San Antonians plan D.C. trip for immigration 'grito,' march
Marchers will be at Lincoln Memorial next month to call for reforms.

By Elaine Ayala
eayala@express-news.net
Updated 02:27 a.m., Friday, August 12, 2011

San Antonio activists will be among protesters in front of the Lincoln Memorial on Sept. 15 for a national Grito de Dolores.

Instead of marking Mexican independence, however, they will call for immigrant human rights in the face of state-led initiatives they view as draconian and discriminatory.

Co-organizer Jaime Martinez, head of the César E. Chávez Legacy and Educational Foundation in San Antonio, said the march, led by a group called Viva El Pueblo Latino, will advocate for comprehensive immigration reform, family unification and passage of the DREAM Act.

As Mexican President Felipe Calderón delivers the traditional Grito de Dolores in Mexico City at midnight Sept. 15, marchers in Washington will showcase Viva El Pueblo Latino's human rights agenda, founder Dr. Eduardo Ibarra said.

Ibarra said one of its guiding principles is that “no law should promote discrimination against any human being due to the color of her or his skin, origin, language, religion or economic status.â€