May Day march to advocate for fair, humane immigration reform

The March for Immigration Reform taking place in downtown Minneapolis is expected to draw more than 1,000 participants, according to the Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network, which is organizing the event. The march will start at 2 p.m. at Martin Luther King Park, 41st and Nicollet Ave. S., unite with people along the way and end at 4 p.m. at the Minneapolis Convention Center, 1st and Grant, where the state Republican Party is holding its convention.

At 4:30 p.m., a rally will be held in Loring Park.

“Marchers are focusing on passing immigration reform and protesting Arizona\’s recent punitive immigration law,” the group said. According to key march organizers, the Arizona law is already being called unconstitutional by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and will cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars in lost business and tax revenue.

"We are taking action this Saturday to show people that immigrants are not the problem, immigrants are part of the solution. We pay taxes and we contribute to the state – we are marching to help people see that our rights need to be respected," said Ruth Nava, a board member of the Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network.

Marchers will gather at the bandstand area of Loring Park to listen and participate in an evening program whose line up includes local Spanish-language radio DJs, live performers, personal testimonies of affected families and advocacy efforts to raise awareness of the need for fair and humane immigration reform.