Members of the Florida Immigrant Coalition traveled to Tallahassee from around the state to greet the newest members of the Florida Legislature that were sworn in Tuesday. The group, which is made up of various immigrant rights organizations, wants to make sure immigrant’s voices are heard in the upcoming legislative session.
The group is working to shed light on immigrant issues in Florida and around the nation. Organizer Melissa McGuire-Maniau said, after a strong Hispanic turnout in the last election, lawmakers should know that they’re not going anywhere.
“We came out really strong in this last election, basically to say that hey we’re here. And it’s important that they have access to healthcare, that they have access to education, that their wages aren’t stolen from them, that they’re paid fairly just like all of us,” McGuire Maniau stated.
McGuire Maniau also said the group will also be pushing for elections reform in the 2013 legislative session. The coalition is a continuation of the 2011 We are Florida Campaign, which mobilized people to oppose Arizona-style immigration bills that were eventually defeated.
