CDIR Update No. 4
Friday May 18th, 2007 8:14 AM

30,000 March /Rally Renews Call for Immigrant rights: Took Back Macarthur Park

Los Angeles—Immigrants and their advocates returned to the streets for the first time since May Day with Latino elected officials and the religious people in tow, escorted by the LAPD who piggy backed for “public relations” during the march/rally in an attempt to erase police brutality.

More than 35,000 immigrant rights activists marched Thursday to Macarthur Park to again call for a path to citizenship for the nation's 12 million illegal immigrants. The Filipino contingent led by the Pilipino Workers Center and the AJLPP attended by scores of youth activists was very prominent in the march waving Filipino flags and charting MAKIBAKA, HUWAG MATAKOT! .

Waving Mexican, Salvadorian, Honduran, Filipino and American flags and signs reading "No to Deportation," and calling for genuine legalization, about 25,000 marchers gathered about 6 p.m. for a brief rally in front of Immanuel Presbyterian Church on Wilshire Boulevard before heading to the park several blocks away.

Among the politicians in attendance and who spoke art the rally in Wilshire were Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez (D-Los Angeles), Assemblyman Kevin De Leon, City Council members Eric Garcetti, Ed Reyes and Auxiliary Bishop Gabino Zavala of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles' San Gabriel Region, who called it a day of "peace and solidarity with all those who marched on May 1."

The mayor assured the demonstrators that the police actions were being investigated. Police Chief William J. Bratton, also present at the rally, last week reassigned the two top commanders at the park that day.

MARCHERS AGAINST COMPROMISES

The rally came on the same day that a bipartisan U.S. Senate committee announced a proposal that would give illegal immigrants probationary legal status and a chance to become permanent legal residents or citizens. Immigrants would have to pay as much as $5,000 in fines and wait up to 13 years for a chance at citizenship.

Nuñez called the proposal "good intentions but the wrong path" for immigrants, most of whom, he said, could not afford such steep fees.

The march started late, around 7:00 PM after ecumenical prayers and songs led by the New Sanctuary Movement. Some rally organizers in their speeches turned the indignation rally into a call for legalization of all immigrants and never expressed condemnation of the police action.

Rev. Eric Lee, an African American pastor blasted the LAPD and called for African American and Latino unity. As the closing speaker at the pre-march rally, he roused the marchers into action chanting SI SE PUEDE!

Another march/rally, this time for real condemnation of the police brutality and attack against May 1 marchers and for full rights for all immigrants will be led by the April 7 Coalition and the anti-war coalition International ANSWER-Los Angeles with the Hermanidad Mexicana Nacional and Latino Movement –USA on June 24 at Hollywood and Vine.

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