Wednesday, 2 May 2007Thousands demonstrate in US immigration marches
Tens of thousands of activists rallied across the United States on Tuesday to demand an overhaul of immigration laws and greater rights for the country's estimated 12 million illegal workers.
Protests were underway or scheduled in several major cities -- including Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit and New York -- by a broad coalition of immigrant rights' campaigners.
The rallies are taking place on the one year anniversary of massive protests which saw more than one million, mostly Hispanic, workers stage an unprecedented "economic boycott" by skipping work for a day.
However, divisions among activist groups about the best way to campaign for reform as well as fear among illegal workers following a series of immigration crackdowns are likely to mean a lower turnout, activists say.
In Los Angeles, where around 500,000 protestors brought the city's business district to a halt last year, some 2,500 people waving Mexican and American flags gathered downtown ahead of a noon (1900 GMT) march to city hall.
Marchers called for reform to offer a route to citizenship for illegal immigrants, carrying placards reading "Legalization Now!" and chanting "stop the deportations."
Organizers said they expected 100,000 people to attend the marches. City officials however said they were planning for around 20,000.
Flavia Jimenez, an analyst at the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest non-profit Latino rights organization in the US which opposes a boycott, said workers were wary of possible repercussions if they protested.
"There is more fear this time and that is preventing our community from mobilizing like last year," Jimenez told AFP.
Although smaller than 12 months ago, the Los Angeles protests will force the closure of 17 downtown streets and some 60 bus routes have been changed.
The murder trial of legendary music producer Phil Spector has also been adjourned for the day.
In Chicago, three separate rallies were expected to converge on the city's business district.
A few hundred activists had gathered in Chicago's Union Park early Tuesday to call for immigration reform.
"It's unjust, the dark times we're living in," 42-year-old laborer Nacho Santos said through an interpreter.
In Detroit, about 10,000 people, also waving Mexican and American flags, marched carrying banners reading "Legislation Now, No Guest Worker Bill" and "Amnesty for All."
"We're here for my late father who was an illegal," said Rosalie Delagarza Johnstone, a Detroit-born Mexican-American who attended the rally with her 18-year-old son, David, who skipped school to participate.
"He was deported, then fought his way back here to make a better life for me and my brothers and sisters. He joined the army and could have died, would have died, to help us."
On the east coast, groups rallying under the New York Immigration Coalition and National May 1st Movement for Worker and Immigrant Rights were to hold marches to demand a clear for all undocumented immigrants.
"We will be creating a family tree to symbolize the struggles of millions of immigrant families to stay together," the coalition said in a statement, calling for the government to "stop tearing families apart!"
The May 1st Movement called for supporters to boycott any form of economic activity on Tuesday, including shopping, working and even going to school.
President George W. Bush last month called for an overhaul of immigration laws by the end of the year. Analysts believe reform will stall if the issue drags into 2008, as focus turns to the race for the White House.
Bush's proposals include the creation of a temporary guest worker program and clearing the way for some undocumented immigrants to become US citizens, coupled with a series of tougher security measures.
Democrats on Tuesday issued a statement calling for an overhaul of immigration laws.
"America needs comprehensive immigration reform that strengthens our borders, protects US workers and their wages, and allows immigrants who pay taxes and obey the law to earn the opportunity to apply for the responsibilities of citizenship," Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean said.
02.05.2007
Bakutoday.net |
Wednesday, 2 May 2007
Protestations in US
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