Immigration Reform Supporters Announce Major Concert and March for October 8, 2013 at the Nation’s Capital Following actions in 89 cities the weekend before, CAMINO AMERICANO: Washington’s Concert and March for Immigrant Dignity and Respect, Will Feature a Headlining Performance from Latin Music Legends Los Tigres Del Norte Washington, DC- Labor, religious, and community leaders gathered today to announce plans for a large-scale mobilization in Washington DC. The October 8 Concert and March, will feature a Concert for Immigrant Dignity and Respect headlined by Los Tigres del Norte, a 6-time Grammy winning ensemble popularly considered “La Voz del Pueblo” for its support of immigrant rights and the crafting of songs that convey the struggles of undocumented people. Additional acts are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. “This is a crucial time in the continued fight for immigrant rights, and we looking forward to raising our voices alongside the thousands of our community that will come from across the nation,” Los Tigres Del Norte. The event at the nation’s capital will close a weekend of actions currently projected in 89 cities and communities spanning the country from downtown Honolulu to Birmingham, Alabama; from the rivers of Spokane, Washington to the towers of downtown Manhattan. Combined, the rallies of October 5 and the Concert and March on October 8 in Washington will demand dignity and respect for immigrant families and call on Congress to fix the broken immigration system. “Each of our 43,000 members, and indeed everyone in this country, is impacted by the horror of family separation caused by the broken immigration system,” said Gustavo Torres, President of CASA in Action, a co-host of Camino Americano at the National Mall. “We will be at Congress’ doorstep on the October 8 calling on representatives to stop delaying and solve this human rights crisis.” October is widely considered the month when the House will start votes on immigration reform, although contradictory remarks over the August recess has left some wondering whether house leaders are truly committed to resolving a crisis that has broad support and is a top priority for organizations from labor unions to business lobbies, faith institutions to law enforcement officials. The Concert and March on October 8 will reflect these forces including a prayer led by over 100 religious leaders from across the country and hard-hitting targeted action at Congress to include union presidents and civil rights leaders. “Our brothers and sisters in the church have suffered for too long because of congressional inaction,” said Father José Eugenio Hoyos, of Hispanic Diocese of Arlington. “Passage of immigration reform is not just an economic necessity, it is a moral obligation.” The growing list of local and national organizations planning and supporting the event in Washington include 32BJ-SEIU, Alliance for Citizenship, the AFL-CIO, the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the American Federation of Teachers, America’s Voice Education Fund, the Baltimore/Washington Construction and Public Employees Laborers’ District Council, CASA in Action, CARECEN, the Centreville Labor Resource Center, Church World Service, Communications Workers of America, DREAMers of Virginia, the Fair Immigration Reform Movement, Hispanic Apostolate of Arlington, the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, LiUNA Local 11, the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, SEIU International, USAction, UNITE HERE, and Unidad Peruana de Virginia. “It’s not who we are as Americans to relegate men and women into a second-class group of people, said Jaime Contreras, Vice-President and Capital Area Director for 32BJ SEIU. “Congressional leaders must reject the handful of extremists who are ignoring the majority of Americans that support common sense immigration reform with a path to citizenship.”
Posted on: Mon, 16 Sep 2013 17:07:08 +0000
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