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The rally, largely organized by labor unions, was one of dozens taking place in cities across the country to mark what immigration reform supporters had dubbed a national day of action for immigrant justice. The rally also came after several tumultuous weeks of debate in the nation, with the latest attempt to overhaul immigration policy stalling in the Senate last week. Monday, police closed down a stretch of Broadway from City Hall south past Canal Street and supporters marched from Washington Square Park, Chinatown and Brooklyn. They formed a wave of bodies, flags and signs that flowed down the center of the street. The rally attracted politicians including U.S. Sens. Hilary Rodham Clinton and Charles Schumer, along with the Democratic rivals for governor, state attorney general Eliot Spitzer and Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who was absent, reiterated in an interview his belief that a constant flow of new immigrants is needed in the country but that an enforceable, compassionate immigration policy that secures and "protects the country from an economic point of view" is needed. Hector Figueroa of Local 32BJ, the largest building service workers union in the country and one of the organizers of the rally, said 140 organizations participated and estimated that 125,000 people attended. Luis Valenzuela, executive director of the Long Island Immigrant Alliance, urged members of the crowd to lobby their members of Congress. "While Congress is in recess, we have to call every day, we have to write every day," he implored. Those in attendance represented a spectrum of nationalities, from Mexico to Ireland to Israel to Pakistan. While many waved the flags of their home countries, the stars and stripes were by far the predominant symbol. Happily waving miniature American flags, 3-year-old Kelan wore a white T-shirt with "Legalize my mammy and her friends please" written in green letters. His mother Mary, 33, an Irish immigrant from the Bronx, has been in the United States for 10 years struggling to get citizenship and wishing that her son could see his grandparents and cousins who remain in Ireland. "My kid is American and I want to be able to raise him American and give him a better life," said his mother, who declined to give her last name. "We are not criminals, we are not terrorists, we are hardworking people" said Pakistan immigrant Viqarul Ismat, 50, who wore an American flag attached with a rubberband to his head. "We're here to better this country."
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Tens
of thousands of people converged in the streets near New York City Hall
Monday in support of immigration reform, chanting and waving flags that
showed both pride in their homeland and in their newfound home in the
United States.
