UNITED STATES: March for immigrant amnesty

Issue 

UNITED STATES: March for immigrant amnesty

NEW YORK — Nearly 3000 people marched on May 1 in New York City to demand a general amnesty for undocumented immigrants and better conditions for all workers. The march was part of a national day of action coordinated by the National Coalition for Dignity and Amnesty for Undocumented Immigrants, and was supported by a wide range of immigrant, labour, human rights and activist groups

In October, the coalition organised a march of some 10,000 people — most of them Latin American immigrants — in Washington, D.C., to demand amnesty. In February, the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), which represents about 13 million union members in the US, issued a resolution supporting the demand for a general amnesty for undocumented immigrants and calling for an end to the "employer sanctions" that are used to justify Immigration and Naturalization Service workplace raids.

At an April 27 rally in New Jersey organised by the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA), several members of the US Congress joined with union leaders to back the amnesty demand. LIUNA was also among a number of unions with a presence at the May 1 march in New York.

The majority of participants in the New York march were immigrants, many from Latin America, especially Mexico. Chinese, South Asian and African groups were also present.

The immigrants included garment workers, day labourers, domestic workers and entire families. A large number of immigrant workers had taken the day off to attend the march.

A substantial minority of march participants were non-immigrant supporters. Activists handed out more than 5000 leaflets explaining march demands to passers-by, who were generally sympathetic.

Despite the strong commitment by marchers to maintain a peaceful, legal presence, police had been told by their superior officers to expect "Seattle-style disturbances" and hundreds of riot-clad agents accompanied the march. Several marchers were arrested, allegedly for violating an obscure New York state law that prohibits covering one's face during a demonstration.

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