March on ICE for immigrant rights

Close to a thousand people marched on March 25 to demand an end to raids and deportations sweeping the country, as well as the war on immigrants and Iraq.

The march began at the historic Placita Olvera. After building to larger-than-expected numbers, protestors took over the streets on the way to the Federal Detention Center, where the final rally was held.

The march commemorated the March 25 demonstration in Los Angeles last year of more than 1.5 million people, which effectively halted the anti-immigrant Sensenbrenner Bill (HR4437).

“This year it will be these raids and deportations that drive our communities out into the streets,” said one protestor.

The action was co-sponsored by Hermandad Mexicana and included chapter organizations from Oxnard, San Fernando and Los Angeles. Buses were brought from the various chapters. Gloria Saucedo, one of the key organizers of the march and a coordinator of Hermandad Mexicana, has led and organized many demonstrations in front of the Federal Building in Los Angeles protesting the Immigration and Customs Enforcements agency (ICE).

Many of the participating organizations are also part of the National May 1 Movement for Worker and Immigrant Rights, a coalition of labor, clergy, anti-war and immigrant rights organizations. Regarding ICE, a statement by the coalition read: “The dehumanizing behavior of ICE, which even arrests, in handcuffs, 7-year-old children, is a declaration to would-be racists that it is OK to violently target immigrants. Since the start of Homeland Security’s Return to Sender program started in June 2006, over 18,000 people have been arrested. And once arrested, the people face conditions reminiscent of concentration camps, where, as in Texas, adults and children are inhumanely confined for 23 hours at a time with inadequate access to food and health care.”

Organizers likened these raids to the U.S. wars waged on working people around the world. One of the slogans for the demonstration that helped bring out more anti-war activists was “Stop the War on Immigrants! Stop the War on Iraq Now!” Organizers also called for an end to the funding of the war by Congress.

Organizations participating in this demonstration included the March 25 Coalition-Los Angeles, the International Action Center, Fr. Luis Nieto-Resurrection Catholic Church, United Teachers Los Angeles, AFSCME, FOMUUSA, La Casa del Mexicano, the National Lawyers Guild, BAYAN-USA and FMLN-LA.