Thread: Rockland groups plan May Day marches for immigration reform

Rockland groups plan May Day marches for immigration reform
12:02 AM, Apr. 23, 2011 |


Written by
Hema Easley

Various Rockland groups will hold rallies in May to press their demand for immigration reform, combining the internationally recognized day for labor rights with a call for a federal plan to tackle the contentious issue of illegal immigration.

The groups say they want hardworking immigrants to be treated fairly and not deported for being in the country illegally if they have no criminal record. Most seek a legal path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, who are estimated to number about 11 million.

On May 1, the May Day Coalition of Spring Valley will hold a rally, marching at noon from the International Food Market on Route 59 and ending at 3 p.m. at Memorial Park. Marches will be held across the country on that day to press for workers' rights and for immigration reform.

On May 15, organizations including the Rockland Immigration Coalition, the Day Laborers Center, the Hudson Valley Community Coalition, the Hudson Valley chapter of the Civil Liberties Union and the Haitian-American Cultural and Social Organization are expected to march in support for immigration reform.

"It's an enormous concern," said Gail Golden, co-chair of the Rockland Immigration Council. "In the absence of federal activity, we see a lot of states and districts take matters into their own hands. Sometimes that is very harsh, as we have seen in Arizona."

While political candidates from both parties have promised immigration reform, there hasn't been a consensus in Congress to pass a definitive federal law. In its absence, states have passed their own laws to deal with illegal immigration, which they say is affecting the economies of their states.

Arizona passed a law last year that allowed police to check the immigration status of residents if they were stopped for any issue and the officer suspected that they were in the country illegally. That law has been challenged in court.

Hugo Jimenez, president of the May Day Coalition of Spring Valley, said his concern was over immigrant workers being treated fairly. He said he knew of instances when employers hired workers and then refused to pay them because they are in the country illegally.

http://www.lohud.com/article/20110423/N ... ion-reform

In its absence, states have passed their own laws to deal with illegal immigration, which they say is affecting the economies of their states.

That is bullshit!

What is effecting the economies is legal citizens not working and paying into the tax pools..........and illegal aliens working American jobs that Americans CAN WORK AND WILL WORK

Great comments on that article too..........

LoHud, this is the same paper that had to run stories about 16 months ago where a drunk illegal alien lost on contol of his car and killed a mother and little girl coming out of a dance studio