Media Advisory
Filipino Immigrants Network for Empowerment (FINE)
May 7 2008
Los Angeles, CA

IMMIGRANTS/ WORKERS UNITED MARCH-RALLY ON MAY 1st IN LA

Los Angeles—For the third year in a row. more or less 30,000 marchers from three major immigrant /workers groups- the MIWON, March 25 Coalition and the April 7th Coalition for Full Immigrants Rights in Los Angeles and demand full rights and legalization for immigrants, a stop on ICE raids and deportations and to commemorate International Workers Day.

The media called it “a combination of a holiday parade and party celebrations” Different media outlets and the LAPD have different estimates like a conservative estimate from as low as 7,000 from KCRW and 10,000 by the LAPD or as high as 30,000 from NPR radio or 50,000 by the LA Spanish Daily La Opinion.

March for Unity

It was also the first time, the three largest coalitions held a united march since the great upsurge of March 25,2006. The MIWON/March 25th and April 7 Coalition joined together for united march for immigrants rights march/rally.

The April 7 Coalition composed of another 15,000 strong led by the Hermanidad Mexicana, Latino Movement –USA and ANSWER-LA marched together with the March 25 Coalition started in Olympic and Broadway at around 2:00 PM.

On the other hand the Multi-Ethnic Immigrants Workers Organizing Network (MIWON) that started the traditional Immigrant W0rkers March on May 1, 2000 assembled and march from Macarthur Park and Parkview St. at around 1:30 PM.

The two contingents met at 5th and Broadway Streets and marched together at 1st street and Broadway at around 3:30 PM. Another group from American Apparel factory in Alameda marched and joined the rally. The 4,000 strong contingent marched with signs-LEGALIZE LA.

Filipino American contingent

Shouting: MAKIBAKA, HUWAG MATAKOT, LEGALISAYON, NGAYON and ANG TAO, ANG BAYAN NGAYON AY LUMALABAN. the newly formed Filipino American For Immigration Reform (FAIR) with the Pilipino Workers Center marched from Historic Filipinotown to Macarthur Park and joined 15,00 strong MIWON contingent that marched from Macarthur Park to downtown Broadway.

The almost a hundred strong Filipino American contingent rallyist marched down Alvarado and Beverly Streets to 7th street and Alvarado at Macarthur Park where the march marched for two miles towards 7th and Figueroa Streets PWC They were composed of the Association of Filipino Workers (AFW), PWC Youth UNITE, KMB Pro People Youth, JFAV, Samahang Pilipino at UCLA, People’s CORE, and Gabriela-Network-LA.

Flying multi-colored flags, the Filipino American contingent marched with the Korean drummers and the BRU yellow-clad marchers who led the lively crown with chants like LEGALIZATION NOW. THE PEOPLE UNITED WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED, AMNESTY NOW!

The rally was later held from around 5:00 PM to 8:00 in the evening at the corner of First Street and Broadway where speakers after speakers asked for immigration reform and a pathways for citizenship not a guest workers program.

For more information contact cdir –usa or the Filipino Immigrant Network for Empowerment (FINE) at (213)241-0906 or email@cdir_usa (at) yahoo.com