Thread: Austin voices rise for immigration reform

Austin voices rise for immigration reform
By Claire Osborn

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF


Saturday, May 02, 2009

A man ran away from immigration authorities on the steps of the Texas Capitol on Friday as more than 500 people watched.

The man and the authorities were actors, members of Cristo Rey Catholic Church, who were taking part in the March for Just and Humane Immigration Reform in Austin.

President Barack Obama "said we're going to have immigration reform," said Antolin Aguirre, a member of the church. The play showed a man crossing illegally into the U.S. from Mexico and being joined later by his family, who were all placed in detention. "We don't want leftovers. We want a fair and just immigration act. God considers us as one race and one family."

The rally and a march down Congress Avenue to City Hall coincided with coordinated May Day protests around the country.

Participants were pressing demands for new laws that could give millions of illegal immigrants a chance to become legal U.S. residents. They were also pushing for reforms that would protect workers' rights, end immigration raids and allow immigrants access to education, housing and health care.

"When I was a child in California, I was a migrant worker, and I learned we had no voice," said Maria Martinez Zimmerle. She came to the march with her children, who were wearing Aztec feather headdresses. She was banging on an Aztec drum. "Now I have learned that we have to get a voice."

Victor Lopez said that he was getting an education in the U.S. and that he was not here legally. "But I won't be able to pursue my career here, which is robotics," he said.

Other speakers at the march asked for an end to the detention of illegal immigrant families and their children. "Reform not Raids," a sign said.

Martin Ruiz, a member of the Workers Defense Project, told the crowd that many of the buildings in Austin and the gardens at the Capitol were there because of the work of immigrants.

"We have worked and labored and sweated," Ruiz said. "We are not criminals. Immigrants are hard workers and perform a great service."

After the speeches, people began marching peacefully down Congress Avenue, chanting, "A town that is united will not be defeated."

www.statesman.com

Originally Posted by jean

President Barack Obama "said we're going to have immigration reform," said Antolin Aguirre, a member of the church. The play showed a man crossing illegally into the U.S. from Mexico and being joined later by his family, who were all placed in detention. "We don't want leftovers. We want a fair and just immigration act. God considers us as one race and one family."

Imagine that, a citizen of another country comes over our border and stamps his feet while jumping up and down and demands that we give him a fair and just immigration act. Unbelievable! Yo have no rights here so go back home and make demands from your own country.