500,000 March and Rally for Immigration Reform in Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. -- Today, it was reported that up to 500,000 people converged on Washington D.C. to call on President Obama and the Congress to pass immigration reform. The number of participants in today's action is far more than what was expected.

After several interfaith services around the D.C. area, organizations and individuals gathered at the National Mall to demand immigration reform for new American families and economic justice for all American families.

Members of CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition and a contingent from Oregon met at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in D.C. and helped lead a march with 20,000 Latinos from the community to the National Mall. Francisco Lopez, CAUSA's Executive Director assisted in organizing the effort.

"There is nothing more inspiring than this. Hundreds of thousands of people are here in Washington D.C. to call on Congress and President Obama to pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform", said Lopez. "Reform is long overdue and our elected leaders are hearing it from all of us here at their front door and from around the nation."

Those who spoke at today's rally included Ben Jealous, president and CEO, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP, Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles, Esther Lopez, director, UFCW Civil Rights and Community Action Department; Gregory A. Cendana, president, United States Student Association, Janet Murgía, president and CEO, National Council of La Raza, Marc Morial, president and CEO, the National Urban League, among others. There were also appearances by Eddie "El Piolín" Sotelo and actress Lucía Méndez and musical performance by Los Lonely Boys.

Actions will continue tomorrow as immigration reform advocates will go to the Republican National Committee to request a meeting with Chairman Michael Steele and Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to urge them to support Immigration Reform and to support a bipartisanship process to get a bill passed this year.

This afternoon, the Reform Immigration For America Campaign called on all Immigration Reform supporters to call their Senator at 866-877-5552 and tell them they want immigration reform now.

[The reports on the numbers of those in attendance ranged from 200,000 to 500,000 people. Event Organizers had the number reported by the Parks Department and a Fox News Affiliate at around 500,000. While various others reported 250,000 and over. Regardless of the exact number, the action in D.C. renewed the message to Congress and the President that Immigration Reform needs to be passed this year.]

Media Note:

Francisco Lopez, CAUSA's Executive Director will be participating in the action on Monday in Washington D.C. and will be available for comment. He can be reached at 503.269.5694

Source:

500000-Strong March FOR America: Keep Families Together Change.org

Photo: 500,000 at Rally for Immigration Reform

Reform Immigration For America Twitter (@ri4a) http://twitter.com/ri4a

Posted in: Comprehensive Immigration Reform,Events,March For America,Oregon,President Barack Obama,rally,Washington D.C.,White House