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Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the Feb. 27, 1997
issue of Workers World newspaper
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Groups to march in defense of immigrant rights

By Preston Wood in Los Angeles

Leaders of a broad coalition of progressive organizations say thousands of people will be marching through the streets of downtown Los Angeles on March 9 to demand immigrants' rights and say no to the injustice of so-called welfare reform.

A wide spectrum of Mexican, Central and South American, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Pacific Islander, Armenian and other immigrant organizations as well as community and political groups have come together. They will protest government attacks on the rights of immigrants, and demand an end to cuts in welfare and other benefits.

On April 1, the new welfare law will cut off benefits to over 150,000 immigrants, including basic necessities such as food stamps. In addition, over 90,000 elderly and disabled individuals will lose their SSI benefits.

Over 350,000 immigrants in California face deportation.

The march has scores of endorsers. They include One Stop Immigration and Education Center, Coordinadora 96, Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights of Los Angeles, Chinese Americans United for Strength and Empowerment, Community Coalition (Los Angeles) and Late Amnesty in Action.

Juan Jose Gutierrez of One Stop Immigration and Education Center, a leader of the effort, urges all progressive-minded organizations and individuals to go all-out to build the demonstration.

From his office in East Los Angeles, Gutierrez told Workers World: "The March 9 mobilization is a very important political event that will allow the progressive multi-issue movement in this part of the country to quickly regroup and take the offensive against the growing list of reactionary policies that the government is developing against the people. We all need to mobilize to the fullest extent possible for this important activity."

The demonstration has been getting wide coverage in the Latino, Asian, and Pacific Islander TV and print media in Los Angeles.

The March 9 demonstration will assemble at Washington Boulevard and Broadway and march to a rally at City Hall at 12:30 p.m. For more information readers can call (213) 353-1333 or the Workers World office at (213) 487-2368.

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