Los Angeles solidarity with immigrants

Los Angeles Sept. 12 rally. WW photo: Cheryl LaBash

In response to the inhumane deportation of immigrant-rights activist Elvira Arellano, the We Are All Elvira and Saulito Unity Coalition held one of the nationally coordinated Days of Action for immigrant rights Sept. 12 in Los Angeles, with a march and vigil to McArthur Park starting with a prayer service at Echo Park Methodist Church.

The organizers urged everyone to participate in their economic boycott. The demands of the demonstration were to stop the “no match” Social Security Administration letters, an immediate moratorium on raids and deportations, and legalization now.

Participating organizations included the March 25th Coalition, CHIRLA, MIWON, Hermandad Mexicana Trans-Nacional, We are America Coalition, UNITE HERE, SEIU 1877, Our Ladies Queen of Angels Parish, NALACC, FOMUSA, KIWA, Latinos Against the War, BAYAN-USA, UFW, FMLN, UCLA Students for a Democratic Society and the International Action Center.

The composition of this coalition was very significant in regard to building unity among various immigrant rights forces here.

At the rally Martha Rojas of the March 25th Coalition and the Troops Out Now Coalition-Los Angeles urged everyone to participate in the upcoming Sept. 22–29 Encampment and March to Stop the War.

—John Parker