On March 24, Tom Hansen of the Mexico Solidarity Network (MSN) gave a presentation to a large crowd of Guilford College students. The presentation was sponsored by Hispanos Unidos de Guilford (HUG), and the Center for Principled Problem Solving.Hansen talked about problems in Mexico related to capitalism and neo-liberalism, and how the United States plays a part in these problems. He also talked about immigration issues.

“We’re talking about people working to produce wealth and most of what they produce is privatized into the pockets of a very few people.” said Hansen, in his speech. According to Hansen, around 2-4 percent of Mexicans are wealthy, and up to 15 percent fit into a ‘middle class.’

“Mexicans are not producing for their own benefit.” he said. “They are producing for the benefit of U.S. Consumers.”

Hansen also talked about his projects here in the United States.

“In the last four-to-five years, we started doing community based work with migrant workers in Chicago.” he said, “Our community center just opened up four years ago.”

Hansen was one of the founders of the MSN.

“A lot of us felt that there had not been much of a response to the Acteal massacre in the United States.” he said. Hansen and others organized a meeting in Washington D.C. “We ended up with 300 people at the meeting and as a result of that, we founded the Mexico Solidarity Network. Folks asked me to be the first director and I’ve been there ever since.”

“I’m hoping that some of the various organizations that have a vested interest in immigration issue can come together and plan things that will continue to attract this kind of interest.” said Judy Harvey, who was present and is the Engaged Learning and Teaching Specialist for the Center for Principled Problem Solving. She sees this talk as a part of a larger movement at Guilford for immigration reform.

The Mexico Solidarity Network organized part of the study abroad program to Mexico last fall. “We’re going to do it again this year,” said Hansen.