March for immigrant rights
Today is May 1, the day that immigrants nationwide plan to march for their rights, encouraging lawmakers to move forward on reform bills and to stop individual cities and states from trampling on individual civil liberties.
“It used to be that Hispanic immigrants, those who came legally, were more conservative on the issue,” said Joe Garcia, a Cuban-American who heads the Democratic Party’s Miami-Dade County chapter.
“But now it’s become so wrapped up with issues of racism and identity, even Puerto Ricans and Cubans care about immigration,” he said.
Yet stepped-up raids in recent months have left many immigrants afraid to speak out in public _ a major change over rallies in 2006 when some illegal immigrants wore T-shirts saying “I’m illegal. So what?”
“The raids are intended to terrorize people and make President Bush look tough,” said Joshua Hoyt, executive director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. “But they are not a solution.”
Janet Parker wrote a fantastic op-ed in Wisconsin’s Capital Times about the history of May 1 as a day to celebrate workers’ rights/independence and how immigrant workers can reclaim this day to push for legislation that recognizes the ways they help this nation succeed:
Last spring the immigrant rights movement made history across the country as marches turned out millions, proclaiming the new civil rights movement of our time. These marches had a direct effect, preventing Congress from passing punitive legislation, proposed by Wisconsin Rep. James Sensenbrenner, that would have harmed immigrant workers and the people who employ them.
Again it is time to speak out for sensible and fair immigration policy that acknowledges undocumented immigrants as workers and asserts that their employers are not criminals. Recent legislation on the issue, such as the Real ID Act, does nothing to solve the issue of immigration in this country. We need an immigration policy that recognizes the amazing contributions of immigrants to our country’s economy and culture.
I know that most groups expect that today will have low turnout due to immigrant fears of capture, but I am hopeful that immigrants will take a stand against these bullies and again make their voices heard on May 1.
