May Day Demo In NY To Highlight Immigration/Employment

A diverse coalition of immigrant rights advocates, community and union leaders, artists and youth-based community organizations will gather tomorrow in Union Square at midday for a rally, march and Hip Hop concert in support of immigrant and worker rights. In light of legislation passed in Arizona last week, the Union Square event will emphasize condemning this racially charged legislation that will terrorize not only immigrants but all communities of color.

The Saturday May 1 Union Square Rally will also make it clear that the Schumer Plan on immigration is no better as it does not grant immediate legalization, continues to militarize the border and will ominously mean biometric identification for all people in this country. The Schumer plan also means the further criminalization of the undocumented and will serve to drive workers further underground.

On Saturday, May 1 Union Square Rally from 12pm-2pm there will be a mass rally where student speakers will join labor leaders and immigrant rights activists demanding living wage jobs and legalization for all undocumented workers. Youth will speak on their fight against education cutbacks, among other issues.

The rally will be followed by a Hip-Hop 4 Immigrant Rights concert from 2-4pm, where the city’s leading artists will perform live in support of immigrant rights.
Invited guests include Hip Hop pioneers Mos Def and KRS-One.

The afternoon will conclude with a march down Broadway at 4pm, culminating in a rally at Federal Plaza.

Background
May 1 is widely recognized as International Workers Day throughout the world, commemorating the historic struggle for an eight-hour workday and workers rights. Since 2006, when millions in this country marched against proposed anti-immigrant legislation, May 1st has also become a symbolic day for the struggle of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. This year in 2010, artists and youth are stepping in to claim May 1st as well, marching in solidarity with immigrants and workers as they demand an end to education cutbacks and the mass incarceration of young people of color.