MIAMI, Fla. — Immigrants and their families gathered at rallies across the country Friday to push for changes to American immigration policy, but as a swine flu outbreak continued to spread, participation at some of the events was smaller than organizers had hoped.
Organizers sought to channel the political muscle Hispanics flexed last November for Barack Obama into a new cause: jump-starting stalled efforts to forge a path to citizenship for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S.
In Chicago, rally-goers unfurled a banner of flags stitched together from countries across the globe.
In Miami, more than 300 minority rights activists joined with union officials in one of the first local immigration rallies to be endorsed by the AFL-CIO.
"We are not just here for the immigrants, we are not just here for the workers,” said Maria Rodriguez, head of the Florida Immigrant Coalition. "We are here for all the families who deserve a better life.”
On the West Coast, hundreds of people gathered in San Francisco’s Dolores Park.
"Many of our small businesses are started by immigrant entrepreneurs,” said David Chiu, a San Francisco supervisor.
In Miami, Felipe Matos, a college student, said he hoped the marches would raise awareness among those not directly affected about the impact of deportations on families.
"Young people decided to go out and vote” in November, he said. "Now people feel empowered to make a difference.”
by the asociated press
Organizers sought to channel the political muscle Hispanics flexed last November for Barack Obama into a new cause: jump-starting stalled efforts to forge a path to citizenship for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S.
In Chicago, rally-goers unfurled a banner of flags stitched together from countries across the globe.
In Miami, more than 300 minority rights activists joined with union officials in one of the first local immigration rallies to be endorsed by the AFL-CIO.
"We are not just here for the immigrants, we are not just here for the workers,” said Maria Rodriguez, head of the Florida Immigrant Coalition. "We are here for all the families who deserve a better life.”
On the West Coast, hundreds of people gathered in San Francisco’s Dolores Park.
"Many of our small businesses are started by immigrant entrepreneurs,” said David Chiu, a San Francisco supervisor.
In Miami, Felipe Matos, a college student, said he hoped the marches would raise awareness among those not directly affected about the impact of deportations on families.
"Young people decided to go out and vote” in November, he said. "Now people feel empowered to make a difference.”
by the asociated press
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