Marchers to push immigration rights - News

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Apr. 17, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Marchers to push immigration rights

May 1 rally to promote path to legalization

By LYNNETTE CURTIS
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Remember the thousands-strong crowd that took to the Strip a few years ago to push for immigration reform that would provide a path to legalization for illegal immigrants?

Well, organizers of what was one of the largest protest marches in Las Vegas history hope to do it again next month.

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The United Coalition for Immigrant Rights, a mostly college student-led organization that comprises several immigrant-rights groups, plans another march May 1, the three-year anniversary of massive immigration-reform marches that took place across the country in 2006.

Similar marches are planned in Chicago and other cities.

Participants will march in support of immigration reform that keeps immigrant families together, Jose Manuel Santillana, a local community organizer with the organization, said Thursday.

They also will march in opposition to stepped-up arrests of illegal immigrant workers in nationwide sweeps, he said.

Organizers have begun spreading the word through online social-networking sites, churches and student organizations.

"Everyone is welcome," Santillana said. "Immigration affects everyone, not just Latinos. Haitian immigrants, European immigrants, people from all over the world are affected by policies in Washington."

The march is scheduled to begin after a 3:30 p.m. rally on May 1 at the Commercial Center, on Sahara Avenue just west of Maryland Parkway. It will end at the Lloyd George U.S. Courthouse downtown.

Marchers will observe a moment of silence at the courthouse "for all those who have been affected by immigration raids," Santillana said.

Police estimated that 8,000 to 10,000 people participated in the 2006 march. Students of every age skipped school to take part.

A one-year anniversary march in 2007 also drew thousands who marched through downtown Las Vegas.

The United Coalition for Immigrant Rights also organized a May 2008 march in support of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, or DREAM Act.

The DREAM Act would allow undocumented immigrants who came to the United States with their families at age 15 or younger, and who plan to attend college or join the military, to move toward legal status in the United States.

That march, which drew just a few dozen people, was held May 23.

Contact reporter Lynnette Curtis at lcurtis@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0285.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. Report abuse mujer fiera wrote on April 21, 2009 12:37 AM: According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, a citizen is: 1: an inhabitant of a city or town; especially : one entitled to the rights and privileges of a freeman/woman 2 a: a member of a state 3: a civilian as distinguished from a specialized servant of the state By this definition, we have to either recognize that undocumented immigrants are citizens (inhabitants of the state and entitled to privileges of a free person) or slaves/servants of the state (unprotected servants and people who are not free). Because undocumented immigrants are human beings and we occupy a society that believes in "freedom" and the end of slavery, we have a responsibility to demand the recognition of all inhabitants of this nation, who work and contribute to the economy and life of the country, as FREE people entitled to protection. Therefore, I undocumented people are indeed citizens, unrecognized and marginalized citizens, but citizens nonetheless. Citizenship is a social construction that was created by those holding power to minimize and deny others rights, privileges and protections. Historically, all the following people have had to fight for citizenship in this country: women, Black people, Native Americans, poor and working class people (including whites), Asian Americans, Latinas/os--all were legally denied rights to land, voting, education, housing because of a lack of money and power. Therefore, it is not outside of our means and ability to demand legalization and full integration and protected citizenship for people who are actively recruited and depended upon for the continued growth and maintenance of this country. Most anti-immigrant sentiment is fueled by ignorance. Please educate yourself before spreading hateful rhetoric. Also, take a class on immigration law before you defend it as just and humane. Indeed, immigration laws are fueled by racism, classism, sexism, and homophobia. Report abuse Maiz wrote on April 21, 2009 12:35 AM: NO ONE IS ILLEGAL!!! REMEMBER TO WEAR WHITE ON MAY FIRST!! 1. No to the wall 2. No to the raids 3. Yes to Workers right to organize w/ out fear of deportation!!! 4. Yes to Comprehensive Immigration Reform Human Rights for all!!! Report abuse Irina wrote on April 21, 2009 12:27 AM: Good Work!!--- to all of the organizations invloved with putting together this marcha... Please everyone, spread the word and show visibility MAY FIRST!!!! Report abuse Amy wrote on April 21, 2009 12:22 AM: I am sooo excited :) I am going to tell all of my family and friends as soon as possible because this march is something i think America NEEDS--- Comprehensive immigration reform. Report abuse Nic wrote on April 21, 2009 12:18 AM: I will be there to march for im/migrant rights!!! Report abuse Sean wrote on April 20, 2009 04:54 PM: I agree with the comments below, we are all immigrants and should provide everyone with the same rights and responsibilities. We are a modern diverse nation and need to embrace that, that's what makes me proud of being an American. Report abuse Xuanis wrote on April 20, 2009 04:51 PM: we will march forward to a country of equality. we shall overcome! Report abuse Mildred Salazar wrote on April 20, 2009 10:49 AM: could you be any more racist!!! Report abuse Destiny wrote on April 20, 2009 09:31 AM: Thanks for the coverage but no person is illegal, they are UNDOCUMENTED. Report abuse Proud American! wrote on April 20, 2009 03:07 AM: wow! racism is deep,no wonder we're still called the "Mississippi of the West." I just hope people can come around their racist ideologies and move forward to a country of equality, bring'em out of the shadows, give'em a path to legalization. What's so wrong with that? it's the American way, our ancestors got here on boats and were given papers, they did it the right way because they were allowed to. If immigrants here in the US are given a chance I'm sure they'll contribute to our economy and help us out of the recession. Now all this anti-immigrant talk is sounding like old school segregationism, I think we're beyond that and ya'll need to get over your prejudices. May God bless an America of equality, not an America of hatred. Read All Comments