This past Saturday, more than 50,000 immigrant advocates across the country came out to show their support for real comprehensive immigration reform that brings dignity and respect for all immigrants.
From New York to Los Angeles, and Chicago to Miami, people turned out to show their support for this very important issue. In all, more than 150 events in 40 states were held.
Here on Long Island, a crowd of more than 250 showed up to march on the streets of Brentwood in support of immigration reform and to call for an end to senseless deportations.
The largest demonstrations were held in New York, Los Angeles, San Diego and Boston. But smaller demonstrations were also held in places where immigrant groups have grown recently, including Atlanta; Rogers, Ark.; and Yakima, Wash.
In Birmingham, Ala., several hundred demonstrators gathered for a rally in a downtown park. Benard Simelton, the president of the N.A.A.C.P. in Alabama, described the immigration effort as part of broader civil rights activism in the state. Some 21 cities in California were host to separate rallies as well.
Courtesy of America’s Voice, here is a compilation of many of the actions across the country.
The push for immigration reform this October will culminate on October 8 in Washington, D.C.
Tens of thousands are expected to gather on the National Mall in Washington to celebrate Camino Americano: the rally for Immigrant Dignity and Respect before marching to the U.S. Capitol to send a message to the House of Representatives: Get Immigration Reform Done; and Get it Done Now.
Despite the government shutdown, the rally will go on as planned. The National Mall has been closed since the start of the government shutdown, but the National Park Service (NPS) told the Washington Examiner that the protest was allowed because of the groups’ First Amendment rights, the same justification the NPS gave to allow World War II veterans to visit their memorial last week.
