Vol. 73/No. 19      May 18, 2009

“We need to give people who make very important contributions to our society the chance to formally become members of it,” Campos said.

Such a “road to citizenship for a few is a road filled with road blocks, twists, turns, and potholes,” Sherman responded.

“This road,” said Sherman, “includes telling many immigrants without papers to ‘get back to the end of the line’ and pay outrageous fines. And after all that, there is no guarantee of getting papers. This is worse than a road to nowhere, it’s a trap. What we need to fight for is immediate, unconditional legalization for all immigrants, without restrictions.”

Jacob Perasso, Socialist Workers candidate for Atlanta city council president, addressed a rally in Gainesville, Florida. “The Socialist Workers campaign calls for legalization now for all immigrant workers without conditions,” he said. “We need legalization to unite the working class.”

“The bosses try to divide us,” Perasso, a meat cutter, explained. “They want immigrant workers in this country but they don’t want to give them equal rights. What they want are workers who are afraid to fight against unsafe conditions on the job and for unions. We can’t let the bosses divide us. Workers born here need to join this fight. It is our own.”

In Seattle, SWP candidate for mayor Mary Martin spoke at a May Day rally and in San Juan, Texas, Róger Calero, the 2008 SWP candidate for U.S. president, spoke.
 
 
Related articles:
Chicago May 1 rally demands legalization
‘Immigrant rights central issue for labor’
Phoenix march protests anti-immigrant sheriff
Many students join California May 1 marches
Los Angeles: ‘We need legalization, employment’
Caribbean workers march May 1 for jobs, pay raise
Immigrant workers put stamp on actions  
 
 
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