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Pro-immigration rally supports bill
3/25/2006 6:28:54 PM
By: Brittany Morehouse, News 14 Carolina
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Thousands of people gathered in Marshall Park in uptown Charlotte on Saturday afternoon to rally over a proposed immigration bill.

The assembly comes a day after similar rallies were held in major cities around the country to protest increasing penalties for undocumented immigrants and the people who give them jobs.

Local residents were also in the park, however, to support a bill that focuses less on tougher penalties and more on protecting illegal immigrants.

The event, which has been planned for weeks, was one of the largest gatherings in Charlotte in recent history. Organizers planned it to throw massive support behind a Senate bill that gives illegal immigrants a path to citizenship and ensures them equal education. Attendees were asked to sign a petition in favor of the legislation.

Supporters said the United States would not be the same without the work immigrants provide so they deserve these benefits.

“Hispanics labor; we are here and we are working hard; we pay taxes and we encourage the other immigrants to pay taxes, but we need equal rights,” said Enrique Nassar, one of the rally’s organizers.

Rally participants said they oppose Congress’s efforts to solve illegal immigration through tighter border controls.

“It’s going to make it even harder for the Latinos who are trying, who are working, who are trying to go to school and do it the right way; it’s going to be even harder for them,” said attendee Gina Mallay. “I don’t think that’s fair because there is immigrants coming from other countries and they don’t have half the problems Latinos do.”

Rally goers also brought a number of American flags to emphasize their point.

“People in the United States think that we’re not proud to be in America,” said Melissa Muniz. “We’re not saying that we don’t like to be in America, we’re not saying that we’re not happy to be here, we’re just showing our culture; we don’t want to miss that.”

To show their pride in both cultures, organizers led chants alternately in Spanish and in English. Immigration supporters hope their cries are heard not only locally, but across the country as well.

Web Journalist: Lindsay Varner