Now is the moment when all those who believe in equal rights for all - those involved in struggles to uphold our dignity as workers, youth, and citizens of the world - should turn their attention to building the largest turn out possible for the October 12 immigrant rights march in Washington D.C. The demands for the demonstration include: end the deportations, human and constitutional rights for all, equal opportunities, defense of affirmative action, a call for free public education, expansion of health services, and an end to police brutality.

These demands have a very broad reach and can attract many fight-minded people. Youth returning from the U.S.-Cuba Youth Exchange can be approached to go to Washington and bring their friends. The many thousands of trade unionists who will be out marching on Labor Day will take interest in and want to discuss this demonstration.

This march comes in the context of a bipartisan assault on the rights of immigrants. Democratic president William Jefferson Clinton took the lead in this offensive against immigrants when he signed the federal welfare bill, which denies most immigrants, documented and undocumented, any social entitlements. The Republican governor of California, Peter Wilson, has already used the bill as an opening to try to implement parts of the anti-immigrant Proposition 187. Republican presidential candidate Robert Dole, though distancing himself from some anti-immigrant planks in his party's platform, touts the welfare bill as a G.O.P. creation.

These attacks, however, are met time after time by droves of young people and immigrants demanding their rights. "We're here and we're staying here" was the spirit of nearly 2,000 demonstrators the day before the Democratic Convention opened in Chicago, for instance. This resistance gives momentum to the efforts to the build October 12 action.

In many cities, coalitions have already formed to build the march. Rallies and public forums are being organized to let people know about the action, and sign them up to go. We urge Militant readers to join in this effort. If there's not a coalition in your city yet, you can take the opportunity to find and link up with others to initiate building, organizing transport, and raising money for a delegation to be there. For information about the march you can contact organizers in New York at (212) 473-3936 or in Los Angeles at (213) 268-8472.

Let's pull out all stops to smother Washington D.C. with people demanding equal rights for immigrants.  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home