Thread: Hundreds march for immigration reform in Dallas, Houston

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Hundreds march for immigration reform in Dallas, Houston
9/4/2006 1:08 PM
By: Associated Press

DALLAS -- Hundreds of people marched and rallied in the Houston sun and Dallas rain on Monday to push for immigration reform.

More than 700 people marched through downtown Houston to a rally in front of City Hall.

About 500 braved the rain in downtown Dallas to march from the Roman Catholic Cathedral de Guadalupe to a rally at City Hall.

Organizers and immigrants say they plan to continue to campaign for comprehensive immigration reform. That would include an opportunity for illegal immigrants to obtain legal residency.

In Houston, three counter-demonstrators protested the rally, waving American flags and carrying signs asking for tougher measures against illegal immigrants.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4162098.html

Sept. 4, 2006, 3:31PM
Houston marchers keep immigration debate alive


By JENNIFER RADCLIFFE
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

About 400 people marched in downtown Houston today in support of immigrant rights, part of a nationwide Labor Day effort in advance of this month's congressional debate on immigration legislation.

Marchers said they don't want top politicians to think they've forgotten the cause since the rallies last spring that drew tens of thousands of people to the streets. This time, they carried American flags and signs that said "Today we march. Tomorrow we vote."

Leaders said the demonstrators advocate permanent legal residency for immigrants who cross the border illegally, as well as a higher minimum wage and bans on racial profiling.

"The most important thing for us is that there is a mobilization toward legalization of life here in Houston and nationally," said Maria Jimenez, special projects coordinator with the Central American Resource Center. "We're here to stay. We need to resolve the problems of just immigration reform."

While today's turnout was only a fraction of earlier marches, organizers said they weren't disappointed.

"If one person shows up, it keeps the dream alive," Jimenez said.

Children ate ice cream and rainbow-colored snow cones as they walked down Miliam. The group was led by Aztec-costumed dancers who performed indigenous spiritual dances. Their drums echoed off downtown skyscrapers during the march from Market Square to City Hall.

Keeping to the Labor Day theme, U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston urged participants to fight for a higher minimum wage. The current rate of $5.15 an hour puts a full-time worker with a child below the poverty level, he said.

"No one should work full-time and still stand in the welfare line," he said.

The low wages disproportionately effect the nation's 12 million illegal immigrants, Green said.

jennifer.radcliffe@chron.com

Hurray! This is a huge victory for us! All across the nation they are failing to get many of their numbers on the streets! We have them on the run!

W

"The low wages disproportionately effect the nation's 12 million illegal immigrants, Green said."

Nobody asked the illegal's to come here. They shouldn't even have a job in this country.