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Vol. 73/No. 19      May 18, 2009

 
Los Angeles: ‘We need legalization, employment’
 
BY WENDY LYONS
LOS ANGELES—“I’m here to stand up for my people,” said Luis Alfredo Garces Mendoza, a Circle K convenience store worker, as he marched on May Day here with his wife, children, and uncle. “We need legalization, the right to driver’s licenses, employment, and an end to the raids.”

Several thousand marched on May Day in seven different demonstrations. Hundreds of students walked out of Lincoln High School to join them. Raúl Cabañas told the Militant, “We came to support our people and to get an education in our schools,” referring to cutbacks by the state government.

Luis, a student from California State University in Los Angeles, said, “People have to unite and make their voices heard. The government is not doing anything. They are just taking advantage of the situation to pay workers low wages. We need legalization for everyone.”

Luis Camacho, who came to the United States under the bracero guest worker program in the 1940s, said he was marching because “we need to strengthen the fight for legalization.”

While many who participated in the marches told the Militant they supported full legalization for undocumented workers, march organizers focused on the demand that President Barack Obama initiate “immigration reform.”

The president of the American Apparel garment company, Dov Charney, headed a contingent of workers in “Legalize Los Angeles” T-shirts from his plant, marshaled by plant supervisors, and spoke at a rally. Shortly after he finished speaking, American Apparel workers were organized to head for buses to leave the demonstration.

In 2006 and 2007, workers shut down production at American Apparel on May 1. In order to avoid that this year, the company organized a contingent, as it did last year, to take part in the march. This year they made sure it did not cut into work hours.

“Bosses have no place at May Day or any actions in defense of workers’ rights,” said Eleanor García, Socialist Workers Party candidate for Congress in the 32nd District and a garment worker. “Bosses at American Apparel are motivated by competition for cheap, skilled labor. They also profit from the second-class status forced on undocumented immigrants.”

García campaigned at the demonstrations for “Legalization now! Stop the raids and deportations!”
 
 
Related articles:
Chicago May 1 rally demands legalization
‘Immigrant rights central issue for labor’
Socialist Workers candidates speak at U.S. May Day rallies
Phoenix march protests anti-immigrant sheriff
Many students join California May 1 marches
Caribbean workers march May 1 for jobs, pay raise
Immigrant workers put stamp on actions  
 
 
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