by Luis Carlos López
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A projected 100,000 immigration reform advocates united under the banner of Reform Immigration FOR America will gather on Washington’s National Mall Sunday, March 21, to vent their frustration against the Obama administration and Congress.
Casa de Maryland executive director Gustavo Torres said the rally’s message is to show the importance of Latinos in the United States.
“We come from around 42 states and we are going to march with white T-shirts waving the U.S. flag to show our gratitude to this great country, but also to show that without us this country would not be what it is today.”
The event’s short lead time allows for minimal preparation. Organizers say it was the only way a message could be delivered in time for Congress to shape and pass reform legislation this year.
The collective Reform Immigration FOR America effort involves more than 700 organizations across the nation including the League of United Latin American Citizens and National Council of La Raza.
In the spring of 2006, national protests against anti-immigrant legislation by Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.) that passed the U.S. House of Representatives the previous December drew several million marchers throughout the nation.
Regional and local efforts by disk jockeys, union and religious organizers, students and a myriad of civil and human rights groups helped ignite marches in some 140 cities, drawing half a million or more in Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago and Washington, D.C.
Among groups active in organizing this month’s capital rally are the National Immigration Forum, Center for American Progress, National Council of La Raza, America’s Voice and Center for Community Change.
In total, 16 organizations are involved in coordinating the event.
Among speakers confirmed to date include Wade Henderson, president of the Leadership Conference for Civil Rights, Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony and actress Kate del Castillo. Other celebrities and ad vocates for reform are expected to attend but not yet confirmed, including radio personality Piolín and Los Tigres del Norte.
Center for Community Change spokeswoman Mary Moreno said the protest’s impetus came soon after President Obama’s Jan. 27 State of the Union speech on Jan. 27 where he breezedthrough the immigration dilemma with 37 carefully crafted words with “reform” never included.
“It has to happen this year,” Moreno said. Many cities, Los Angeles among them, are planning separate events in coming weeks. The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, which is participating in the Washington rally, is also holding a protest there March 26.
CHIRLA spokesman Jorge-Mario Cabrera told Weekly Report, “Our goal is to give those who can’t make it to Washington a chance to voice their opinion.” He added that as member of the California Table, a chain o about 40 organizations across the state, CHIRLA will coordinate demonstrations in Santa Barbara, San Francisco, and other California cities.
