May Day rally at Oregon Capitol to focus on immigration

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Some leaders of Oregon’s Latino community say they plan to use a May Day rally at the Capitol to protest federal immigration agents arresting immigrant farmworkers.

Ramon Ramirez, president of the Oregon farmworkers union, known by its initials in Spanish as PCUN, said increased raids would deplete the work force of farmworkers to pick crops, damaging Oregon’s agriculture industry.

The PCUN asked growers and nurseries to shut down or limit operations on May 1 to allow their workers to attend the march and rally in support of immigrant families at the capitol. Ramirez said he hopes farmers join the rally at the capitol in Salem.

President Donald Trump’s hard line against illegal immigration has rattled America’s agricultural industry, which fears a crackdown will deprive it of the labor it needs.