The lively action on June 25 was in response to the "no match letters" sent from the Social Security Administration to employers and workers. If the name of the employee and the social security number don’t match, the boss fires the worker. The letter doesn’t necessarily signify that the worker is illegal.

"Sí se puede!" (Yes we can!) said Roberto de la Cruz from the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. "Sí se puede!" the crowd roared back as he began his speech. "There are 9 million undocumented workers in this country who pay billions a year in taxes. Please reward our work and legalize us!"

A young summer intern with Jobs with Justice told the Militant that the "no match" firings are "messed up." She cited the USA Patriot Act passed with bipartisan support in Congress after September 11 and said that "immigrants and those fighting for social justice are being attacked a lot more and are urged not to speak, not to fight."

Martín Unzueta, with the United Network for Immigrants and Refugees, said, "We are here selling our [labor] with dignity. This nation is growing because of immigration from Mexico and from across the Atlantic. We all work, we all pay taxes.... How can one say that the labor of one is not worth the same as another?"

Oscar Corral, an organizer from the Carpenter’s union said, "We are here in the United States fighting to get out of the hole. Every time we try to do something for ourselves they put us back down. It’s not fair."

Many of these protesters said that they would be returning for a larger protest action on July 1 to demand immigrant rights.  
 
 
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