Capitol April 10, in Atlanta
WASHINGTON: Tens of thousands of immigrants and activists rallied across the U.S. April 10 in a coordinated set of protests aimed at pressing Congress to approve immigration measures that would grant 11 million immigrants living here illegally a path toward citizenship.
Organizers said demonstrations were taking place in at least 18 states and in Washington, where a large, festive crowd gathered on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol.
“We won’t win immigration reform just coming to Washington. We need to walk the streets all over the country,” said Ben Monterroso, national director of civic participation of the Service Employees International Union, which represents nurses and lower-wage employees including janitors and child care workers.
In Atlanta, more than 1,000 people marched around the Georgia Capitol midday, calling for comprehensive changes to immigration policy and an end to deportation.
In San Francisco, several hundred demonstrators marched toward the federal building holding red and orange paper flowers representing the number of people deported daily for immigration violations. Immigration activists rally across California
Members of the expanding crowd chanted in English and Spanish and held signs and banners reading “Reunite Families Now,” “Undocumented…Unafraid,” “We Will No Longer Remain in the Shadows” and “Don’t Deport Another Dream.”
“We are here because of our ancestors, our future generations and those who are detained,” said the Rev. Deborah Lee of the Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights in Northern California, one of groups taking part in the demonstration.
“We are here for all of our families,” she said.
Another demonstrator, Eva Seligman-Kennard, a board member of the Jewish Community Relations Council, also voiced her support for immigration reform.
“We are all immigrants and nobody is free until we all are free,” she said.
Dozens of police officers monitored the crowd, which was peaceful during the march.
As the procession snaked its way toward the Federal Building before the evening rush hour commute, many marchers held red and orange paper flowers they said represented the scores of people deported daily for immigration violations.
“They’re taking a stand for comprehensive immigration reform,” San Francisco Supervisor John Avalos said. “This is very important.”
The march in San Francisco comes after a Sacramento rally where about 50 people gathered around noon outside the federal courthouse downtown. Speakers at the labor-organized event said they want Congress to approve immigration policy that creates an easy-to-navigate system that won’t break apart families.
One of the attendees, Rosa Torres, said she came to the U.S. illegally from Mexico in 1998 after her mother, who lives in Sacramento, had a heart attack.
Torres said she is the only one in her family who was born outside the U.S. and she fears that one day she could be separated from her 9-year-old daughter.
“I came over here to be with my mother and then as soon as I got here I started working,” said Torres, 39, who does maintenance work to support her daughter as well as six nieces and nephews. “I don’t come to live by the government, like welfare. I never asked any help for that.”
Elsewhere in the state, several hundred people demonstrated peacefully outside the Los Angeles office of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Activists also gathered for a prayer breakfast at a church in San Jose and rallied outside Feinstein’s San Diego office.
“It’s important to keep pushing for something that is more comprehensive, broad,” said Jose Mondragon, 24, who entered the U.S. illegally as an 11-year-old and recently applied for a two-year permit that would grant him permission to work.
The San Diego City Council voted unanimously to support broad immigration measures that includes paths to citizenship. -AP
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