On Saturday, March 25, at least 5,000 Latinos marched for immigrants' rights at Dallas City Hall Plaza. The Plaza is about two blocks on each side, and people marched 7-8 abreast all around it. Near center, by the flagpoles, organizers had set up a strong sound system. There was no elevated stage, so most of the listeners could not see the speakers. The messages were strong.
In fact, they grew too strong at one point. One of the speakers called for people to "hit the streets" and the crowd took it literally. The speakers, hemmed in on all sides, could not see that the marchers had taken over Young street and were as far as three blocks away! As soon as the march organizers saw what had happened and realized that there was danger of confrontation with the Dallas police, they used their powerful loudspeakers to bring the crowd back into the plaza. It was good that cool heads prevailed, but the people were ready to do whatever it takes to win fairness for immigrants.
In Los Angeles, Denver, Phoenix, Chicago, and other cities across the nation, hundreds of thousands of people were on the move!
"Bushy, remember that your ancestors were immigrants!"
This was not a student march, whole families came!
H.R. 4437 "Sensenbrenner Bill" passed the House of Representatives on December 10, a day of infamy. It would make all undocumented workers felony criminals. Helping an undocumented worker, including holding a union organizing meeting, would be committing a criminal act!
After Jobs with Justice made our decision and began petitioning for fairness, we learned that we had boarded a fast-moving train. The Dallas Area Interfaith, the leading umbrella organization of religious groups in North Texas, had already scheduled a press conference favoring fair legislation in Congress. Click here for an account. We joined that press conference with our own Jobs with Justice statement. The statements of religious leaders were inspiring, particularly that of Lutheran Bishop Kevin S. Kanouse.
For updates about the situation in Congress, check the Catholic web site: http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org.