March Till Their Hearts Break Down

By Fidel "Butch" Montoya

A day after a very optimistic and positive rally on the West Steps of the Colorado State Capitol, hundreds of students held tight their hopes and dreams that maybe 2012 would be the year the Colorado Legislature would pass SB 15. The Colorado Dream Act would grant potential high school students a chance to fulfill their dreams and grant them a third way of financing their education and restore $4 million back for higher education.

As gracious and forgiving as we can be, it is so difficult to see party line politics once again kill the righteousness dream of a higher education for students so deserving of a chance to continue their K – 12 education, right on through college.

It is unfortunate that some intelligent legislators still do not understand that crossing the border is not a felony. It remains a civil violation, as serious as running a red light, or weaving from lane to lane. Yet, we continue to hear the unrestrained calls that don’t we understand what illegal is, and that we are a land of laws.

Laws that apply only to the masses and never the law giver. If our Legislators remembered that when they have broken the law, the rule of law also applies to them. To those Republican legislators who every year find an excuse to kill the dreams of so many deserving children, I do not understand why they don’t understand these students have broken no laws. As children dependent on their Father, Mother, or other Elder relative, when they moved to the USA, how can you find fault in a 4 year old child that wanted to be with his family?

Children seeking the dream of a college degree are some of the most reliable and respectful children toward their elders and their families. If you want a strong family structure to assist these children to make it in college, visit a dreamers home and see the love, unity, and determination to succeed.

What is so underhanded by the Republicans this year was to pass it out of the House Education Committee, knowing full well it was headed to the House Finance Committee where they knew it would be trampled on again by claiming this legislation would attract more criminals in our state. How could we pass legislation that would allow law breakers to go on to college?

More than ever, when a member of the Colorado Legislature breaks the law, when any special investigation into the reasons for breaking law are called for, it should not be done by one of their own. While many people are demanding police conduct accountability, Confianza – Multicultural Faith Alliance calls on other agencies and non-profits to demand independent investigations of our very own legislators, especially of those who know we are a nation of laws, and always find an excuse to hold others accountable.

The young people I stood with in solidarity on Monday, April 23rd on the West Steps, broke my heart as I heard them plea for an opportunity, or ask respectfully of all legislators to give them a chance, or the dream students whose heart was angry, frustrated, and bitter. This was the 6th year they have stood outside the walls of the State Capitol.

Next year, we must try again to create legislation that meets the dreams of students wanting to fulfill their dreams, but with one new demonstration.

In the Bible we know that Joshua and the formerly enslaved people of Egypt marched around the high fortified walls of the City of Jericho once for six days. They were instructed by the Captain of the Great Host on how they would defeat the enemies in the city of Jericho.

They were instructed to march around Jericho once for six days. On the seventh day.....they were told to march shouting, blowing their great horns, and have the priests and prophets marching along with the warriors 7 times. But we are told to expect that on the 7th march around the city, the heavily fortified walls would come crashing down.

Next year will be our 7th year of marching and shouting for justice and an opportunity for an education for students so deserving of that opportunity.

Now I realize this history of how Joshua destroyed the city of Jericho may be hard to believe or understand. I am not calling for the physical walls of the State Capitol to come tumbling down, but if we march around the capitol, I am expecting for some legislators to have the barriers that have prevented them from voting for immigrant students, break down and that Victory will be ours.

It is time for faith leaders to lead the march at the State Capitol for justice and for righteousness. Will we be ready to march 7 times and destroy the barriers and walls of intolerance, ignorance, and fear so that the barriers will fail once and for all.

Pastors and faith leaders, will you march as Joshua marched?