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Immigration Reform Supporters Rallying At Independence Hall

As we speak, immigration reform activists are getting ready march from Independence Hall to the Federal Building to demand action in the wake of stalled reform legislation and laws like Arizona’s SB1070 going on the books. And as much as we’d like to attribute Arizona’s new policies to just hicks being hicks, take a look at Rep. Daryl Metcalfe’s HB 2479; and even though PA State Representative Payton and PA Senator Leach have already introduced a countermeasure to limit the role of local law enforcement in immigration policy, it’s scary that the Arizona idea is catching fire at all. So when the march, led by Reform Immigration For America, starts — oh, right about now (11:30AM) — it’ll be speaking to both national and local immigration debates. And while their targets are, of course, the GOP and racists everywhere, the rally today also seeks to let Obama feel the heat:
“President Obama has yet to fully throw himself into the fight for immigration reform, breaking promises he made to Latinos and immigrants across the country during his campaign,” said community leader Pedro Rodriguez in a Reform release. “This is not change we can believe in. Our immigrant communities have been besieged by an increase of detentions and deportations from the Obama Administration. We won’t be appeased with token gestures. We’re stepping up the pressure.”

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 26th, 2010 at 11:47 am.

  • philthydan

    “Our immigrant communities have been besieged by an increase of detentions and deportations from the Obama Administration. We won’t be appeased with token gestures”

    I do not agree with the arizona law in the least. Not one single bit. But statements like this kill me. If you are in any country isllegally, you take the risk that the law will catch up and you will be sent home packing.

    Flame away.

  • http://www.philauu.org revnate

    We gathered today to stand on the side of love with immigrant families. We gathered at the birthplace of our nation to remind elected officials of their duty to uphold the U.S. Constitution.

    We gathered as people of faith, to not only condemn Arizona’s SB1070, but to make clear that we will not accept any such copycat legislation here in Pennsylvania.

    We forcefully condemn any legislation that permits the police to harass, detain and discriminate against racial minorities regardless of their citizenship status. This is clear violation of the Constitutional guarantee to due process and equal protection.

    Too much of our public discourse about immigration reform is driven not by love, but by fear, which often scapegoats racial minorities and deem immigrants as somehow less than human. This is not only a violation of all faiths which are centered in love but also a violation of our country’s founding documents.

    When will our Union learn to be united? No one is illegal; no human being can ever be deemed illegal – an identity, a race cannot be legislated out of existence. We hold these truths to be self-evident. All humans are created equal and endowed with certain unalienable rights.

    We gather as part of a national movement to harness the power of love to stop oppression, exclusion, and violence. Let this gathering serve as an invitation to all people to stand on the side of love with immigrant families.

    Rev. Nate Walker
    First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia

  • john

    I do agree illegals should be legalized. I am also aware that being illegal does not mean uneducated, you don;t have to be uneducated to be successful in life BUT>>>>>>>…you are IGNORANTS!!!!The true story of this homeland IS that IT WAS SOLD to the US so THIS IS NOT YOUR HOMELAND UNTIL WE LEGALIZE YOU TECHNICALLY. you should be humble and smart……ifyou have this land back it will be again garbage why? BECAUSE THE PEOPLE MADE THIS LAND AND YOUR PEOPLE SOLD IT TO MY PEOPLE!!!!!!
    So please form now on if you want my vote then be educated enough to earn and deserve and be an american for what you are pursuing…..again you should stay ify o did good but I would also like the ones that stay are different fromt he sign in that pictures….we don’t want to have the mentality of a third world country!!! GOT IT@@!!