For example, businesses owners usually call the police and the immigration services to complain about day laborers waiting for work in front of their businesses. As a result of this, day laborers were chased down and subsequently arrested and deported. This mobilized VOZ and with the help of other organizations they took actions to support the day laborer population. With the support of other organizations, churches and community members, VOZ organized a plan to negotiate with the Portland police so they can better understand the day laborers community. The police had previously associated the day laborers with illegal activities in the surrounding neighborhood. VOZ negotiation with the Portland police and the increased involvement of the day laborers in the community (picking up litter and reporting incidents of crimes such as drug and prostitution) began to change the stigma of day laborers. The police then began to see the day laborers as hard workers and not criminals. When the police began understanding the culture of the day laborers, relations and situation for the day laborers started to
For example, businesses owners usually call the police and the immigration services to complain about day laborers waiting for work in front of their businesses. As a result of this, day laborers were chased down and subsequently arrested and deported. This mobilized VOZ and with the help of other organizations they took actions to support the day laborer population. With the support of other organizations, churches and community members, VOZ organized a plan to negotiate with the Portland police so they can better understand the day laborers community. The police had previously associated the day laborers with illegal activities in the surrounding neighborhood. VOZ negotiation with the Portland police and the increased involvement of the day laborers in the community (picking up litter and reporting incidents of crimes such as drug and prostitution) began to change the stigma of day laborers. The police then began to see the day laborers as hard workers and not criminals. When the police began understanding the culture of the day laborers, relations and situation for the day laborers started to