The May 1 action, sponsored by the National Legalization Movement, called for "Labor Rights for all Workers" and "Legalization for all Undocumented Immigrants."

Abel Rubio, who works construction jobs and in the tobacco fields, was part of an 11-person delegation from Dudley, North Carolina, that carried the red flags of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC). This was Rubio’s first rally. "The more people who come out to things like this, the better our chance for legalization," Rubio said.

"We hope all workers in this country will fight for their rights and not kneel down," stated Julio González, who came from New York for the rally. Originally from Guatemala, González told the Militant, "We have come to work. We are human beings and deserve the same respect as anyone else."

Twenty-one-year-old Roxana Zuniga, a student from Rochester Hills, Michigan, came to Washington because "every human being is entitled to have equal rights no matter what country they come here from." Originally from El Salvador, Zuniga joined delegations earlier that day visiting legislators to express opposition to Bush’s immigration policy and to present an alternative plan known as the Freedom Act. Most legislators, she explained, were not available to meet with them. Zuniga also noted that the only Latinos she saw during her lobby efforts were those in the cafeteria--in the basement.

Imelda Hernández, 20, came because her dad, originally from Mexico, who harvests mushrooms near Kalamazoo, Michigan, was involved in struggles for better working conditions. "It’s good everyone brought their flags," Hernández said, referring to the flags carried by participants reflecting their countries of origin. There were a sea of flags carried by Hondurans, as well as those from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Argentina, and more.

The action was also called to respond to the March 27 U.S. Supreme Court decision stating that undocumented workers can be fired with no questions asked, for union activity or any other reason. "This decision is a devastating blow to all undocumented workers’ ability to organize for their rights," stated Baldemar Velasquez, president of FLOC.

Brief remarks from the stage were made by numerous speakers representing the various groups sponsoring the rally. In addition to Velasquez, the Latino Workers Center, National Coalition for Dignity and Amnesty for Immigrants, Asociacion Tepeyac of New York, and many others were represented.

Periodic chants interspersed the speakers’ remarks. One of the more popular ones was "Bush, escucha, estamos en la lucha" (Bush, listen, we are in the struggle).

More actions were announced, including a march for legalization in Chicago during Cinco de Mayo.

Tom Headley and Darryl Sheppard contributed to this article.
 
 
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