Chanting, flaunting banners for freedom and waving hundreds of flags, tens of thousands of immigrants and their allies marched to the U.S. Capitol, demanding that undocumented workers in the U.S. be legalized and granted equal rights as citizens of the country.
The D.C. rally was one of more than 100 nationwide on the "National Day of Action on Immigration," April 10, and it had a distinct message for lawmakers who are wrestling with immigration legislation: That immigrants and their allies are a new and powerful political force, demanding equality and holding legislators accountable.
Rallies were held the past few days in many communities, including the Twin Cities, where some 40,000 people marched to the state Capitol.
The April 10 demonstrations came days after Senate negotiations broke down over a comprehensive immigration reform plan. Key elements of the plan included steps to grant permanent residence--"green cards"--to an estimated 11 million-12 million undocumented workers now in the U.S., to establish a "guest worker" program to admit at least 400,000 immigrants per year and to strengthen border enforcement.
Lead organizer Jaime Contreras of Service Employees Local 32B-J District 82 claimed the D.C. rally drew approximately 500,000 people, making it one of the largest demonstrations ever in the nation's capital.
The colorful, peaceful demonstration featured alternating English and Spanish chants. "Nosotros producamos la riquenza de este pais, por esta exigimos justicia," read one sign. "We produce the wealth of the country. That is why we demand justice."
The past commander of the American GI Forum, an Hispanic veterans organization, wore his group's cap and carried a sign that really brought home one point to those lawmakers who would outlaw and deport undocumented workers: "70,000 immigrants are fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. Do not make them criminals."
AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said the march, and its counterpart marches nationwide, from Los Angeles to Chicago to New York to Miami to Boston to St. Louis to Portland to the Twin Cities, "marked a moment for an historic decision" by the United States.
The immigration debate, he said, poses a choice between a nation that "welcomes families fleeing poverty and oppression" to "seek a better life" or one that "rejects our heritage and puts up signs that say the American Dream is open only to a few.
"Our answer is clear: We are all immigrants. We all hope. We all love. We all cry. We all worship. We all work. And we all have rights."
Other speakers were similarly sharp, calling for a legal path for green cards for the undocumented workers, reunification of families split by immigration, full labor rights for the workers and the right to fully participate in society. Several also warned, as one sign said: "Today we march, tomorrow we vote."
UFCW Vice President Mike Wilson, speaking for the Change To Win federation, offered another reason to oppose the harsh House-passed bill and push for comprehensive reform: H.R. 4437 would criminalize not just the undocumented workers, making them automatic felons, but would declare anyone who helps them is a felon, too -- including union organizers.
Wilson noted that once before in U.S. history, those who helped illegal immigrants were criminalized by federal law: The Fugitive Slave Laws before the Civil War. They made criminals of the abolitionists who helped the slaves via the Underground Railroad, he told the crowd.
If the same thing happens again, and H.R. 4437 is approved -- with criminalization of unionists who help immigrants -- the unionists will defy the law to aid those workers, Wilson promised. Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles has already made the same promise on behalf of dioceses in his region.
"If it becomes illegal to help people raise their wages and improve their living conditions, we'll do it," Wilson told Press Associates after his speech. "It's not just the legal thing to do, it's absolutely the moral thing to do."
Mark Gruenberg writes for Press Associates, Inc., news service. Used by permission.
Related article
More than 40,000 participate in immigrant rights rally
For more information
More on immigration issues can be found at the Resource Center of the Americas' website, www.americas.org
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Chanting, flaunting banners for freedom and waving hundreds of flags, tens of thousands of immigrants and their allies marched to the U.S. Capitol, demanding that undocumented workers in the U.S. be legalized and granted equal rights as citizens of the country.
The D.C. rally was one of more than 100 nationwide on the “National Day of Action on Immigration,” April 10, and it had a distinct message for lawmakers who are wrestling with immigration legislation: That immigrants and their allies are a new and powerful political force, demanding equality and holding legislators accountable.
Rallies were held the past few days in many communities, including the Twin Cities, where some 40,000 people marched to the state Capitol.
The April 10 demonstrations came days after Senate negotiations broke down over a comprehensive immigration reform plan. Key elements of the plan included steps to grant permanent residence–“green cards”–to an estimated 11 million-12 million undocumented workers now in the U.S., to establish a “guest worker” program to admit at least 400,000 immigrants per year and to strengthen border enforcement.
Lead organizer Jaime Contreras of Service Employees Local 32B-J District 82 claimed the D.C. rally drew approximately 500,000 people, making it one of the largest demonstrations ever in the nation’s capital.
The colorful, peaceful demonstration featured alternating English and Spanish chants. “Nosotros producamos la riquenza de este pais, por esta exigimos justicia,” read one sign. “We produce the wealth of the country. That is why we demand justice.”
The past commander of the American GI Forum, an Hispanic veterans organization, wore his group’s cap and carried a sign that really brought home one point to those lawmakers who would outlaw and deport undocumented workers: “70,000 immigrants are fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. Do not make them criminals.”
AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said the march, and its counterpart marches nationwide, from Los Angeles to Chicago to New York to Miami to Boston to St. Louis to Portland to the Twin Cities, “marked a moment for an historic decision” by the United States.
The immigration debate, he said, poses a choice between a nation that “welcomes families fleeing poverty and oppression” to “seek a better life” or one that “rejects our heritage and puts up signs that say the American Dream is open only to a few.
“Our answer is clear: We are all immigrants. We all hope. We all love. We all cry. We all worship. We all work. And we all have rights.”
Other speakers were similarly sharp, calling for a legal path for green cards for the undocumented workers, reunification of families split by immigration, full labor rights for the workers and the right to fully participate in society. Several also warned, as one sign said: “Today we march, tomorrow we vote.”
UFCW Vice President Mike Wilson, speaking for the Change To Win federation, offered another reason to oppose the harsh House-passed bill and push for comprehensive reform: H.R. 4437 would criminalize not just the undocumented workers, making them automatic felons, but would declare anyone who helps them is a felon, too — including union organizers.
Wilson noted that once before in U.S. history, those who helped illegal immigrants were criminalized by federal law: The Fugitive Slave Laws before the Civil War. They made criminals of the abolitionists who helped the slaves via the Underground Railroad, he told the crowd.
If the same thing happens again, and H.R. 4437 is approved — with criminalization of unionists who help immigrants — the unionists will defy the law to aid those workers, Wilson promised. Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles has already made the same promise on behalf of dioceses in his region.
“If it becomes illegal to help people raise their wages and improve their living conditions, we’ll do it,” Wilson told Press Associates after his speech. “It’s not just the legal thing to do, it’s absolutely the moral thing to do.”
Mark Gruenberg writes for Press Associates, Inc., news service. Used by permission.
Related article
More than 40,000 participate in immigrant rights rally
For more information
More on immigration issues can be found at the Resource Center of the Americas’ website, www.americas.org