Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
A Wisconsin couple that traveled into Postville for today’s march and call for comprehensive immigration reform said they made the trip because they believe “the government has lost it’s way.”
John Stone-Wilms of Appleton, Wis. is a community service volunteer with CASA Hispana/LatinoLink. Even without that connection, however, John said he and his wife, Barb Wilms-Stone, would have felt the need to come to Postville and be a part of the demonstration.
“I believe it is a moral imperative for us to be here,” John said. “I think our government is standing opposite communities and business with their current stance on immigration. It use to be that this nation was a melting pot — that everyone came together and gave up their cultural identities. Many are no longer willing to completely do that and both sides must adapt. Business knows this. I mean, look at product instruction sheets printed in so many different languages. Communities understand this. Look at how our communities have come to embrace and celebrate the differences between cultures. Our government does not understand this.”
Barb listened as her husband described the event in Postville as “first-rate hyprocrasy” before jumping into to better explain what he meant.
“The truth is that we eat the meat that they pack,” she said. “We consume the vegetables they harvest. Yet, at the same time, we condemn them for who they are and the way many have come into this country.”
The couple hopes that the march and demonstrations scheduled for later today will be an educational experience for those who participate and those who observe.”
“Respect for the rights of others is peace,” said John, quoting Mexican President Benito Juarez. “That’s what I hope comes out of this today — the feeling that we are all brothers and that we can work through our differences. It’s just like the Bible says, ‘Do unto others.’”
Saying that the U.S. needs to provide immigrants a more feasible and efficient method for entering the country legally, Barb lamented those in the country who are forced to “live in the shadows.”
It breaks my heart — the fear they live in,” she said.
At a morning stop for breakfast in a Garnavillo cafe, the couple said they listened as people at a nearby table discussed the situation in Postville and berated Hispanics for “not learning English” and adding to local crime rates.
Follow Lynda Waddington on Twitter
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter