The national protests against a Congressional bill that would criminalize undocumented immigrants and those who help them came to Long Island on Sunday.
Close to 1000 immigrants and their supporters rallied in front of the Massapequa Park office of Representative Peter King. Among them were several bus loads of immigrants from the east end. Congressman King co-sponsored the legislation in the House.
And on Monday in Bridgehampton a League of Women Voters forum dealt with the need for a hiring site for day-laborers who congregate on the streets of Southampton.
Last fall a coalition of church, business and community groups formed a committee to find a site and to obtain private funding for a day laborer hiring center similar to those established in other towns on Long Island.
Southampton Town Councilman Steve Kenny, who teaches economics told the forum the Town Council will support efforts to establish a Hiring Center.
Kenny said:
"This, from my perspective as an economist, is globalization coming home.
We need to deal with the presence of day laborers. We need to find a way to make them an integral and effective part of our community and a contributing and legal part of our community."
Others who spoke supported the hiring center concept but a group of people allied with the anti-immigrant "Minutemen" movement interrupted speakers several times to disagree.
After the forum Southampton Village Mayor Mark Epley spoke to reporters. He indicated that land donated to the Village by the Town of Southampton would be developed and that it could serve as a temporary location for a hiring site.
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This report was prepared by the WPKN / WPKM Long Island News Team
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