tags: , , , Blog

The Grassroots Drumbeat for Immigration Reform

Share This:

Update: Also check out “Real Boots on the Ground: Immigration Movement to March for Reform,” over at Immigration Impact.

Originally posted on Standing FIRM:

On Sunday March, 21st tens of thousands of people will flood the National Mall in our nation’s capitol, demanding immigration reform now. From the We March FOR America site:

Our vision of reform includes immigrants and native-born U.S. citizens working shoulder to shoulder to achieve better wages, working conditions, and labor protections.

As activists, organizers and communities ramp up efforts leading up to the march, I want to make sure we highlight the great work happening at the local and state levels too.

In Illinois, a diverse group of organizations and individuals (including faith, labor and community organizations) has pledged to bring over 10,000 people to the march. Led by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, the motto of the group is “Friends Keep Promises”, with a specific focus on Obama’s campaign promise of immigration reform in his first year in office.

Emilio Lozano from local organization Centro Sin Fronteras said:

“It’s showdown time. We are united as never before. We will mobilize as never before.”

It is, indeed, showdown time. And Illinois is ready to march!