Local group to rally in Charlotte for immigration law proceedings




Group plans rally as Supreme Court hears immigration arguments

By Torie Wells April 25 2012, wsoctv

CHARLOTTE, N.C. —

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Arizona's immigration law Wednesday.

While a decision won't be made until the summer, other states will be watching, including North and South Carolina.

A group from Charlotte was planning on heading to D.C. to rally but had to cancel their trip because of a bus problem.

Instead, the group will gather at the government center in Charlotte Wednesday at 7 p.m. to watch the proceedings.

It means a lot to people like Victor Ramirez. He is working on his citizenship, but has undocumented family members.

"We came here for a reason," Ramirez said. "(We want to) get a better job, enroll in school, live the dream."

"Our immigration policy is flawed, it's fundamentally broken, but these desperate attempts at enforcement-only policies that do nothing but undercut our businesses and safety don't make sense," said Jess George, Latin American Coalition Executive Director.

She said even though the group will not be in D.C., they will rally against Arizona's law Wednesday and they do hope their voices are heard by people across the country.

What happens to Arizona's law will affect North Carolina's future, they argued. Last month, lawmakers decided to wait and see how the Supreme Court ruled.

"For me this is a real social justice issue," said Melissa Siegel.

Siegel will be rallying Wednesday. She said that she hopes to be a voice for those who don't have one. She points to people like her boyfriend, who came to the United States when he was 13 and is undocumented.

"Every night, if he doesn't call right away or come home when he says he will, there's always that fear that something's happened," she said.

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson will be in D.C. Wednesday.

In December, South Carolina filed a motion asking for its similar immigration law to go into effect.

Wilson released a statement then saying, "South Carolina has a right to implement this law and protect itself while this important matter is being considered by the highest court in the land."

Local group to rally in Charlotte for immigration law proceedings | www.wsoctv.com