Immigrant advocates plan big DNC march
7/2/2008 - 12:48pm
A coalition of immigrant rights advocates announced plans today to hold a massive parade and rally during the Democratic National Convention in August.
Organizers said they hope the August 26 march – which they have dubbed the “We Are America” march – will draw as many as 50,000 people from across the country. Nita Gonzales, the president of Escuela Tlatelolco, said at a mid-day news conference in front of the state Democratic Party’s headquarters that similar announcements took place today in Los Angeles and Bakersfield, Calif., by groups that planned to travel to Denver for the march.
“We want humane, comprehensive immigration reform now,” Gonzales said.
The groups – including Escuela Tlatelolco, Padres y Jovenes Unidos and NEWSED – hope the march will raise the profile of immigration reform issues during the convention. Among the coalition’s goals are the passage of the DREAM act, which would make it easier for states to offer in-state tuition to students who are illegal immigrants, the elimination of the border wall and the cessation of immigration raids such as the one at the Swift meatpacking facility in Greeley in December 2006.
The groups invited presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama to march with them.
“This is the moment for him to demonstrate his support,” said Leticia Mendoza, a North High School student who spoke at the announcement today.
But, even as plans go forward for the march, it remains unclear exactly what path the march will take. Escuela Tlatelolco is part of an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit against Denver that asks the groups be allowed to take a route different than the designated parade route through downtown past Pepsi Center, where the convention will be held.
Gonzales said the groups want the parade to start at Viking Park, in west Denver, and proceed down Speer Boulevard before ending at Sunken Gardens Park, near West High School.
“We want to come from the west, which is the bulk of our community,” Gonzales said.
“We have a right to march,” she added. “We have a right to voice our concerns.”
Gonzales said the march is not meant to be a protest of the Democratic Party or its immigration platform, which she called, “awesome.” Instead organizers hope the march will remind party leaders to keep immigration issues at the forefront.
“Whoever becomes the next president needs to step up and work with us,” said Minsun Ji, the executive director of El Centro Humanitario para los Trabajadores, “because we need a real change.”
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Sean T
Let's be Honest
“We want to come from the west, which is the bulk of our community,” Gonzales said.
That's not true .... the bulk of your comminity comes from the south ... way south of the USA border.
What part of IL-LEGAL do you not understand?
No Shame
Rather deceptive article but what else is new. There is not such a thing as an "immigrant rights group" if you are a true immigrant you are one who has come to America or any country in fact who not only has permission by that country to become a citizen but the desire to be a citizen of that country as well. The people who will be organizing the march and demonstrations are in favor of amnesty for people who have broken the laws of our country and that has absolutely nothing to do with immigration.
not deceptive at all
of course there is such a thing as an immigrant rights group. I run one myself. How completely ignorant are you?
Sin Fronteras, Aurora, CO