Color and music in Olympia for Latino Legislative Day
Emry Dinman Staff Writer | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 years, 10 months AGO
Hundreds marched through Olympia Monday for Latino Legislative Day, calling for immigration reform and improvements to workers’ rights.
Starting at Olympia’s Department of Homeland Security building, demonstrators marched down to the capitol campus, chanting in Spanish while streaming between the Legislative Building and the state Supreme Court.
Organizers cycled between chanting “El pueblo unido jamás será vencido” (The people united will never be defeated) and “Sí, se puede,” (Yes we can).
After completing their march to the capitol, the group filed in to the legislative building rotunda to the sound of trumpets and violins as the Wenatchee High School Mariachi entertained demonstrators and lawmakers alike with their whirling multicolored dresses.
Several members of the state’s Democratic leadership spoke to the demonstrators, including the governor, the Washington secretary of state and attorney general.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who was the last speaker Monday, reiterated his office’s commitment to defend the right of those protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals to stay in the country.
Ferguson pointed to a clause that was once in DACA applications that said personal information illegal immigrants volunteered to the federal government could not be used against the so-called Dreamer.
That language has been removed from DACA applications by the Trump administration, which Ferguson considered a transgression against not only Dreamers but against the integrity of the country.
“We teach our children to honor the deals they make,” Ferguson said. By breaking a deal with the Dreamers, Ferguson said, President Trump was doing damage to the reputation of the country.
ARTICLES BY EMRY DINMAN STAFF WRITER
Manweller won't resign unless re-elected
Rep. Matt Manweller, R-Cle Elum, said Monday that he will continue to serve the remainder of his term but will resign if re-elected this November. Manweller is still urging voters to elect him, as state law would allow the seat to be filled by another Republican.
Cave B Estate Winery, rooted in the Columbia Basin
It takes a certain clarity of vision to get temporarily distracted with a little, incidental side-project – creating the Gorge Amphitheatre – only to retire from managing the hottest music venue in the Northwest to dedicate more time to an older passion: making premiere Washington wine.
Evaluating innovation at Augie's Ag Sales
EPHRATA — When Augie Kooistra of Augie Ag Sales sells his customers corn seed, he wants to know that the product he’s selling is reliable. After all, corn that does well in the Midwest doesn’t always do well in the West, despite the best marketing from dozens of different companies saying their seed will bring farmers good fortune.