SUNDAY IS PROTEST DAY

LOS ANGELES - On Sunday, May 1, tens of thousands of immigrants and working families of all backgrounds, community organizations, labor unions and many others will take to the streets across the country to demand legalization for all immigrants and to stop deportations and the attacks on workers.

The annual immigrant and labor rights march is seen as a way to rally public support for federal legislation that would legalize the nation's 11 million illegal immigrants.

In light of efforts to strip public employees of collective bargaining in Wisconsin and the anti-union bills introduced in at least twelve states planned May Day protests have taken on a new, more significant meaning this year, The Nation.com is reporting. Events will focus on the customary issues of workers’ and immigrants’ rights, but also collective bargaining, and budget and pension cuts that affect not just the working class but their families and communities, as well.

This year, activists will be calling on President Obama to stop deportations and provide “legalization or no re-election,” says Celina Benitez of Southern California Immigration Coalition.

SCIC is also protesting in solidarity of all workers’ rights to organize.Downtown Los Angeles will be filled with protesters this Sunday in what has become an annual pro-immigration reform march.

California is known for its legendary May Day protests. In 2006, a quarter of a million people poured into the streets of San Jose in what is known as the largest political demonstration in Northern California history.

That year, the protest was centered on the Illegal Immigration Control Act, which would have criminalized undocumented immigrants. The protest effectively stopped the bill in is tracks, according to Mercury News.

The ANSWER Coalition is supporting and helping to organize May 1 demonstrations taking place across the country. 

Some of the scheduled demonstrations and locations are listed below: 

Los Angeles, Calif.

10:00am
Corner of Olympic & Broadway, Downtown LA
(March to 1st & Broadway for mass rally)

May Day 2011 Los Angeles Coalition includes: Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition, AFL-CIO, MIWON, CHIRLA, KIWA, SEIU, SEIU-ULTCW, SEIU-USWW, SEIU 721, SEIU 99, SEIU-UHW, SEIU-CTW-CLC, UTLA, LIUNA (Laborers International Union of North America), NDLON (National Day Laborer Organizing Network), FIRM, UCLA Labor Center, COFEM, ANSWER Coalition, Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Naitonal Lawyers Guild, Islamic Circle of North America, CLUE, Students Fight Back (Pasadena CC, Cerritos, CSU Long Beach, CSU Fullerton, Los Angeles CC, Harbor College, Long Beach CC, Santa Monica College, Comites de Base del FMLN, Danza Azteca Cuauhtemoc, Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional, Frente Unido de Pueblos/United Front of the Peoples of the Americas, Bantay Pilipinas, AF3IRM (Association of Filipinas, Feminists Fighting Imperialism, Re-feudalization, and Marginalization), Comittee to Save Casa Mexicana, Corazon del Pueblo, Party for Socialism and Liberation, Echo Park Community Coalition, Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines, KmB Pro-People Youth, Ecumenical Fellowship for Justice and Peace, March Forward!, Communities United for Justice, Latinas for Reproductive Justice, Chicanos for Community Medicine at UCLA, Students 4 ELAC, Students of Color for Public Health at UCLA, Free Palestine Alliance, Students for Justice in Palestine, Estancia High School Peace Club, Coalición por la Paz y Democracia en Honduras, Frente Hondureño de Resistencia Popular, KRC (Korean Resource Center), Corazón del Pueblo, FRHLA (Frente de Resistencia Hispana de Los Angeles), California Libertarios, CPA-API, LAQ/Queer Contingent, Hollywood Youth Pride, Legacy, Pride at Work, LAGLC, MALDEF, APAIT, API Equality LA, NGLTF, LEA, LAQ, Sin Fronteras, Bienestar, Coalición Translatinos, The Wall Las Memorias, KUE, AQWA, Gender Justice LA, Equal Action, Stone Wall, California Faculty Association/LGBT Caucus, SAVE, ACLU/SC, Comité de Rescate La Casa el Mexicano, Guerras Populares, Casa de Migrante Poblano, ALLA (Academia de Líderes Latinos en AcciónInland Empire Rapid Response Network), Progressive Teachers for Immigration Justice, Topanga Peace Alliance, Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, Students Against War and Racism, and many others.

San Francisco, Calif.
11:30am: Assemble on 24th and Mission
12:00noon: March to Civic Center
1:00pm-3:00pm: Rally at Civic Center
Sponsored by the May Day Coalition

Chicago, Ill.
2:00pm: Gather at Union Park
(Corners of Lake and Ashland)
3:00pm: March to Pilsen
Organized by the Chicago May Day Organizing Group. Endorsers include: Moratorium on Deportations Campaign, Biblioteca Popular, Committee Against the Militarization of our Youth (CAMi), Albany Park, North Park, Mayfair Neighbors for Peace and Justice, AFSCME Local 2081, Teamsters Local 743, Labor Committee on Immigrant Worker Rights, ANSWER Chicago, Chicago Jobs with Justice, Immigrant Solidarity Dupage, Teachers for Social Justice-Chicago, Justice Mission, La Villita, Chicago Facebook Community, Movimiento Migrante Mesoamericano, Red Migrante, The Chicago Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, The Coalition of Utah Progressives (CUP), International Socialist Organization, Chicago Anti-Eviction Campaign, Socialist Workers Party and the Party for Socialism and Liberation

New York City, N.Y.
1:00pm: Rally at Foley Square
*Meet up with ANSWER at 12:30pm at Worth and Centre (north end of Foley Square)
Sponsored by the Alliance for Labor & Immigrant Rights & Jobs for All, a coalition of many unions, community and other organizations

Baltimore, Md.
3:00pm: Gather at McKeldin Square
(SE corner of Light St. and E. Pratt St., by the flag pole nearby the Inner Harbor)

Boston, Mass.
Boston: 12:00noon - Rally at the Rose Kennedy Greenway Park(across from the Haymarket T Station, in the corner of Cross and Hanover Sts.). 
After the rally, take the T to East Boston (see below for details).
Organized by the Boston May Day Committee (Mass. Global Action, ANSWER Coalition, Socialist Workers Party, Socialist Alternative, Socialist Party, July 26 Coalition, Tecschange, Latinos for Social Change) and endorsed by many organizations.
East Boston: 2:00pm - March from Liberty Plaza in Central Square to Chelsea City Hall                             
Everett: 2:00pm - March from Everett City Hall to Chelsea City Hall         
Chelsea: 3:00pm-5:00pm - Rally at Chelsea City Hall
 Organized by the May 1 Coalition of Chelsea, East Boston, and Everett

New Haven, Conn.
11:00am: Rally at City Hall 
The rally will be followed by a march through the city. The march will end back at the annual May Day Festival on the Green, which will feature political speakers, artists, musicians and information tables.

Syracuse, N.Y.
5:00pm-7:00pm
Plymouth Church: 232. E. Onondaga St.
Open house in celebration of International Workers' Day
with music, refreshments, and workers' stories
Organized by the Workers' Center of Central New York

Richmond, Va.
Monroe Park (VCU Campus)
3:00pm: Music and Gathering
4:00pm: Rally and Speakers
5:00pm: Parade
6:00pm: Closing Ceremonies
Organized by 2011 Richmond, Virginia May Day

Albuquerque, N.M.
1:00pm: Starting from the Rosario Chapel (in front of De Vargas Mall)
Ending in rally and lunch at De Vargas Park (Next to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church)
Sponsored by  Somos' Worker's Committee

Austin, Texas
4:00pm: Gather at the State Capitol (Congress and 11th)
5:00pm: March to City Hall