Mall 205 Blocks Day Laborers from Parking Lot

Day laborers in Portland, Oregon, have been banned from gathering at the Mall 205 Home Depot parking lot to find work. Since July, security guards have forced workers off the property, citing a prohibition on solicitation.

The change has left day laborers with limited options for finding employment, according to Karla Castañeda of Voz Workers’ Rights Education Project. They now congregate at Southeast Washington Street, which they claim creates a hazardous traffic situation.

Castañeda maintains that the workers are simply trying to make a living and provide for their families. 'All they are wanting to do is provide for themselves,' she said. 'They’re not here asking for anything other then an opportunity to feed themselves (and) feed their families.'

The Mall 205 owner, GRE Management, has defended the ban, stating that it is intended to promote safety and security at the shopping center.