The Militant - October 16, 2000 -- October 14 march planned to demand rights for immigrants

Vol.64/No.39 October 16, 2000

October 14 march planned to demand rights for immigrants

BY BETSEY STONE
CHICAGO--Defenders of immigrant rights will march in several cities around the country October 14 to press the government to grant legal residence to the more than 6 million undocumented workers living in the United States today.

A national march will take place in Washington that day. It will coincide with marches and rallies in New York; Chicago; Homestead, Florida; Austin, Texas; Fresno, California; and other cities.

Explaining why as many working people as possible should participate in the actions, Jaime Martínez, labor coordinator for the action in the U.S. capital, said in a telephone interview that the fight to build strong unions is tied to defending the rights of immigrants. "We are fighting for the right of immigrant workers to organize unions without reprisals," he said.

Martínez, organizing director for the International Union of Electronic Workers/Communications Workers of America, reported that marchers will be going to Washington from San Antonio, Texas; Tucson, Arizona; Los Angeles, and Washington State.

The October 14 march in Washington is sponsored by Coordinadora 96-2000. A brochure publicizing the march raises several demands, including: unconditional amnesty for undocumented workers; human and constitutional rights for all; civil and equal opportunities for all; citizen review boards against police brutality, abuses by the immigration service, and racist attacks.

Endorsers of the October 14 march in Washington include the International Union of Electronic Workers, Farm Workers Organizing Committee, National Council of La Raza, Latino Organization of the Southwest, and Illinois League of United Latin American Citizens.

The march in Washington will assemble in Malcolm X (Meridian) Park at 16th Street and Euclid, and will end at the Lincoln Memorial. For more information call the Coordinadora 96-2000 at (800) 243-6771.

The October 14 march in Chicago will assemble at 10:00 a.m. at four different points and converge for a rally at the federal building at 1:30 p.m. Buses for Washington leave from Chicago the evening before at 6:00 p.m. from Benito Juárez High School (corner of Ashland and Cermak). Tickets can be purchased at Casa Aztlan; tel: (312) 666-5508.

The march in New York will assemble at 10:00 a.m. at Columbus Circle, at 59th Street, and march to the United Nations. For information call (212) 633-7108 or (212) 473-3936.

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