The Militant (logo)  
   Vol. 70/No. 16           April 24, 2006  
 
 
2 million rally for immigrant rights
Half million in D.C.
(lead article)
 
BY SAM MANUEL  
WASHINGTON—In the largest mobilization held as part of the National Day of Action for Immigrant Justice, more than 500,000 people rallied here April 10. The huge crowd, swelling some 10 blocks down the National Mall from the Capitol to the Washington Monument, was full of groups of hotel and restaurant workers, construction workers, parking lot attendants, and others who said they either left work early or took the day off entirely.

Actions were held in more than 100 U.S. cities. The protest here was organized by the National Capital Immigration Coalition—comprised of unions, immigrant rights organizations, churches, and students groups.

It came on the heels of a giant protest in Dallas the day before that drew half a million people. The largest rallies held that day included ones that drew 50,000 in San Diego; 30,000 each in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Fort Worth, Texas; and 25,000 in Salt Lake City.

In addition to Washington, massive actions took place in a number of cities on April 10. About 125,000 rallied in New York; 100,000 in Phoenix; 75,000 in Ft. Myers, Florida; and 50,000 in Atlanta and Houston. Actions in about a dozen other cities drew between 10,000 and 20,000. In all 2 million people were involved in the events nationwide (see chart).

The overwhelming majority of those at the rally here hailed from Latin America. But many others had emigrated from countries in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean.

Many carried signs opposing HR 4437 a bill sponsored by Republican congressman James Sensenbrenner. The measure, which makes it a felony to be in the United States without proper documents or to aid undocumented immigrants, was passed by the House of Representatives in December.

Through their chants, banners, and signs most working people and others who turned out focused on demanding their rights now. “¡Amnistía ahora!” (Amnesty now) read many signs. Among the most popular chants were “¡Sí se puede!” (Yes, we can), “¡Bush escucha, inmigrantes en la lucha!” (Bush, listen, immigrant are fighting), and “¡Hoy marchamos, mañana votamos!” (Today we march, tomorrow we vote.)  
 
Workers down tools
The rally also had the character of a walkout. Hundreds of thousands of workers nationwide were absent from their jobs—in many cases encouraged by their unions to down tools for a day and join the demonstration. Most of the marchers were from Washington, Virginia, and Maryland, registering the growing numbers of workers from Latin America now living in the area.

An article that appeared in the April 8 Washington Post described how organizers from the Laborers Union were building the rally by visiting worksites in the region to encourage workers to take off and instead attend the rally.

“Are we going Monday, guys?” union organizer Miguel Caballo asked workers as he leafleted for the rally at construction sites near Dulles International Airport, the Post reported. “I have papers, you understand,” said Walter Salazar, a member of the union who took a leaflet from Caballo. “But I’m going to support those who don’t.”

“Whether you are a resident, a citizen, or undocumented—everyone needs to oppose these proposals,” Ernesto Rivera, an International Union of Operating Engineers Local 99 shop steward, told the Militant. “Once they criminalize or impose certain conditions on one group of workers, they will do the same to everybody else.”

“We won’t be pushed around anymore,” said Roberto Molina, a construction worker, standing with about 50 other workers wearing bright orange T-shirts that read Laborers Union in blue letters. “Latinos are leading the way. But we won’t be far behind,” said Jian Li, who left China with his parents in 1990.

Among union speakers were officials of the Service Employees International Union and United Food and Commercial Workers. AFL-CIO president John Sweeney also spoke.

Democratic senator Edward Kennedy, sponsor of an alternative “immigration reform” bill along with Republican John McCain, also addressed the rally. “They say you should report to deport,” Kennedy said of HR 4437. “I say report to become American citizens.” To obtain citizenship under the McCain-Kennedy bill, undocumented workers are required to pay hefty fines and application fees, and enlist in a pool of “temporary workers,” dependent on their boss to stay in the country. They would also be required to maintain their job for six years, after which they could apply for permanent residency.  
 
African-American presence at rally
“There are some who tell us you are my enemy,” SEIU vice president Gerry Hudson told the crowd. “They say that immigrant workers are taking good jobs from Blacks.” Hudson was referring to a theme that has been repeated in the press citing growing opposition among African-Americans to immigration. “But I remember that 400 years ago my ancestors were brought here by force also to work jobs that nobody else wanted to do,” Hudson said to applause.

“There are a lot of students from our school,” said Keisha Adams, who attends Cardozo High School.

“This has brought students together, Latino and Black,” added her friend Gloria Morales, who was born in the United States but whose parents emigrated from El Salvador. Hundreds of students in schools in the region participated in walkouts to press demands for legal status.

“I came to show support for Javier,” said Steven Richards, 28, a Black worker who attended the rally with a co-worker, Javier Acosta, from a landscaping company in nearby Fairfax, Virginia. “Somebody had to stand up for us against racism. Now its our turn.”
 
 
Related articles:
125,000 in New York
Hundreds of thousands skip work to join rallies
A blow for all working people
April 9-10 Actions for Immigrant Rights by State and City  
 
 
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