Day laborers protest against apartment complex policy

A group of Hoover residents are protesting on Lorna Road. They say the managers of their apartment complex are making it difficult for them to find work.

These day laborers usually wait in the parking lot outside their apartments at Lorna Place and employers drive up and hire them for a day. Now, they are being told they can't wait outside, so they are missing out on jobs and money.

The day laborers want to be able to stand outside their home and wait for work. The workers say they have even gone across the street, but Hoover police just send them away. To help with their protest, the national group "No Papers, No Fear" sent people here to help them protest.

One resident was almost in tears telling how he feels discriminated against and how he cannot even provide for his family.

"It makes me feel weak and small, something like that. I cannot explain to you what I feel like when I got nowhere to go," day laborer Salvador Gonzales said.

The management of Lorna Place gave the following statement via spokesperson David Margulies:

"Providing a safe community for all our residents requires that we restrict traffic on the property to residents and their guests.  Having people congregate on the property to attract individuals seeking day workers generates additional traffic, inhibits access and egress from our community. Additionally, this excess traffic brings strangers on to the property to the detriment of the safety of our residents.  While we sympathize with those seeking work, the apartment community is not an appropriate venue for this type of activity."

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