Just a Thought: Rosa Rosales
By Steve Walker
By Steve Walker
Continuing on my mission to write about
local and national Hispanic icons for the past 3 ½ years, today I write about another
local female. Rosa Rosales is a well-known activist for immigration reform and
Latino issues.
A beloved member of the local community
she is revered by many to include myself for her willingness to stand up for
the weak and disenfranchised and fight for human dignity when she sees it is
being abused.
She is a Past National LULAC President
having served four terms as the organization’s national spokesperson.
A woman who doesn’t mince words, Rosa Rosales has been at the
forefront along with the likes of United International Farm Workers President
Cesar Chavez, and local
activist and member of LULAC, Jaime
Martinez. “Just a Thought” has covered both Chavez & Martinez
in more than one column. This is my second column on Rosa.
What makes her so unique is her
dignified and maternal demeanor that at times can quickly escalate into
passionate fiery rhetoric when challenged to defend the underdog and those she
feel are being discriminated against.
When necessary, she lets her adversaries
know that she is not to be trifled with or summarily dismissed as someone not
familiar with the issue at hand.
When she addresses Latino issues she is
prepared, speaks articulately, passionately and will not hesitate to take her
antagonist to task.
CNN Financial Anchor Lou Dobbs, (now Fox News Talk Show
host) hosted a town forum entitled "Broken Borders" at the Empire
Theatre, October 25th, 2006 her first year as National LULAC
President. The hour long live show featured Rosa, David Trasvina, a
lawyer from MALDEF, Austin Republican Congressman Mike McCaul and various experts on immigration in America from Washington.
Then Mayor Lou
Barletta of Hazelton, Pennsylvania showed
up to blast illegal immigration and told the audience of his city's recent
ordinance prohibiting citizen's from renting or hiring "illegal
aliens" who he said was taking over his town.
The debate became heated when Dobbs asked Rosales if she thought Mexico was doing its part in the war on illegal immigration. Charges of racism were hurled in the debate with the panel which was airing live on CNN from 6 -7 p.m. Rosales also took exception to the term "illegal alien" vs. undocumented worker.
The debate became heated when Dobbs asked Rosales if she thought Mexico was doing its part in the war on illegal immigration. Charges of racism were hurled in the debate with the panel which was airing live on CNN from 6 -7 p.m. Rosales also took exception to the term "illegal alien" vs. undocumented worker.
She took him to task reminding him that
Hispanics were not aliens from outer space as he unsuccessfully tried to cut
her off. She didn’t flinch, holding her own while continuing to speak. He shook
his head laughing and rolling his eyes and let her finish her comments. She was
roundly cheered by the local attendees.
Ten years later not much has changed in
the rhetoric we heard then in the country. It is in the forefront in the 2016 Presidential
race.
I also had the pleasure of her presence
in my courtroom once when I was a Judge. She successfully and articulately
spoke against an illegal eviction of a tenant who had actually paid their rent.
She was eloquent, focused on the issue referencing the law and saving the lady
from being wrongfully evicted.
I have been fortunate to hear her speak
on many occasions to include taking photos of her that night in that forum. A
woman of integrity, dignity and class, I am honored to know her and just be in
the same room with her. She definitely belongs in the group of Hispanic icons
appearing in this column on an on-going basis.
By the way, yesterday Rosa and her
husband Dr. Rudy Rosales celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary
by renewing their vows at St. James Catholic Church on West Theo. Congratulations on the first 50 years and
many more!
Anyway, as always, what I write is “Just
a Thought.”
Steve Walker is a Vietnam Veteran and former Justice of the
Peace and Journalist.
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