Lara Rusch ~ 32
An interview with another Latina activist further explicates immigrants’
perceptions of their role within the political system. Isabella Ramirez, a life-long member
of Holy Redeemer Catholic church in Southwest Detroit, is an active member of the
church’s core team, as well the MOSES Civil Rights for Immigrants task force. She
believes involvement in MOSES improves the learning curve of both immigrants and
citizens for influencing political institutions.
But as far as what I’ve gotten from MOSES is the training to be more assertive in
things that we didn’t think we were able to do. Because I’ve seen my other core
team leaders that went to the same training, and before they weren’t vocal, and
today they are vocal. They feel more certain of themselves. And the more training
you get, the better you get.
This confidence-building comes in part from learning about the American political
system through action. She suggests that what prevents immigrants from being more
politically engaged includes a lack of understanding how the system works, and a need
for points of access and a process through which to communicate with public officials.
To illustrate this point she used an example from her job as a translator in the local court
system.
This gentleman says, “Well, why can’t I just pay the fine and get it over with?” I
said, “Why are you gonna plead guilty if you don’t know if you’re guilty?”
‘Cause that’s the way in Mexico they do. They go and pay the magistrate, and the
case gets thrown out and they don’t waste that much time. Here, it’s a different
ballgame.
I says, “Well, this is how our system works,” and I explained to him and then he
kinda got the idea. You don’t just walk in and say, “Here, have $20.00 and throw
my case out.” He was surprised. He said, “Well, I didn’t know.” Well, now you
know.
Ramirez applied that example of her role in the courts, interpreting both language and
law to immigrants, as an analogy to explain how the MOSES organizing process
operates, “to open our eyes as to how to go about doing things.” She continued the
Convention