Democracy Now: Hundreds of Thousands Rally for Immigration Reform in Largest Rally of Obama Presidency

Hundreds of thousands of people marched through the streets of Washington, DC on Sunday to call for immigration reform. Estimates of the crowd size ranged from 200,000 to 500,000. Illinois Congressman Luis Gutierrez, the chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Immigration Task Force, emphasized the urgent need for Washington to act on comprehensive immigration reform. [includes rush transcript]



Reference:
Democracy Now! March 24, 2010 Hundreds of Thousands Rally for Immigration Reform in Largest Rally of Obama Presidency

H/T Reform Immigration For America blog

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March For America Actions Continue at Republican National Committee

Washington D.C. -- Today, in continuation of yesterday's March For America events, CAUSA and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) were instrumental in helping to organize and lead an action at the Republican National Committee.

About 150 people representing a range of organzations from around the nation went to the offices of the RNC to ask for a meeting with Chairman Michael Steele.

With 100 pro-reform advocates outside, 50 people, including CAUSA's Executive Director Francisco Lopez and Andrea Miller, sat down on the floor in the lobby. After 20 minutes into the sit-in, it was announced that the RNC Chairman had agreed to a meeting set to take place on March 31st.

The goal of the meeting on March 31st is to ask Chairman Steele to reject obstructionist tactics that are alienating mainstream Americans and to press the Republican Party to join Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) in passing comprehensive immigration reform legislation in 2010.

The action at the RNC came just one day after the March and Rally at the National Mall in attended by immigration reform advocates from around the nation.

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 200,000 and over.

Regardless of the exact number, the Marches and Rally at the National Mall yielded renewed commitments from the President and Congressional leadership to advance immigration reform legislation this year.

Sunday's March and today's action at the RNC were a prelude to in-district town halls and meetings during the spring recess. Stay tuned for details on upcoming meetings and townhalls with Legislators around Oregon.

Special Note from Sean Thomas-Breitfeld with Center for Community Change about today's action at the RNC:

"This action would not have happened without the dedicated leadership of FIRM partners. Special thanks go to: Francisco Lopez (who was unwavering in his support for this action) and leaders from CAUSA; Xiomara Corpeno (who added this to her already full plate of responsibilities for the weekend), Angelica Salas and leaders from CHIRLA; Julien Ross and the leaders from CIRC; and Stephen Noble Smith, Josh Hoyt (who conceived of this idea only 10 days ago) and leaders from ICIRR. Many many thanks also to One America, NAKASEC and Voces de la Frontera for turning out great and energized leaders for today's courageous and successful action!"

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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

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Watch a Live Stream of D.C. Immigration Reform Rally

200, 000 people rally for immigration reform in Washington D.C. Tune into CNN Online to watch a Live Stream of the March For America Rally for Immigration Reform. http://www.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=stream3&hpt=T2

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PHOTO: CAUSA Ready to March for Immigration Reform in Washington D.C.

Today, CAUSA and a contingent of Oregonians are joining with tens of thousands of people from around the nation at National Mall to demand immigration reform for new American families and economic justice for all American families.

CAUSA is ready to March for Reform!

Resources:
Oregonians Help Turn Up the Heat on Immigration Reform
Oregon Contingent to join March For America in D.C.

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Oregonians Help Turn Up the Heat on Immigration Reform

Oregonians Help Turn Up the Heat on Immigration Reform

March 19, 2010
Chris Thomas, Public News Service - OR

PORTLAND, Ore. - More than 50 Oregonians are traveling to Washington, D.C. for Sunday's March for America, a national attempt to kick-start the stalled push for immigration reform. David Leslie, executive director of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, is one of them. He says people need a clear and fair path to U.S. citizenship, and he blames the lack of progress on a lack of political will in Congress. Leslie hopes the size and scope of the national event energizes the immigrant community and other supporters.

"The real work is not going to be in Washington, D.C. - it's coming back home where you work your district, you're working with members of congregations, you're working with your community. I think a march like this provides a real boost of energy, to take some of that back home and further the cause."

Marchers will include members of faith, and business and labor groups, all of whom say immigrants deserve a fair shot at becoming U.S. citizens. Greg Delgado, Oregon coordinator for the Bend office of Jobs With Justice, will be there. He says the current system creates unnecessary hassles - and hostilities.

"We're a small community, maybe of 11,000 Latinos, here in Central Oregon. We still, on a daily basis, hear complaints - of worker violations, racial profiling with the police - that we're trying to clarify for the community as well."

Those who want tougher immigration laws say the country can't afford an influx of new citizens. Supporters of reform believe it's a human rights issue, and that people working in the U.S., even illegally, are contributing to the economy and often paying taxes. On Sunday, tens of thousands of people are expected for a rally at the Lincoln Memorial starting at 2:00 PM (EDT), followed by a march to RFK Stadium.

Oregon marchers will meet Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 3211 Pine St. NW, Washington, D.C.

Visit this link to get the audio for this news report: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/13079-1

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Oregon Contingent to join March For America in D.C.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2010

Contact:
Francisco Lopez, Executive Director, 503.269.5694
Erik Sorensen, Communications Director, 503.488.0263

Oregon Contingent to join March For America in D.C.
Sunday, March 21st
CAUSA Oregon contingent to join with tens of thousands at National Mall to demand immigration reform for new American families, economic justice for all American families
WHAT: March for America; a national mobilization bringing tens of thousands of people to Washington, DC

WHO: CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition and leaders and activists from around the nation representing faith, labor, immigrant and civil rights communities. Speakers include:

Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL.)
Andy Stern, president, Service Employees International Union (SEIU International)
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; and many others

Celebrity appearances by Eddie "El Piolín" Sotelo and actress Lucía Méndez and musical performance by Los Lonely Boys.

WHEN: Sunday, March 21, 2010
- Meeting at 1 p.m. ET (at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 3211 Pine St NW)
- Rally: 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. ET (at Lincoln Memorial)
- March to RFK Stadium: 5 p.m. ET (2400 East Capitol Street N.E.)

WHERE: Join CAUSA at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 3211 Pine St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010. We will march from Sacred Heart Catholic Church to the Lincoln Memorial for a 2:00 p.m. Rally.

WHY: Tens of thousands of people from all over the country will gather at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. for a dramatic demonstration of support for fixing our broken immigration system.

The March For America will unite leaders and organizations representing labor, people of faith, and communities from across the country to demand leadership from Congress and President Obama to deliver on their promise of comprehensive immigration reform.

Thousands of working families will be coming to DC to show that the American people want a practical solution that is fair to everyone, is key to our economic recovery, and lives up to our best traditions as a nation of immigrants.

MEDIA NOTES FOR PRESS TRAVELING TO D.C.:

Francisco Lopez, CAUSA's Executive Director will be in Washington D.C. and will lead the march from Sacred Heart Catholic Church (3211 Pine St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010) to the Rally at the Lincoln Memorial. He can be reached for comment at 503.269.5694

For press wishing to attend the Rally, please call Erik Sorensen at 503.488.0263 for contact information about getting on the media credential list.

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