10,000 rally for immigrants rights in New York, Associated Press
Driving home their desire for freedom, Newark Star-Ledger
10,000 rally for immigrants rights in New York
Associated Press
This article was printed in USA Today, the Star Tribune and other newspapers
NEW YORK (AP) ? Tens of thousands of immigrants and labor activists staged a rally Saturday for better treatment of the nation's immigrants, topping off a two-week-long bus odyssey around the country. Cardinal Edward Egan told the largely Hispanic crowd that the millions of undocumented workers in the United States "are all sons and daughters of one Father in heaven."
"We cannot go on simply ignoring or tolerating the plight of these brothers and sisters of ours," Egan said.
The demonstrators seek the legalization of undocumented workers, better working conditions and the reunification of families.
Organizers estimated Saturday's crowd at 100,000 people; police estimates were not immediately available.
The rally was the final stop of the Immigration Workers Freedom Ride, an 18-bus caravan that carried hundreds of immigrants and their supporters to more than 100 U.S. cities and towns. The campaign was inspired by the freedom riders of the 1960s who boarded buses to protest segregation.
Among the riders was Jesus Morales, a farm worker who is in the United States illegally and has lived in Portland, Ore., for 22 years.
"We want more labor protection so we don't have to be afraid to speak out when we see something bad happening at our workplace," said Morales, originally from Jalisco, Mexico.
The immigration riders arrived in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday and spent two days meeting with members of Congress.
Two bills before Congress would bring legal status to many undocumented workers. One proposal involves bringing in workers for temporary farm work and would give undocumented farm workers in the United States a chance to become permanent residents.
The other bill would allow children of illegal immigrants to become legal residents if they entered the United States before the age of 16 and have been here for five years. It also would allow them access to higher education.
Driving home their desire for freedom
Immigrants rally at stop in Jersey
BY RUDY LARINI
Newark Star-Ledger Staff
Angelica Soto and Guillermo Roacho came on the bus from Los Angeles and yesterday they both held small white crosses inscribed with a name and a date -- the names of fellow Mexicans and the dates they died crossing the desert along the border into the United States.
Josefina Corral came on the bus from Tacoma, Wash. She arrived in the United States when she was 25 years old and has spent the last 13 years working as a housekeeper.
Nearly 1,000 immigrant workers from across the United States were joined by hundreds of supporters yesterday as the Freedom Ride to change American immigration law arrived in New Jersey.
Inspired by the Freedom Rides of the civil rights era, 18 busloads carrying some 900 immigrants, many who are here illegally, converged on Liberty State Park in Jersey City for a rally in which speaker after speaker paid homage to the heritage of immigrants in America.
"As we battled for civil rights in past generations, today we battle for immigration rights," Gov. James E. McGreevey told the cheering crowd of immigrant workers and labor union members.
"The strength of our country is building opportunity, the immigrant experience, generation after generation," he said. "Let us commit ourselves to the same promise of opportunity. We have to keep the promise of America, the promise of those immigrants, alive for the next generation."
Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) recalled his past, 42 years ago as a freedom rider for civil rights, riding a bus through the South and facing arrest in city after city for violating Jim Crow laws against black Americans.
"But we kept coming and you must keep coming," he said. "Keep your eye on the prize and don't give up. We will turn this country around and protect all our workers. It is a fight we have to win, we must win. We won and you're going to win."
The Freedom Ride will cross the Hudson River to New York tomorrow for a 1 p.m. rally in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens that is expected to draw tens of thousands.
The freedom riders traveled some 20,000 miles across America from 10 cities, stopping in more than 100 places for smaller rallies and town meetings. They are crusading for changes in America immigration law that would create a legal path for undocumented immigrants who are in this country illegally to become citizens, work freely in America and reunify their families.
"We will not rest until we achieve these goals," said John Sweeney, president of the national AFL-CIO.
"All we want is the opportunity to give our families, our children, better lives. We are not takers; we are givers," said Assembly Speaker Albio Sires (D-Hudson), recalling his family's arrival in the United States 42 years ago.
"I remember my father making the same complaints I am hearing today," Sires said.
Rep. Robert Menendez (D-14th Dist.) reminded his listeners that the fruit they may have eaten for breakfast yesterday was probably picked by immigrants and the hotel room they stayed in was more than likely cleaned by immigrants.
"We are dependent upon each other and that is why we seek legalization for all people," the congressman said.
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10,000 rally for immigrants rights in New York, Associated Press
Driving home their desire for freedom, Newark Star-Ledger
10,000 rally for immigrants rights in New York
Associated Press
This article was printed in USA Today, the Star Tribune and other newspapers
NEW YORK (AP) ? Tens of thousands of immigrants and labor activists staged a rally Saturday for better treatment of the nation’s immigrants, topping off a two-week-long bus odyssey around the country. Cardinal Edward Egan told the largely Hispanic crowd that the millions of undocumented workers in the United States “are all sons and daughters of one Father in heaven.”
“We cannot go on simply ignoring or tolerating the plight of these brothers and sisters of ours,” Egan said.
The demonstrators seek the legalization of undocumented workers, better working conditions and the reunification of families.
Organizers estimated Saturday’s crowd at 100,000 people; police estimates were not immediately available.
The rally was the final stop of the Immigration Workers Freedom Ride, an 18-bus caravan that carried hundreds of immigrants and their supporters to more than 100 U.S. cities and towns. The campaign was inspired by the freedom riders of the 1960s who boarded buses to protest segregation.
Among the riders was Jesus Morales, a farm worker who is in the United States illegally and has lived in Portland, Ore., for 22 years.
“We want more labor protection so we don’t have to be afraid to speak out when we see something bad happening at our workplace,” said Morales, originally from Jalisco, Mexico.
The immigration riders arrived in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday and spent two days meeting with members of Congress.
Two bills before Congress would bring legal status to many undocumented workers. One proposal involves bringing in workers for temporary farm work and would give undocumented farm workers in the United States a chance to become permanent residents.
The other bill would allow children of illegal immigrants to become legal residents if they entered the United States before the age of 16 and have been here for five years. It also would allow them access to higher education.
Driving home their desire for freedom
Immigrants rally at stop in Jersey
BY RUDY LARINI
Newark Star-Ledger Staff
Angelica Soto and Guillermo Roacho came on the bus from Los Angeles and yesterday they both held small white crosses inscribed with a name and a date — the names of fellow Mexicans and the dates they died crossing the desert along the border into the United States.
Josefina Corral came on the bus from Tacoma, Wash. She arrived in the United States when she was 25 years old and has spent the last 13 years working as a housekeeper.
Nearly 1,000 immigrant workers from across the United States were joined by hundreds of supporters yesterday as the Freedom Ride to change American immigration law arrived in New Jersey.
Inspired by the Freedom Rides of the civil rights era, 18 busloads carrying some 900 immigrants, many who are here illegally, converged on Liberty State Park in Jersey City for a rally in which speaker after speaker paid homage to the heritage of immigrants in America.
“As we battled for civil rights in past generations, today we battle for immigration rights,” Gov. James E. McGreevey told the cheering crowd of immigrant workers and labor union members.
“The strength of our country is building opportunity, the immigrant experience, generation after generation,” he said. “Let us commit ourselves to the same promise of opportunity. We have to keep the promise of America, the promise of those immigrants, alive for the next generation.”
Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) recalled his past, 42 years ago as a freedom rider for civil rights, riding a bus through the South and facing arrest in city after city for violating Jim Crow laws against black Americans.
“But we kept coming and you must keep coming,” he said. “Keep your eye on the prize and don’t give up. We will turn this country around and protect all our workers. It is a fight we have to win, we must win. We won and you’re going to win.”
The Freedom Ride will cross the Hudson River to New York tomorrow for a 1 p.m. rally in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens that is expected to draw tens of thousands.
The freedom riders traveled some 20,000 miles across America from 10 cities, stopping in more than 100 places for smaller rallies and town meetings. They are crusading for changes in America immigration law that would create a legal path for undocumented immigrants who are in this country illegally to become citizens, work freely in America and reunify their families.
“We will not rest until we achieve these goals,” said John Sweeney, president of the national AFL-CIO.
“All we want is the opportunity to give our families, our children, better lives. We are not takers; we are givers,” said Assembly Speaker Albio Sires (D-Hudson), recalling his family’s arrival in the United States 42 years ago.
“I remember my father making the same complaints I am hearing today,” Sires said.
Rep. Robert Menendez (D-14th Dist.) reminded his listeners that the fruit they may have eaten for breakfast yesterday was probably picked by immigrants and the hotel room they stayed in was more than likely cleaned by immigrants.
“We are dependent upon each other and that is why we seek legalization for all people,” the congressman said.