Over 250,000 march for immigrant rights in Los Angeles, denounce Arizona’s SB1070

May 2, 2010

250,000 immigrant workers and allies marched for immigrant rights here today, denouncing Arizona’s racist SB1070 law and demanding “Legalization now!” The march on International Workers’ Day demanded that the Democratic Party and President Obama live up to their election campaign promise to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

Veronica Ramirez, a community organizer, spoke about fighting privatization of t

$Tens of thousands of immigrant workers and their families took to the streets to Tens of thousands of immigrant workers and their families took to the streets to demand legalization for undocumented people and to oppose the racist SB1070 bill in Arizona. The Arizona law $signed by governor Jan Brewer last week$ gives the police the power to stop anyone suspected of being an immigrant and demand their papers.$

$The protest warned, “Obama, escucha, el pueblo esta en lucha!” $Obama, listen, t The protest warned, “Obama, escucha, el pueblo esta en lucha!” \(Obama, listen, the people are in struggle!$. Many placards and signs from Southern California Immigration Coalition demanded “Legalization for all now!”$

Several hundred people from many organizations joined the LGBTQ contingent

Indigenous organizations formed a large contingent, with slogans targeted agains

Many signs made the connections between immigrant rights and workers’ rights.

The Bus Riders Union formed a lively, multi-national contingent in the march.

$The Labor Community Strategy Center marched alongside the Bus Riders Union, with The Labor Community Strategy Center marched alongside the Bus Riders Union, with banners and signs from the \"No to Pre-Prisons\" campaign$

A group of Korean drummers marched alongside hundreds of Korean workers.

Dozens of immigrant communities were represented in the march, from Central and

$Several hundred students from the MEChA Several hundred students from the MEChA $Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán$ marched with high school and college students to demand passage of the Dream Act, which would provide more options for immigrant youth to attend college and grant a pathway to citizenship to college graduates.$

$Many signs called the Arizona law, SB1070, a fascist law Many signs called the Arizona law, SB1070, a fascist law and equated the Minutemen $a right-wing militia$ with Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan. Demonstrators were outraged that the radical right continues to grow and use violence against immigrant communities, while unjust laws such as SB1070 provide legal cover for racist attacks.$

Demonstrators emphasized that immigrants are workers, not criminals

Several hours after the march, there were still tens of thousands of people

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