Thousands rally for immigration reform in DC

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By SARAH KARUSH

WASHINGTON (AP) - Immigrant rights supporters from around the country are rallying for immigration reform on the National Mall.

People are waving American flags and holding signs with slogans in English and Spanish such as "Legalization yes, deportation no." About half an hour after the rally's scheduled 2 p.m. start, an area of about four square blocks on the mall was filled with people.

Organizers say tens of thousands of people have traveled from around the country for the march, which is sponsored by dozens of community, labor and faith groups.

Activists have been frustrated that they've had to wait for reform, despite President Barack Obama's assurances that he remains committed to changing immigration laws. They hope Sunday's march will re-energize the legislative effort.

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20100321/D9EJ6NRG0.html

[rurallib]

1. Great to hear.

Half of my town is Latino and they want something done.

[pampango]

2. Wonder if they'll get the tens of thousands they are expecting. Hope so.

:)

Here's a story from the LA Times on the immigration march.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-immigration-march22-2010mar22,0,2577801.story

[EFerrari]

5. The turnout was great! Amy did a little clip during her "headlines" section today.

It's the fourth story, at about 4:52. :hi:

Up to 500,000 March for Immigration Reform in DC

As the healthcare vote gripped the Capitol, tens of thousands of people marched through the streets of Washington in a major rally for immigration reform. Estimates of the crowd size ranged from 200,000 to as much as 500,000. Organizers held the “March for America” under the slogan of “immigration reform for new American families, economic justice for all American families.” Democratic Congress member Nydia Velázquez, the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, called on Congress and President Obama to back immigration reform.

Rep. Nydia Velázquez: “We stand here to say to the Republican leadership in the Senate, to the Democrats in the Senate and also in the House, and the President Barack Obama, we want immigration reform now.”



http://www.democracynow.org/2010/3/22/headlines

[pampango]

6. Thanks for the link. It's wonderful to hear the crown estimated at up to 500,000.

Maybe this will help shake things up in DC and get immigration reform moving. With organized labor and progressives in Congress pushing reform, I hope that Obama ratchets up the heat on this while the republicans and teabaggers are reeling and discredited.

[amandabeech]

3. I don't think that they're going to get their wish until the economy turns around, though.

The immigration advocates' theories on how legalization and immigration boost wages have some merit due to the effect of legalization on below minimum wage workers, IMO, but they are counter-intuitive to folks who have grown up on the gospel of supply and demand.

It's a tough, tough sell, and I don't think that there are many buyers right now.

[TomCADem]

4. Odd, I Don't See It On Fox News, Just Coverage A Few Hundred Teabaggers

...holding racist and homophobic signs.

[AlphaCentauri]

7. what can be expected from Fox? n/t

[Xenotime]

8. They deserve a right to life and healthcare just like all other citizens.

To deport them is a vile crime that has to be stopped.

[IDFbunny]

9. Do they want open borders?

[pampango]

10. Like in Europe? End of the world as we know it? n/t