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Mass Statewide Immigration Rights Marches Announced

Immigration rights marches will target major California cities this weekend, according to a coalition of leaders and organizations representing labor, elected officials, faith leaders, students and communities who will make the announcement THURSDAY, March 18, 10 a.m. at a State Capitol news conference (west steps).

Assembly speaker John Perez is expected to join the news conference.

Others attending include David Kimball from Reform Immigration for America (RIFA); Angel Luevan, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC); Victor Guendalin, Voces Unidas (San Jose); Alberto Gonzales, Federaciones Jalisco (Modesto); Luis Rivera, Casa Michoacan (Modesto); Phil Tucker, California Healthy Communities Network (Cal-HCN).

Reform Immigration for America is calling for immigration rights mobilizations on or around Sunday, March 21 in solidarity with the national March FOR America in Washington D.C., expected to draw as many as 100,000 marchers.

Both actions demand that Congress move forward on immigration reform and that the Senate introduce legislation that would fix our nation's broken immigration system.

Mobilizations in California for Immigration Reform will include Los Angeles, Salinas, San Jose, San Francisco, San Rafael, among other locations.

"If the Obama administration and Congress do not take concrete steps to fulfill their promise to enact immigration reform this year, our families will continue to suffer unjust deportations, desolation, marginalization and despair, caused by our broken immigration system. We want our elected officials to put aside partisanship and Washington game-playing and deliver on their promise for a just and humane immigration reform. Our communities will continue to hold elected officials accountable through mobilizations and civic participation.

"California clearly demonstrates the enormous economic, cultural and intellectual contributions of immigrants. Immigration reform will contribute to a robust recovery of our economy. It would put the economy on a more stable footing, provide a vital boost for recovery, and increase wages for all," according to a statement released by the coalition.