Unprecendented Momentum Builds in LA, Nationwide For Realistic, Rational Immigration Reform
Labor Desk
April 10, 2006
Broad Local Coalition Organizes Rallies to Call on Congress to Enact Fair Legislation to Fix Our Broken System.
LOS ANGELES – Messages of faith, humanity and hope for a better America emerged tonight in a moving candlelit procession of immigrant families, union members, students, community advocates and other supporters of fair and compassionate immigration reform led off by Cardinal Roger Mahony in historic Downtown as part of a national day of action that drew thousands across Southern California and roughly a million across the country. Similar events took place in Orange County and the San Fernando Valley.
Immigrants deserve dignity and fairness, but instead they have been singled out under our outdated laws for too long,” said Father Richard Estrada of Our Lady Queen Angels-La Placita Church. “Our principles of faith and equality insist that we recognize their value to our congregations, our communities and this country as a whole.”
Throughout the procession, speakers called on participants to get involved in official events being planned on May 1st – International Workers’ Day – to continue to pressure Congress to enact realistic legislation that makes America more secure, protects all workers, and recognizes the important contribution of immigrants to our economy and American society by providing a pathway to earn citizenship for the estimated 11 million undocumented persons in this country.
I am here with my family to make my voice heard and remind politicians in Washington DC that it is us – immigrants – who clean office buildings, care for the children, grow and pick food, and many other jobs that make this country work,” said Blanca Perez, a janitor from Mexico and a member of the Service Employees International Union Local 1877, which helped organize today’s event. “The problem is not us, it’s the system, and it’s time now for a solution.”
A broad coalition of dozens of interfaith labor religious and other immigrant advocacy organizations who united to organize and sponsor today’s event as part of their ongoing efforts to fix our broken system to strengthen and secure America.
"Immigrant communities across the country are mobilizing and marching in the streets like never before in US history. Today in Los Angeles, immigrants of diverse backgrounds have joined together as part of a national movement calling for justice," said Eun Sook Lee, executive director of the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC).
Everyone who works hard in America should have the opportunity to provide for their families and have a better life,” said Maria Elena Durazo, president of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. “But millions of hardworking, taxpaying immigrants are living in the shadows without a path to earn legal status. This broken system allows employers to exploit immigrant workers, drives down pay and benefit standards for everyone, and breeds divisions in our communities.”
In conjunction with the National Day of Action, union members and other volunteers are registering new eligible voters, and encouraging civic participation as a way for supporters to make their voices heard at the polls in November - and beyond - on issues important to working families like immigration.
We will not tolerate the criminalization and separation of our community”, said
Angela Sanbrano, Executive Director of CARECEN, Central American Resource Center. “We will continue to struggle until we win a just and equitable immigration reform that provides permanent residency with a path to citizenship–Today We Act, Tomorrow We Vote.”
To view a complete list of the local coalition organizations, visit www.TodayWeAct.org . More information about the national day of action events is available at www.April10.org
LOS ANGELES – Messages of faith, humanity and hope for a better America emerged tonight in a moving candlelit procession of immigrant families, union members, students, community advocates and other supporters of fair and compassionate immigration reform led off by Cardinal Roger Mahony in historic Downtown as part of a national day of action that drew thousands across Southern California and roughly a million across the country. Similar events took place in Orange County and the San Fernando Valley.
Immigrants deserve dignity and fairness, but instead they have been singled out under our outdated laws for too long,” said Father Richard Estrada of Our Lady Queen Angels-La Placita Church. “Our principles of faith and equality insist that we recognize their value to our congregations, our communities and this country as a whole.”
Throughout the procession, speakers called on participants to get involved in official events being planned on May 1st – International Workers’ Day – to continue to pressure Congress to enact realistic legislation that makes America more secure, protects all workers, and recognizes the important contribution of immigrants to our economy and American society by providing a pathway to earn citizenship for the estimated 11 million undocumented persons in this country.
I am here with my family to make my voice heard and remind politicians in Washington DC that it is us – immigrants – who clean office buildings, care for the children, grow and pick food, and many other jobs that make this country work,” said Blanca Perez, a janitor from Mexico and a member of the Service Employees International Union Local 1877, which helped organize today’s event. “The problem is not us, it’s the system, and it’s time now for a solution.”
A broad coalition of dozens of interfaith labor religious and other immigrant advocacy organizations who united to organize and sponsor today’s event as part of their ongoing efforts to fix our broken system to strengthen and secure America.
"Immigrant communities across the country are mobilizing and marching in the streets like never before in US history. Today in Los Angeles, immigrants of diverse backgrounds have joined together as part of a national movement calling for justice," said Eun Sook Lee, executive director of the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC).
Everyone who works hard in America should have the opportunity to provide for their families and have a better life,” said Maria Elena Durazo, president of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. “But millions of hardworking, taxpaying immigrants are living in the shadows without a path to earn legal status. This broken system allows employers to exploit immigrant workers, drives down pay and benefit standards for everyone, and breeds divisions in our communities.”
In conjunction with the National Day of Action, union members and other volunteers are registering new eligible voters, and encouraging civic participation as a way for supporters to make their voices heard at the polls in November - and beyond - on issues important to working families like immigration.
We will not tolerate the criminalization and separation of our community”, said
Angela Sanbrano, Executive Director of CARECEN, Central American Resource Center. “We will continue to struggle until we win a just and equitable immigration reform that provides permanent residency with a path to citizenship–Today We Act, Tomorrow We Vote.”
To view a complete list of the local coalition organizations, visit www.TodayWeAct.org . More information about the national day of action events is available at www.April10.org
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