On Monday, January 3, 2011 members of the California Dream Network (CDN) attended the inauguration of California Governor Jerry Brown and handed him a letter requesting passage of the California Dream Act and driver's license legislation for undocumented immigrants.
The results of the mid-term elections of Nov. 2, 2010 showed that Latino and immigrant voters were crucial to the election of Jerry Brown as governor of California and that of other pro-immigrant legislators to several key governmental positions.
Ariana Gonzalez, steering member of the Northern Region, provides a detailed account of their experience:
During campaign Brown said if CA Dream Act makes it to his desk (as presented to former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger) he would sign it, and the CA Dream Network wants to make sure he follows through on his promise.
Representatives from San Joaquin Delta College Puente Club (Ariana Gonzalez, Monica Gomez) and Sacramento State University (Motec. Sanchez) showed up on Inauguration day with the goal of getting a letter of congratulations and reminder into the hands of Gov. Jerry Brown, but we hadn't really figured out how.
We were able to get into the inauguration, had some lunch at The People's Inauguration Party sponsored by Orange County Employees Association and Senator Lou Correa before heading inside to the Governor's office.
We waited outside his office trying to figure out how to make it past security, after 30 minutes or so, the doors opened and he came through with his entourage, I made it past his escorts and handed him the letter and said “this is on behalf of the CA Dream Network, we look forward to working with you in passing the CA Dream Act”, he took it and said “Great!”, then handed the letter to security. It all happened so fast, but our goal for the day was completed.
Afterward we went upstairs to Assembly member Cedillo’s office and spoke with Luis Quinones, gave him a copy of the letter and asked to know how we can support their work.