DC Rally for Fair Immigration Policy Draws Diverse Participants
Feature Story by civilrights.org staff - 4/17/2006
"We are America!" was the chant heard all over the country in April as marchers flooded the streets of 140 U.S. cities to protest anti-immigrant legislation being considered by Congress.One of the largest rallies was held April 10 in Washington, D.C. Organizers and participants of the rally said that immigration is a civil rights issue, because a bill in Congress would create first- and second-class citizens.
"America can't be praised by creating another class of residents," Sen. Ted Kennedy, D. Mass., told thousands of cheering protesters at the rally.
The catalyst for the rallies was bill HR 4437, a draconian enforcement bill proposed by Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R. Wis., which would make any illegal immigrant a felon. It would also fund wall along the Mexico border. The bill was passed by the House in December.
The Senate is currently considering its own bill, which will have to be reconciled with the House version before it goes to President Bush. A divide in the Republican party about certain provisions has stalled the bill repeatedly, exacerbating an already heated discussion about illegal immigrants' rights and status in the U.S.
The demonstrators --black, white, Hispanic, and Asian Americans-- were united in their support of fair and humane immigration laws. Issa Lchingo, 34, emigrated to the U.S. from Congo and was at the rally to support the newer immigrants.
"I am here to support my brothers and sisters who came to this country to give their families a better life. I feel their pain and support their struggle because I came here to give my children an education, and they have families like I do," Lchingo said.
Rally participants gathered at a park on 16th and Euclid Streets, waiting in line to begin the march down to the Washington Monument. The marchers carried American flags, wore white to symbolize unity, and chanted patriotic calls for justice. People held signs with messages like "Today We March, Tomorrow We Vote."
Children as young as four and five chanted "Stop HR 4437!" Marchers filled up half of the street for a few blocks and then cheers broke out when they were allowed to fill the entire street.
