Thursday, November 7, 2013

Sit-in At Congressman McCarthy's Bakersfield Office Ends

Photos: UFW

McCarthy meets with the women who held a sit-in for 10 hours on Wednesday at his Bakersfield office.  

By H. Nelson Goodson
November 7, 2013

Bakersfield, CA - On Wednesday, U.S. Representative Kevin McCarthy (R) finally met with a group of women who had a sit-in for most of the day at his Bakersfield office. McCarthy, the majority leader of the House met with the women before midnight to discuss the current immigration reform bill, which is being held back from a vote on the U.S. House floor. 
McCarthy along with his wife and an aid met with the women at his office. The 13 women had a sit-in for 10 hours at McCarthy's office. He met with the women for an hour just after 11:00 p.m. and after listening to them, he indicated that he was "serious about solving the problem," according to the United Farm Workers organization (UFW). He gave no commitment that he will allow an immigration reform bill to reach the House floor for a vote before 2013 ends.
McCarthy confirmed that he would support a just immigration bill for 2014 and is supporting a DREAMer bill (KIDS Act), but passing a bill for this year was unlikely with 13 days left in the 113th first session of the House. With McCarthy's response to the women, it indicates any hope of passing a bill this year is dead.
Also depending on the upcoming elections and the outcome of who maintains control of the House and U.S. Senate, it would be unlikely a bill will pass in the next 6 years.
The women were locked inside McCarthy's office without food or water until the congressman arrived.

The following women took part in a 10 hour sit-in at Congressman McCarthy's office in Bakersfield. The group couldn't get McCarthy to commit and sign a pledge that he would bring an immigration reform bill to the U.S. House floor for a vote this year. He did admit, that he would support an immigration reform bill for 2014.

● Lupe Larios, from the United Farm Workers of America (UFW)
● Angelica Salas, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA)
● Karina Muñiz, Mujeres Unidas y Activas (MUA)
● Maria Leal, Mujeres Unidas y Activas (MUA)
● Aparna Shah, Mobilize the Immigrant Vote (MIV)
● Elda Martinez, from CARECEN
● Claudia Reyes, Mujeres Unidas y Activas (MUA)
● Karina Martinez, Mujeres Unidas y Activas (MUA)
● Caroline Theiss-Aird, from Justice Overcoming Boundaries (JOB)
● Miriam Burbano, CHIRLA
● Whelma Cabanawan, CHIRLA
● Juana Chavez-Thomas, Dolores Huerta Foundation
● Lori de Leon, Dolores Huerta Foundation

Related article: No Food, Water Or Medicine For Women Locked Inside Congressman McCarthy's Bakersfield Office http://bit.ly/17Om4Tv

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