s moral duty to reach out to the majority in order to be educated, informed and, mostly, to come to a certain level of agreement or understanding that will allow us to coexist without so much alienation.

Moral duty doesn't have to be codified to be understood. Simply put, something is either moral or immoral. Moral behavior takes into account the present and the future, at the same time being rooted to the lessons of the past. This is what we learn when we hear, “and the moral of the story is...” Practicing moral behavior with others often requires dedicated, personal relationships.

If a community's majority and minority were to initiate and continue a dialogue about legal duty and moral duty, community life would be easier, even if it’s not "all good."

“Paper or plastic,” the cashier at the grocery store asks me dryly, after she manually enters the bar code for my tooth brush.

As we contemplate our moral duty, we too have choices: one, "paper,” another, “plastic.” However, when we are talking about legal duty, there is only one set of codes and, if these are not mutually understood - as it sometimes happens with the automatic bar code reader at the grocery store - then the majority has to begin that dedicated, personal task.

Diana Holland is a Hispanic columnist, consultant and speaker.
diana@hispaniclinkconsulting.com

The comments posted here are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Hispanic Nashville Notebook. Material that should not be attributed to the Hispanic Nashville Notebook is often indicated on this site in green text or in quotes.

Reminder: two Hispanic music parties tomorrow, Saturday, March 18

Tomorrow, Saturday, March 18, two different Hispanic music events will be held in Nashville: one thrown by Metro Parks and American Roots Music Education called Music of the People, and another by the Hispanic Community Group of Tennessee, in conjunction with a forum on discrimination.

The Music of the People event is previewed in this Nashville City Paper article and in this Tennessean article.

Vanderbilt speaker invitation highlights values at issue in immigration debate

Vanderbilt University's student-run Impact Symposium is an annual speakers' forum dedicated to issues in controversy. According to this Vanderbilt University press release, the Impact Symposium has invited former Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards and former financial journalist Peter Brimelow to speak on the topic of "Disappearing Borders". Brimelow will speak at 8pm March 20, and Edwards will speak at 8pm March 21. Ticket sales open to the public March 16.

According to this Southern Poverty Law Center article, Brimelow's position on immigration has morally significant undertones:

"[Brimelow] said that white Americans should demand that U.S. immigration quotas be changed to allow in mostly whites. He argued that spending tax dollars on anything related to multiculturalism was 'subversive.' He called foreign immigrants 'weird aliens with dubious habits.'"

By inviting Brimelow, Vanderbilt students have identified the moral importance of the immigration debate.

The other invited speaker John Edwards has had this to say about immigration in general and Hispanic families in particular:

"[W]hen I was young, we moved to a small town in rural North Carolina, which is where I grew up. That town is now half Hispanic. My family moved to that town because my father, who has a high school education and is still living, believed that by working hard and doing the right thing that his kids would have the opportunity for a better life. These Hispanic families? They came to Robbins, North Carolina, for exactly the same reason. And those who came and live there, who work hard and are responsible, they have earned the right to be American citizens."

Lebanon mission plans prayer vigil for immigration law

The Lebanon, Tennessee Hispanic church Iglesia Renacer is planning a prayer vigil Friday night, March 17, at 8pm on the subject of immigration law. Pastor Jorge Vasconcelos of Brazil said that his prayer is for God to guide U.S. legislators to make laws that will bless the millions of immigrants who are currently excluded by the U.S. legal system.

The church is also promoting a fast from 6pm to midnight in connection with the vigil.

Garcia meets with Hispanic parents in bilingual town hall

According to this article in the Tennessean, Metro Public Schools Director Pedro Garcia held a town hall at Glencliff High School for Spanish-speaking parents. He met them halfway linguistically, speaking in both English and Spanish.

The article states that 11% of Metro students are Hispanic (approximately 8,000 of 73,000), which is about the same percentage of people in the U.S. who are Hispanic.

The article also stated that Hispanic students' test scores "lag behind" those of other ethnic groups. The accompanying explanatory chart shows five groups: White, Hispanic, Black, Asian, and Limited English Proficiency. The Hispanic students' scores were in the middle of those five groups but below the overall average.

Cultural Calendar March 14 - May 10

Eva Melo of Latin Market Communications regularly publishes a Cultural Calendar for Middle Tennessee. Here are some of the events through May:

MARCH 14: 6:00PM: SPANISH & ENGLISH STORY TIME in the Children's Department of the Williamson County Library in Franklin, located in Columbia Ave. Near La Villa and Domino's Pizza. Contact Cecilia Melo-Rome for more information at 615-791-9840 or Meloromie@comcast.net.

MARCH 18: 1-7PM, MUSIC OF THE PEOPLE FESTIVAL, Coleman Community Center, food, prizes and the usual. San Rafael Band. Contact Anais Riggs (615) 760-2786.

MARCH 21: 5:30PM, FRANKLIN AREA HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MIXER, Williamson County Public Library, 1314 Columbia Avenue, Franklin, TN 37064. Take a break and come join us in a cultural celebration. You do not need to be Hispanic or be able to speak Spanish. All meetings are in English. Call 599-0045 for more information or e-mail eva@latinmarketcommunications.com.

MARCH 30 at 7:00PM: CAFE CON LECHE SHOW, Martha Rivers Ingram Performance Hall at the Blair School of Music, 511 Kirkland Hall, Nashville, TN 37240. Theme: "El Ultimo Baile". Refreshment, a live local band, singing, and dancing of all types from cumbia to tango. Admission : $5.00. Children under 6 are free, Cafe con Leche is a production of the Vanderbilt Association of Hispanic Students. 254-495-6984 or elijah.r.mendoza@vanderbilt.edu.

APRIL 1: NASHVILLE LATIN STREET FAIR, put on by Belmont and the YMCA. 10AM-7PM. Belmont and the YMCA Hispanic Achievers Program are continuing the second annual premier Latin Music Street Event for Nashville:"Fiesta Belmont"-Nashville's Latin Music Street Fair--targeting both the emerging Hispanic market, as well the non-Hispanic market. For booths contact David Herrera 615-460-6908 or herrerad@mail.belmont.edu.

APRIL 30: CHILDREN'S DAY, put on by La Voz newaper. Contact Luis Moscorro for more information: 615-589-1876 or masc6921@bellsouth.net.

MAY 5: CINCO DE MAYO FESTIVAL in Nashville, put on by La Voz newspaper. Contact Louis Moscorro for booth information. 615-589-1876 or masc6921@bellsouth.net.

MAY 6: CINCO DE MAYO in Franklin, put on by Casa de Mi Padre. Contact Johnny for booth information, 615-595-9654 or jduran@lacasademipadre.com.

MAY 10: MOTHER'S DAY CELEBRATION, put on by La Voz newspaper. Contact Luis Moscorro for more information: 615-589-1876 or masc6921@bellsouth.net.

EVERY SUNDAY: JOE SILVA BLUES, Sundays, Jonathan’s Bar and Grill, 5805 Nolensville Pike (corner of Nolensville and Old Hickory Blvd) 833-2799. Mondays, Beyond the Edge, 112 S. 11th St, Historic East Nashville, 615-226-3343. Fridays, Off Murfreesboro Pike near Golds Gym. Across from K-mart. 615-399-2244. For booking and info: 615-361-5331, silvajoe@juno.com.

EVERY WEDNS. 5:30AM, SUN. 5PM: Your Spanish Link: watch A SPANISH VARIETY SHOW ON WCKV_TV. (27)CHARTER CABLE OR (49) Antenna. Can also be viewed online at www.yourspanishlink.com. Jerrika Rivera, ratonyeye@hotmail.com,

EVERY WEDNS: Rachel Rodriguez's LATIN ROCK NIGHT w/ Chamo Lopez & Friends tonight and The Blue Bar 9pm-midnight NO COVER

EVERY THURSDAY: 7:00-10:00PM, SUPER POTENT SALSA, 88.1FM. Bilingual programming with Sipho Dumasane, 512-0082, dumasane@yahoo.com

THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS: FREE SALSA LESSONS, Ibiza Night Club, 15128 Old Hickory Blvfd, Nashville, 9:00-10:00PM.

The material posted above was collected by Eva Melo of Latin Market Communications and not by the Hispanic Nashville Notebook. Material that is not attributed to the Hispanic Nashville Notebook is often indicated on this site in green text or in quotes.

Bredesen meets Chinese ambassor; immigration deja vu

Governor Bredesen and Ambassador Zhou Wen Zhong

According to this press release, Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen met with the Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. on Wednesday, March 8. The two discussed the trade relationship between China and the Volunteer State.

Their topic could easily have been "illegal immigration," because the idea of such a thing - making immigration illegal - was first implanted in the U.S. legal system in 1882, to exclude all immigrants from China from entry into the U.S. The 1882 law, known as the Chinese Exclusion Act, wasn't repealed until more than forty years later, in 1943, when Congress allowed 105 immigrants a year from China. (One can almost hear the public disclaiming no ill will for Chinese immigrants, just the illegal ones.) The draconian U.S.-imposed limits on Chinese immigration were not repealed until the law changed in 1965, when limits remained, but at least they were decoupled from national origin, in the context of the civil rights movement.

How did it come to pass that this country even adopted a law that blocked people who wanted to come here, and why China? Governor Bredesen might have provided some insight into the first part of that question, considering the parallels to the modern political winds in Tennessee:

As time passed, the resentment against the Chinese increased from those who could not compete with them. Acts of violence against the Chinese continued for decades, mostly from white urban and agricultural workers. In 1862 alone, eighty-eight Chinese were reported murdered. Though large landowners that hired Chinese, railroads and other large white-owned businesses, and Chinese workers themselves pushed against a growing anti-Chinese legislation, the forces opposing the Chinese prevailed, issuing laws that excluded or harassed them from industry after industry. Mob violence steadily increased against the Chinese until even employers were at risk. Eventually, laws such the Naturalization Act of 1870 and the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 restricted immigration of Chinese immigrants into the U.S.

A few years later, in 1885, a public fundraising campaign was underway for the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty. (The statue would be unveiled in 1886, the brainchild of two Frenchmen who were inspired by the liberty granted to freed slaves in the U.S.) Saum Song Bo, an aspiring citizen and attorney who could be neither under the new Chinese Exclusion Act, could not find it in himself to contribute to the pedestal fund. He wrote this letter in response.

Sir: A paper was presented to me yesterday for inspection, and I found it to be specially drawn up for subscription among my countrymen toward the Pedestal Fund of the Bartholdi Statue of Liberty. Seeing that the heading is an appeal to American citizens, to their love of country and liberty, I feel that my countrymen and myself are honored in being thus appealed to as citizens in the cause of liberty. But the word liberty makes me think of the fact that this country is the land of liberty for men of all nations except the Chinese. I consider it as an insult to us Chinese to call on us to contribute toward building in this land a pedestal for a statue of liberty. That statue represents liberty holding a torch which lights the passage of those of all nations who come into this country. But are the Chinese allowed to come? As for the Chinese who are here, are they allowed to enjoy liberty as men of all other nationalities enjoy it? Are they allowed to go about everywhere free from the insults, abuses, assaults, wrongs, and injuries from which men of other nationalities are free?

If there be a Chinaman who came to this country when a lad, who has passed through an American institution of learning of the highest grade, who has so fallen in love with American manners and ideas that he desires to make his home in this land, and who, seeing that his countrymen demand one of their own number to be their legal adviser, representative, advocate, and protector, desires to study law, can he be a lawyer? By the law of this nation, he, being a Chinaman, cannot become a citizen, and consequently cannot be a lawyer...

Whether this statute against the Chinese or the statue of liberty will be the more lasting monument to tell future ages of the liberty and greatness of this country, will be known only to future generations.

Liberty, we Chinese do love and adore thee; but let not those who deny thee to us, make of thee a graven image and invite us to bow down to it.

Saum Song Bo

Our "illegal" Hispanic friends in Nashville would seem to have a sympathetic ear with Ambassador Zhou Wen Zhong. Whether that sympathy can be found in the Tennessee state capitol in 2006 is a question to be answered not only by the language and legislation of our elected representatives, but also by Governor Bredesen's signature.

sources: Saum Song Bo letter, Statue of Liberty history, Chinese Exclusion Act, Chinese immigration history, Governor Bredesen press release

U.S. World Cup soccer team coming to Coliseum May 23

The City Paper reports in this article that the U.S. men's national soccer team will be playing an exhibition game in Nashville in May as a warm-up for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

"This summer, the United States men’s national soccer team will try to do something it has never accomplished — win the FIFA World Cup."

"But before the U.S. team heads to Germany in June to compete on international soccer’s biggest stage, the Stars & Stripes will fine tune their skills in an exhibition here at the Coliseum."

"Don MacLachlan, the Titans executive vice president of administration, who oversees non-football events at the stadium, confirmed Wednesday the U.S. team will face a yet-to-be-determined opponent Tuesday, May 23, at 6 p.m."

March 18: Forum on Discrimination, and Community Celebration

The Hispanic Community Group of Tennessee sent this press release about two related events on March 18:

FORUM ON DISCRIMINATION AND COMMUNITY CELEBRATION

Commitment and participation of Hispanic immigrants in collective movements lead to creation of a grassroots community group

Nashville, TN, March 9, 2006 – The Hispanic Community Group of Tennessee is organizing a forum on discrimination and a community celebration on Saturday, March 18, 2006, at 5:00 PM at Woodbine Community Center, located at 222 Oriel Avenue in Nashville.

This forum will feature Monica Ramírez, a lawyer from the Immigrant Justice Project (Southern Poverty Law Center) and Francisco Guzman, the Special Projects Coordinator from the Tennessee Human Rights Commission.

The topic of discussion will be discrimination in employment and in housing. Furthermore, Ramirez will speak about the importance of forming grassroots community groups. The audience will have the opportunity to participate with questions about these issues that affect the Hispanic community. During the forum, free child care will be provided.

Later, at 7:00 PM the Community Celebration will take place, with music and Latin American food.

The mission of the Hispanic Community Group of Tennessee is to organize and build the capacity of members of the Hispanic community to participate in processes of community action for social change and the collective benefit of Hispanics and the general community, while contributing to social unity in a context of multilcultural diversity.

The premise of the group is for each member of the community to have a voice and vote in a democratic process to elect their community leaders, and to participate in the decision-making process. On February 22, 2006, the members of the group elected the executive committee.

Juan Canedo, the president of the group, said, “In this time of challenges for the immigrant community, Hispanic immigrants are demonstrating their organizing capacity.”

For more information about this event or the community group call 615-587-0365 or email canedo_juan@yahoo.com.

March 18: Music of the People Festival

Metro Parks sent out this press release about a March 18 musical event:

MUSIC OF THE PEOPLE FESTIVAL AT COLEMAN COMMUNITY CENTER

Metro Parks and American Roots Music Education will present a colorful, free celebration of Mexican-American music March 18 inside the Coleman Community Center located at the corner of Thompson Lane and Nolensville Road. The festival will run from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Activities in English and Spanish are designed for community building, education and fun for the entire family. Nashville Ballet will perform a Mexican folktale “Borreguita and the Coyote” at 1:30-the story will be told in Spanish and English. Craft projects and decorating pots for spring seeds will be available. Several piñatas will be hit during the celebration-providing excitement and candy prizes for the children. Food and drink will be available from local vendors.

Live music for dancing and listening featured at the festival will be from the U.S./Mexican border regions. Four bands will play a variety of music styles including conjunto, norteño and tejano. Danny Salazar y los Kuartos band will play at 1:00. Playing at 2:45will be Explosión Latina. A tejano dance class will be taught at 4:00 followed by the band Incanzable Cheyenne at 4:30. The San Rafael Band will play at 6:00.

For more information please contact:

Buffy Holton @ 297-9967 ~ American Roots Music Education

Mimi Shimmin @ 862-8424 x 357 ~ Metro Parks

En Español: Jose Ochoa @ 862-8424 x 347 Metro Parks

Work visa not enough to protect forestry employees in Tennessee, says lawsuit (updated)

The Tennessean reports in this article that a lawsuit has been filed on behalf of Mexican workers in Tennessee who held valid work visas but were not paid on time or at all for their full work schedule.

"Laborers brought from Mexico to plant trees in southern Tennessee have filed a class-action lawsuit against their Arkansas-based employer, claiming they weren't paid as promised and that they were forced to work overtime without pay."

"The latest Poverty Law Center suit seeks to become a class-action case for an estimated 1,500 migrant temporary workers that Superior Forestry Service Inc. of Tilly, Ark., has employed over the past six years."

"The suit alleges that the Tilly, Ark., company didn't pay minimum wage, let alone the prevailing wage the Labor Department requires. Workers weren't paid overtime for working more than 40 hours a week, weren't given an accurate accounting of their time and pay and weren't paid in a timely manner, the suit claims."

While they were employed, the Mexican workers held valid visas for low-skilled, non-agricultural work.

According to the Superior Forestry web site, "The average crew is 15 men. Crews plant 30,000 to 50,000 trees a day, covering approximately 100 acres."

update July 9, 2006: The Tennessean reports in this story that the plaintiffs have been denied class action status for now but that the litigation is ongoing.

Ashland City Hispanics find welcome and comforts of home in new grocery store

The Ashland City Times reports in this article that a new grocery store is saving local Hispanics a trip to Nashville and offering them a welcoming environment in which to shop:

"Luvi’s #2 Mexican Groceries opened its doors at 3050-A North Main Street last week with specialty items catering to Latin American tastes and local residents wishing to spice up their meals with a Hispanic flavor."

"'We have been in business in Robertson County for about three years now,' [Manager Dulce] Sorto said. 'And have been doing really good there. There is a large Hispanic population in this area, but there are no other places nearby for them to buy these products without traveling to Nashville.'"

"With so many cultures and Hispanic backgrounds in Central America, getting enough of the right items to please a community in Cheatham County would be difficult, but Sorto said it is relying on customers to help choose which items to offer."

"She said another benefit to having the store is so Latino customers can shop for their preferred products with labels in their native language in a comfortable setting. 'It’s important for them to get what they need without feeling out of place,' she said."

Cultural Calendar: upcoming March events

Eva Melo of Latin Market Communications regularly publishes a Cultural Calendar for Middle Tennessee. Here are some of the events for the rest of March:

MARCH 11: 10AM, OPPORTUNITIES FOR HISPANIC STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS: CONFERENCE, Music and Food. Speakers: Dr. Pedro Garcia: Director of Metro Schools; Beckie Gibson: Language Coordinator; Ruben De Pena Marquez: Translation Coordinator and Information. Glencliff High School, 160 Antioch Pike, Nashville, TN. Reservations must be made before March 3 @ 4:30PM. RSVP: 615-259-8621. If you would like to sponsor the food, dessert or awards contact Ruben at ruben.depena@mnps.org.

MARCH 14: 6:00PM: SPANISH & ENGLISH STORY TIME in the Children's Department of the Williamson County Library in Franklin, located in Columbia Ave. Near La Villa and Domino's Pizza. Contact Cecilia Melo-Rome for more information at 615-791-9840 or Meloromie@comcast.net.

MARCH 14-16: 4TH ANNUAL INNOVATIONS IN HISPANIC MARKETING 2006: CONFERENCE, new Radisson Hotel in Miami, FL. The Innovations in Hispanic Marketing Conference continues to be the most recognized and most valuable event available to today’s Hispanic Marketing executive. From product placement and traditional advertising, to online strategies and new research data, the Innovations in Hispanic Marketing Conference will touch on the most relevant and current topics that continuously face marketers. For more information, please call +1(305) 667.4705 (toll-free 1(866) 636.7350), visit www.trademeetings.com or e-mail ihmc@trademeetings.com

MARCH 18: 1-7PM, MUSIC OF THE PEOPLE FESTIVAL, Coleman Community Center, food, prizes and the usual. San Rafael Band. Contact Anais Riggs (615) 760-2786.

MARCH 21: 5:30PM, FRANKLIN AREA HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MIXER, Williamson County Public Library, 1314 Columbia Avenue, Franklin, TN 37064. Take a break and come join us in a cultural celebration. You do not need to be Hispanic or be able to speak Spanish. All meetings are in English. Call 599-0045 for more information or e-mail eva@latinmarketcommunications.com.

MARCH 30:7:00PM: CAFE CON LECHE SHOW, Martha Rivers Ingram Performance Hall at the Blair School of Music, 511 Kirkland Hall, Nashville, TN 37240. Theme: "El Ultimo Baile". Refreshment, a live local band, singing, and dancing of all types from cumbia to tango. Admission : $5.00. Children under 6 are free, Cafe con Leche is a production of the Vanderbilt Association of Hispanic Students. 254-495-6984 or elijah.r.mendoza@vanderbilt.edu.

EVERY SUNDAY: JOE SILVA BLUES, Sundays, Jonathan’s Bar and Grill, 5805 Nolensville Pike (corner of Nolensville and Old Hickory Blvd) 833-2799. Mondays, Beyond the Edge, 112 S. 11th St, Historic East Nashville, 615-226-3343. Fridays, Off Murfreesboro Pike near Golds Gym. Across from K-mart. 615-399-2244. For booking and info: 615-361-5331, silvajoe@juno.com.

EVERY WEDNS. 5:30AM, SUN. 5PM: Your Spanish Link: watch A SPANISH VARIETY SHOW ON WCKV_TV. (27)CHARTER CABLE OR (49) Antenna. Can also be viewed online at www.yourspanishlink.com. Jerrika Rivera, ratonyeye@hotmail.com,

EVERY WEDNS: Rachel Rodriguez's LATIN ROCK NIGHT w/ Chamo Lopez & Friends tonight and The Blue Bar 9pm-midnight NO COVER

EVERY THURSDAY: 7:00-10:00PM, SUPER POTENT SALSA, 88.1FM. Bilingual programming with Sipho Dumasane, 512-0082, dumasane@yahoo.com

THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS: FREE SALSA LESSONS, Ibiza Night Club, 15128 Old Hickory Blvfd, Nashville, 9:00-10:00PM.

The material posted above was collected by Eva Melo of Latin Market Communications and not by the Hispanic Nashville Notebook. Material that is not attributed to the Hispanic Nashville Notebook is often indicated on this site in green text or in quotes.

Youth training for immigration reform scheduled in Nashville for April

According to this press release and this web site, the Fair Immigration Reform Movement ("FIRM") and the Center for Community Change will hold youth training on immigration reform in Nashville, from April 21 to April 23.

Less than a year since national news coverage of a rare one year deferred deportation for one undocumented student and public spokesperson for the DREAM Act, young people from around the country are mobilizing to fight the anti-immigrant climate on Capitol Hill and in legislatures around the country. Hundreds of dynamic young people are strengthening their organizing and leadership skills through regional youth trainings beginning Saturday, February 25 in Chicago, Ill.

"The young people whose futures are at stake will no longer standby in the immigrant rights struggle. Passing the DREAM Act is a no brainer and shouldn't be caught up in the broader immigration debate," says Cristina Lopez, deputy executive director, Center for Community Change. "This bill is a positive first step to fixing our country's badly broken immigration system."

Every year some 65,000 undocumented students are adversely affected by the federal government's refusal to acknowledge their potential. Instead, the authorities are bent on seeking deportations and conducting border patrols as the only ways to address immigration. The DREAM Act would remove barriers to going to college for undocumented children who have lived in the US for at least five years and have graduated from American high schools, and would provide a path to obtaining legal status.

The two day trainings are coordinated by Center for Community Change and the Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM) and will galvanize young people from all walks of life. Students will lead a grassroots campaign to reach out to the public through press conferences, op-ed articles in the media and grassroots actions.

Additional trainings are taking place in Newark, Phoenix, Portland and Nashville on weekends through early May.

---

The Center for Community Change is a nonprofit, nonpartisan low income advocacy group that promotes the development of community organizing as a national force for social and economic justice. FIRM (Fair Immigration Reform Movement) is a coalition of grassroots community organizations nationwide, working on behalf of comprehensive immigration reform and immigrant rights.

For nearly four decades, the Center for Community Change has helped thousands of urban and rural communities nationwide organize for positive change by uniting low income people across lines of race, ethnicity, geography and gender to equip them with the tools to change public policies and demand public attention for issues of social and economic justice.

Opinion: Driving changes affect safety, security

By Juan Canedo
March 2, 2006
Nashville, Tennessee

No one would argue that one of the most important roles of the state government is the safety and security of their citizens. Therefore, the elected and appointed authorities must act to implement such a great responsibility.

In 2001 the Tennessee legislature passed a law that allowed people without a social security number to obtain Drivers’ Licenses while complying with the already existing requirements. All residents of Tennessee had to pass a written test and then pass the road test. Here we have an example of how the state government put the safety of Tennesseans above anything else. Any resident of Tennessee who wanted to have the privilege to obtain a Drivers’ License had to study the Department of Safety handbook to know all of the rules of traffic in our state. Consequently, knowing that all of the drivers learned the rules and passed the tests, we could drive on much safer roads with our families in Tennessee. In addition, drivers with licenses could purchase car insurance, which helped to keep the insurance premiums lower. That was a wise choice of our state government.

However, on 11 September 2001, the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., shifted the emphasis of the state government to security, in addition to road safety. Therefore, in the Legislature there were several attempts to repeal the Drivers’ License law of 2001. Finally, always keeping in mind the safety on our roads and the security in our state, the Legislature passed a law in May 2004 that allowed people without a social security number only to have access to a new Certificate for Driving instead of a license, which was only valid for driving purposes and not valid as a document of identification.

The rationale for the issuance of the Certificate for Driving appeared to make sense as a compromise, since people who wanted to obtain it had to take the written and road tests as usual. Therefore, we could still drive on safe roads. Most importantly, since the certificate had been issued with the inscription of “Not valid as an ID,” no one could use it to board an airplane; so we could fly securely in our country. At the same time, the Certificate for Driving aided law enforcement and other authorities to identify people who live in this state.

Last week, the Tennessee Department of Safety, decided to suspend temporarily the issuance of the Certificate for Driving with the argument that “it was a good program in theory” but that there have been issues with its implementation.

However, it is important to remember that the issuance of the Certificate for Driving has made our roads safer and our state more secure. Indeed, Interim Safety Commissioner, Gerald Nicely, was quoted in a press release about this suspension as stating: “…insuring the security of Tennesseans is a state issue, and it’s one that the Governor and I take very seriously.”

I could not agree more with Commissioner Nicely’s statement. That concern is shared by me and other people who live in Tennessee, as well. Therefore, while Certificates for Driving are not perfect, we should not go back to the pre-2001 situation. I believe that the issuance of Certificates for Driving should be reinstated immediately while we address the issues of implementation. The key to smooth implementation is uniform application of the requirements to obtain a Certificate for Driving or Drivers’ License. That way we can drive safely with our families on our roads and also be secure in our state.

Juan Canedo is a Sociologist, Community Organizer, and President of the Hispanic Community Group of Tennessee
(615) 587-0365
canedo_juan@yahoo.com

The comments posted here are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Hispanic Nashville Notebook. Material that should not be attributed to the Hispanic Nashville Notebook is often indicated on this site in green text or in quotes.

Integration of Hispanic community is full-time job for Franklin Hispanic Chamber founder

The Tennessean profiles Franklin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce founder Eva Melo in this article today. Melo's work and personal schedules are filled with large and small efforts to integrate the Hispanic community and the broader Middle Tennessee community.

"Eva Melo can chat as easily with the president of a company as she can with a young Hispanic who's panicked because he can't find work or fill out a job application in English."

"Melo loves the people who share her Hispanic roots. She hugs them when they come to her office for help with problems of almost every kind."

"'They're sometimes illegal,' she says. 'I tell them they should see an attorney and try to connect them with one. They're sometimes thrown by English in documents, and they sometimes are in need of a doctor and don't know how to reach one who understands Spanish. I always try to help, because helping is just part of me.'"

Melo is the owner of Latin Market Communications, a public relations company. The Franklin Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce she founded will host its next mixer March 21 at 5:30PM at the Williamson County Public Library, 1314 Columbia Ave, Franklin, TN 37064. Call Eva Melo at 599-0045 or eva@latinmarketcommunications.com for more information.

Torture trial brings Nashville lawyer face to face with Salvadoran atrocities

This week's cover story in The Nashville Scene features the story of a Nashville lawyer who tried a torture case against an ex-military official from El Salvador for the commission of crimes against humanity twenty-five years ago.

The subject of the feature, David Esquivel, won the Tennessee Bar Association's Harris A. Gilbert Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award for his volunteer efforts in the case, which were supported by his Nashville firm Bass, Berry & Sims.

The perpetrator, Nicols Carranza, is a naturalized U.S. citizen who was formerly "vice minister of El Salvador's military and director of the Treasury Police," according to the Scene. The end result is that Carraza "was found civilly liable for four instances of torture and/or murder," and that a $6 million judgment was also entered against him. Read the article for more background.