Hundreds of Rallies and Marches Planned Across Country in Support of Immigrants
More than 150 events in 41 states have been planned this weekend in support of immigrants and immigration reform. The rallies and marches are all part of the ‘National Day of Action for Immigrant Dignity and Respect.’
These events are being conducted in an effort to put pressure on Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship. There are marches, rallies, prayer vigils, community celebrations and concerts organized in hopes Congress, especially Republicans, pay attention even as the government is shut down for business. A concert on the National Mall in Washington on Tuesday, October 8 will culminate the rallying cry for immigrants.
One such event in Illinois is being billed as ‘Pilgrimage for Citizenship’ where faith leaders and immigrants are embarking on a 30-mile march urging a path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million undocumented in this country.
Illinois Democrat Rep. Luis Gutierrez, who was expected to attend events in Chicago, took this opportunity to remind Latinos that, “Today, 1,100 people will be deported, and tomorrow, and the next day. A child born and raised in the United States will lose a parent to deportation today. A DREAMer with protection from deportation may lose a parent today. Someone will die in the desert today because they cannot come legally.”
In California, where a large population of Latino immigrants resides, events in Hollywood, Orange Country, San Bernardino, San Francisco, San Diego and Sacramento are planned, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Hundreds of immigration activists march in Hollywood
Jorge Garavito was 3 years old when his father got caught up in a raid at the airport and was deported back to Colombia.