Over 200,000 March for Immigration Reform

[babylonsister]

http://washingtonindependent.com/79892/over-200000-march-for-immigration-reform

Over 200,000 March for Immigration Reform
By Julissa Treviño 3/21/10 6:37 PM


More than 200,000 people gathered on the National Mall today to participate in March for America, a rally advocating comprehensive immigration reform.

Organized by Reform Immigration for America, the rally brought together groups from around the country — including Service Employees International Union, Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, Democracia Ahora and the Coalition for Human Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles — to send a message to lawmakers: “The time for immigration reform is now.”

President Obama delivered a message from the big screens in the crowd in which he assured the demonstrators of his commitment to passing comprehensive immigration reform.

Several lawmakers also spoke at the event, including Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), and several marchers had signs that read, “Luis Gutierrez for President.” Gutierrez, a leading advocate of immigration reform in the House, said, “If America has a problem it can’t solve, it blames immigrants. We’ve been patient long enough. … I know how you can get heard in the Capitol. You raise your voice. Our day is coming.”

Reps. Yvette Clark (D-N.Y.), Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) and Michael Honda (D-Calif.) — as well the only Latino in the Senate, Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) — were among the other lawmakers who spoke at the rally. “It’s time to put the politics of fear aside,” said Menendez.

Although a large portion of the rally was geared toward the Spanish-speaking community (over half of the speakers, in fact, spoke Spanish during their speeches), there were organizations and speakers representing Asians and Africans, and many other minority groups participated in the event to show their support.

“I hope the elected officials will consider comprehensive immigration reform for those who are willing to work and stop deportations,” said Matu Ahmed, an immigrant from Ghana, who came to the rally from New York City with a group of African community members. “You can’t take children from families. This is the time for reform for those children.”

For Ahmed and many others at the rally, immigration reform is a civil rights issue. Ahmed believes the White House should be “humane” and consider families when proposing reform. “We are not criminals. We want to contribute to the American dream. We want to be part of the U.S.”

Today’s events also included a religious service before the main program with representatives of several religious organizations and a march to RFK Stadium after the program.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Wonder how the teabaggers reacted

That is a great mind movie. :)

[babylonsister]

2. Wow, never thought of that. Duh. Yet I bet they add these numbers

to theirs as far as the totals showing up for their rally today. Can't win.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. From my local paper:

As the afternoon wore on, demonstrators from both sides of the debate began to mingle, crossing the Capitol driveway that had separated them. Some engaged in heated one-on-one debates. Others formed groups and attempted to drown out each other out in shouting matches.

Adding to the chaos, several hundred marchers from the earlier immigration reform rally marched between the two groups, beating drums and chanting in Spanish. As they passed, many shouted out in support of the contingent in favor of the health care bill.

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/03/21/1827594/protester-disrupts-house-yells.html#ixzz0irmwa1F9

[babylonsister]

7. That could have gotten ugly. What a day there. When divergent

worlds collide.

I guess it was a good thing HCR was on the mind of the teabaggers instead of immigration. :scared:

[getthefacts]

9. They wouldn't dare

The size of their protest was not even close to the number of pro-immigrant advocates on the mall yesterday. It is too bad that the news media can't substantially cover two issues at the same time. This rally was HUGE.

[Kadie]

3. I posted some pics earlier...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7972920

K&R

200,000 is an awesome turnout.

:hi:

[babylonsister]

4. Thank you, Kadie!

You are a stalwart around here! :hug:

[UTUSN]

6. Was the Prez there IN PERSON or just on video. It would have been mind blowing IN PERSON!1 n/t

[babylonsister]

8. What's with the caps? We can read. On video; he had another pressing

issue he was working, too.

[getthefacts]

10. I was there

This was amazing. People from different colors, different creeds, different ethnicity, all joining for one cause. It was really what this country is all about and I'm really lucky I was there to see it personally.
I got there on a bus from Boston at 8 am and, at first, I thought we wouldn't get 10,000. But people just kept pouring in, buses kept coming.



A link to rally photos.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/m4a/pool/show/

[Bustercat]

11. nice sentiment

From one guy's shirt:
"America is a continent not a country
Someday without US"

Huh?