EPCC NEWS

March 22, 2009

More than 200,000 marched in The US Capitol for Immigrant Rights

Los Angeles- The Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC) expresses solidarity with the 200,000 Washington march for real immigration reform.

In contrast to the reactionary tea-party baggers more than 200,000 imigrant rights activist from all over American marched in Washington DC, Sunday, march 21.

Together with them the EPCC is determined to push a major overhaul of the immigration system to the top of the nation's political agenda, challenging Congress to fix laws that they say separate families and hurt the country's economic and social vitality.

In Long Beach. JFAV coordinator Arturo P. Garcia spoke at the packed Long Beach Unitarian Church on Sunday, March 21 at 4:00 pm in solidarity with faith-based group that held an inter-faith service in solidarity with the Washington immigrant march.

Fil-Am Contingent in the March

The Filipinos and the Fil-Am community, flying the Philippine tricolors was represented by the Virginia based Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC) led by Atty. Arnedo Valera.

The Organizers and supporters of the "March for America" campaign -- who demonstrated as House members cast a historic vote on healthcare -- want to make an immigration overhaul the next big undertaking in Washington.

The organizing group, Reform Immigration for America, said Sunday's rally was larger than the massive Washington demonstration in April 2006, when thousands protested around the country over immigrant rights and enforcement practices. the crowd stretched nearly five blocks on the mall.

Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony alluded to Obama's promise when he said in a brief interview after his speech at the rally, "The Democrats campaigned for Latino votes with a lot of immigration promises, so we'll see if they don't act on what they promised."

Latinos, in particular, have criticized the Obama administration's record on enforcement, as the number of deportations of undocumented immigrants increased 5% to 387,790 in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2009.

Foreign-born workers account for 15.5% of all U.S. workers, and their jobless rate went up to 9.7% last year from 5.8% in 2008. For native-born workers, the unemployment figure was also 5.8% in 2008 but rose to 9.2% last year, according to the Labor Department.



IMMIGRANTS UNITE, FIGHT FOR FULL RIGHTS FOR ALL IMMIGRANTS!

ALTO LOS REDADAS! STOP ICE RAIDS!

MAKIBAKA, HUWAG MATAKOT!