Hero’s name: Cesar Mata
Home state: Alabama
Organization affiliation: Immigrant Alabama Movement
Why this person is a Community Hero:
“Cesar Mata, affectionately known as ‘Oso,’ is a grassroots community activist and leader in central Alabama. Originally from Mexico, Cesar has lived in Alabama for many years.
Until 2011, Cesar was not very engaged politically, but when Alabama passed HB 56, the most draconian immigration law in the nation, Cesar saw no choice but to speak out and engage in efforts to repeal the law.
As a result, he and other community members founded the Immigrant Alabama Movement (IAM) in 2011. IAM is a member organization of the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice. Cesar serves on the steering committee.
In 2012, Cesar participated in the Alabama Organizing Project’s Grassroots Leadership Development Program, which gave him skills about how to facilitate a community meeting, write letters to the editor, meet with elected officials and more.
He and fellow activists also organized a blood drive in early 2012, which received attention on Jan. 7, 2012 in the Birmingham News.
‘I wanted to show that immigrants are here and that we want to contribute to the state,’ he told the newspaper. ‘I wanted to show that we’re not just asking for things, we want to give, too.’
Most recently, Cesar organized a town hall meeting in Pelham, Alabama, with the mayor and City Council to discuss concerns of the community regarding the closing of a mobile home park where many Hispanics reside.
While Cesar’s efforts did not change the outcome of closing the mobile home park, they have resulted in the city of Pelham aggressively pursuing ways to be inclusive of all members of their community.
Cesar traveled with IAM and the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama (HICA) to Washington, D.C. to advocate for immigration reform in 2013, making visits to both of the state’s senators. He and members of IAM have been regular participants in the Selma-to-Montgomery march since 2012.
Cesar has been involved in successful efforts to halt deportations in Alabama, work that is very new to this community. He is also a member of the Alabama Workers Center, an effort supported by the National Day Laborer Organizing Network.
HICA is excited to have the opportunity to lift up Cesar for his incredible work in the community. He exemplifies the community member who pushes past his own fears to step into an unknown space to advocate for the human rights of his community.
His work in Alabama perfectly aligns with the foot soldiers of the civil rights movement who came before him.”
Honored by: Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama