Indigenous Immigrants Visit Standing Rock – Hundreds of members of the Sioux Tribe of Standing Rock, in North Dakota, and their allies, are still protesting the construction of an oil pipeline by the company Dakota Access, which would cross their ancestral lands. Last week, the police escalated their use of force, attacking protesters with freezing cold water and tear gas. In their struggle against a project that would damage sacred sites and pollute their drinking water, the Sioux have gained support among tribes and indigenous communities all over the United States and Mexico. Purepecha leaders who immigrated from Mexico to Oregon and Washington visited a camp at Standing Rock. Radio Bilingüe’s news director Samuel Orozco spoke with Purepecha leader Albertina Vallejo, of Woodburn, Oregon, about the visit.
More Sanctuary Cities Declared – Concerned about Donald Trump’s threats to deport millions of immigrants and because of the increase in hate crimes, many cities have declared or reaffirmed themselves as Sanctuary Cities. The term refers to cities that refuse to have their police collaborate with immigration agents to deport undocumented immigrants. In some cities, the governments have also declared that they will give refuge and legal help to those who are victims of hate crimes. Marco Vinicio Gonzalez reports from New York City.
California Drought Affecting Health – The long drought affecting California for several years now is also affecting physical and mental health of the residents in some areas and towns in the Central Valley. A survey by health authorities found that respiratory illnesses have increased, as well as stress because of fewer work hours and unemployment. Our correspondent Ruben Tapia visited a clinic in the small city of Lindsay in Tulare County, to see the problem.
