Broad coalition packs Mall to urge overhaul of immigration laws

[pampango]

Source: Washington Post

The roster of speakers also highlighted the degree to which immigrant-rights groups have broadened their coalition since their last major effort at a congressional overhaul of immigration failed in 2007.

Benjamin Jealous, executive director of the NAACP, was among the first to speak, underscoring recent widespread efforts by Latino leaders to reach out to a constituency often concerned that Latino immigrants take jobs from low-income African Americans.

Also onstage was Arlene Holt Baker, executive vice president of the AFL-CIO, which expressed reservations about the 2007 immigration bill, fearing that it did not protect workers' rights. This year, the union has united with others to back the effort. Similarly, prominent Latino figures such as Janet Murguía, president of the National Council of La Raza, were joined by leaders of Asian American organizations and smaller groups representing immigrants from countries including Haiti.

Noticeably absent were business groups, such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which was a key backer of the 2007 legislation. The chamber has expressed doubts about details of this year's proposal.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/21/AR2010032100956.html

[galileoreloaded]

1. Once the attention shifts to immigration, the vitriol shall really begin in earnest.

Make health care look like child's play.

[pampango]

2. I think you are right. Heck they were injecting immigration issues ("You lie!") into this

health care bill. Wait until immigration reform is before congress. Regardless of the support it may get from the NAACP, unions and the Progressive Caucus, the right (led by Rush, Glenn, Lou and the boys) will go crazy again. It's not hard to imagine what the teabaggers will have to say about immigrants. If they use the "n" word on John Lewis, the "f" word on Barney Frank, their language will probably be quite "colorful" when it comes to Hispanics.