Coalition Plans Mass Immigrant Marches

BOSTON - President Barack Obama responded -- at least in word -- to the growing demand and need for real  reform that gives rights to immigrants in this country. His major address called the immigration system "broken" and made clear that federal action will prevent odious bills such as Arizona's SB 1070 from spreading to more states.

Mass activities are already planned in July to stand up to anti-immigrant racism and the "demagoguery" that President Obama identified in his speech. On July 10, when Gov. Jan Brewer comes to speak in Boston at the National Governors Association, immigrants and their supporters will be outside demanding the repeal of SB 1070. Transportation is being organized from across the East Coast to come to Boston.

In Phoenix, on July 28, the day before the law goes into effect legalizing racial profiling, a large rally will take place at the State Capitol.

Reacting to Obama's speech, ANSWER immigrant rights organizer Carlos Alvarez said: "We support all steps towards reform that brings rights to immigrant workers, but are opposed to measures that would further militarize the border, criminalize immigrants, and create a guest-worker program to legalize sub-standard work conditions. These measures are unjust and lend themselves to exactly the type of demagoguery that President Obama referred to in his speech today."

"We will be protesting all month to demand equal rights for immigrants and oppose all laws that scapegoat the most vulnerable sector of our population. Immigrants have not caused the economic problems of this country. No immigrant workers have shut down U.S. factories, been bailed out by the Federal Treasury, or invented complex financial derivatives," Alvarez continued.

Protest in Boston
Sat., July 10
12 noon at Copley Square
East Coast Protest at National Governors Association meeting

Protest in Phoenix
Wed., July 28, 5pm
Arizona State Capitol
The night before SB 1070 goes into effect

The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition formed on September 14, 2001. It is a coalition of hundreds of organizations and prominent individuals and scores of organizing centers in cities and towns across the country. Its national steering committee represents major national organizations that have campaigned against U.S. intervention in Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Asia, and organizations that have campaigned for civil rights and for social and economic justice for working and poor people inside the United States.