Thread: Mass immigrants join 200,000 in massive march to White House

http://www.lowellsun.com/front/ci_4306264

Article Launched: 09/08/2006 11:33:11 AM EDT

Mass. immigrants join 200,000 in massive march to White House
By EVAN LEHMANN, Sun Washington Bureau


WASHINGTON -- Hundreds of Massachusetts immigrants undertook an all-night bus trip to Washington to participate in a massive rally yesterday with a united message to Congress and the president: Hurry up!

About 350 Bay State immigrants joined nearly 200,000 people in a march to the White House designed to urge President Bush to break an impasse in Congress that's threatening to derail a major plan to overhaul the nation's immigration policy.

"I'm here to support the cause," said Victoria Fahlberg, director of OneLowell. "I feel like the whole city of Lowell -- immigrant or not -- would be impacted" positively by a reform package.

Millions of immigrants across the country this summer have voiced support for a proposal by Senators Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and John McCain, R-Ariz., that would legalize most of the undocumented immigrants in the United States, while also giving them a chance to earn citizenship.

It's estimated that up to 200,000 people in Massachusetts are undocumented.

About 100 Massachusetts residents chanted Kennedy's name when he met them on the steps of his Senate office building yesterday. Flashing two thumbs up, he strode into the surging crowd for pictures.

Although Congress is in session for only a few more weeks before recessing for the fall election season, after which it might return for a lame-duck session, Kennedy expressed optimism that Congress will act on immigration.

"Are we going to pass an immigration law?" Kennedy yelled to the crowd.

"Yes!" they responded.

"I just want you to know, we're going to get this done," Kennedy told them.

The impasse stems from widely differing bills passed in the House and the Senate.

The House measure focuses on enforcing the border and making illegal immigrants felons. The Senate passed the McCain-Kennedy bill. Lawmakers from both chambers seem unlikely to compromise.

"People realize this is a multi year struggle for immigration reform," said Ali Noorani, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition.

Pro-immigrant groups are working in other ways to build their political stature.

Fahlberg said OneLowell has registered at least 1,000 new voters in the last four years.

As the time wanes for Congress to act, Fahlberg said the immigrant community in Lowell is anxious for good news.

200,000?

I thought it was more like 5,000.

Or is this yet another "March of the Illegals"?

200,000 illegals? Try doubling that figure!

Originally Posted by CountFloyd

200,000?

I thought it was more like 5,000.

Or is this yet another "March of the Illegals"?

Yeah your right Count. It wasn't 200,000. Just some more hot air from the open border

Ted Kennedy. Doesn't he have enough money that he could make a nice big charity check out to Mexico and really help some people, like the poor people who cannot or choose not to flee their country, and who could use some help ?

He doesn't care about poor people. He cares about votes. Does he really think that the American people do not see that he is pandering for votes for the Democrats ??

What about the poor women back in Mexico begging GWB to enforce immigration laws so that all their men will stop leaving them behind to fend for themselves in difficult situations ??

Do ya care about them Ted ??? Or are they useless to you ??

200k is such a lie.

W

It would be sooooooo nice if Massachusett would vote this traitor out of office. He has been in office way too long and caused too much damage to the American people since the 60s.

It's estimated that up to 200,000 people in Massachusetts are undocumented.

Try 200,000 in the city of Boston nevermind the rest of the state. Total is more like 400 - 500,000 for the state with large concentrations in all large cities and now branching out to the suburbs.

With regards to having 200,000 on the march, who are they trying to kid?

About 100 Massachusetts residents chanted Kennedy's name when he met them on the steps of his Senate office building yesterday. Flashing two thumbs up, he strode into the surging crowd for pictures.

Keep pandering kennedy - just pander yourself right out of the Senate!

I would be embarrassed to call my self a reporter/journalist.

On Dobbs they said that the total was maybe ~5,000 and that was with buses coming from as far away as TN and Maine.