Yesterday, diverse allies in 40 different cities across the country came together to launch the Reform Immigration FOR America Campaign. Reading through the press coverage of the launches, its truly inspiring to see just how broad support is for the campaign.
In Los Angeles, hundreds of people marched to launch the RI4A Campaign:
Carrying signs that read “Economic Recovery Includes Immigration Reform,” the demonstrators marched from the Our Lady Queen of Angels church to City Hall in downtown Los Angeles, where they held a rally calling for an immigration reform that they said would benefit all citizens.
Angelica Salas, executive director for the Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights of Los Angeles, said that the campaign “promotes immigration reform that actually promotes economic opportunity for all.”
Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti joined the demonstrators in their call to action.
In Santa Fe, New Mexico, our partners at Somos un Pueblo Unido launched the RI4A campaign:
Advocates reported that 9 media outlets attended the launch and 105 people showed up, despite the mid-day timing of the launch. Community leaders from five cities in the area and Senator Jeff Bingaman’s aide came to the press conference and spoke.
Somos also worked with a local news affiliate to create a PSA for the Text Action Alert Network supporting the RI4A Campaign. Check it out below:
In Portland, OR:
Leaders from CAUSA , PCUN, Rural Organizing Project, Mujeres Luchadores Progresistas and the Oregon Association of Nurseries held a press briefing at the Oregon State Capitol to discuss the National Campaign to pass fair and just Comprehensive Immigration Reform this year. Check out the video of the briefing below:
In Chicago, IL, our partners at ICIRR launched the RI4A Campaign in the historic Jane Addams Hull House, home of immigrant organizing in the early 1900′s. At the launch:
Representatives from labor, business and faith spoke about the need to reform immigration for all workers, for the economy and for families in America.
An interfaith coalition of Catholic, Muslim, Evangelical and Jewish leaders joined in support of the campaign. Representatives of organizations involved in ongoing local and national campaigns joined in support including the Ya Basta! campaign, the Familias Unidas campaign and the Detention Watch Network.
Chinese, Korean, African, Latino, Muslim, Arab and Polish immigrant communities also joined to show their support for the Reform Immigration for America campaign.
Also, be sure to check out the video below. It features Jorge Ramirez of the Chicago Federation of Labor speaking at the event.
One thing is clear: the fight is ON for Immigration Reform in 2009. If you want to check out a full list of press coverage from yesterday’s launches, keep reading after the jump. I think its worth noting that news outlets in places like Augusta, Georgia and Kenosha, Wisconsin are even covering immigration news. Not only are we gaining momentum, but we are getting the attention of the media, the American Public and, most importantly, members of Congress.
TV Clips: http://www.criticalmention.com/report/7770×74217.htm
San Francisco Chronicle: SoCal activists march for immigration reform
June 1, 2009
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/06/01/state/n154427D28.DTL&type=politics
Boston Globe: Groups push for US immigration reform
June 2, 2009
Miami Herald: South Florida groups to push for immigration reform
By Jose Pagliery
June 2, 2009
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/1076949.html
Tennesseean: Nashville coalition pushes immigration changes
By Janell Ross
June 2, 2009
Orlando Sentinel: New immigration-reform push starts with rallies, heartfelt letters from students
June 2, 2009
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-immigration-reform-060109,0,230163.story
Pittsburgh Post Gazette: Rally held here for immigration reform
By Paula Reed Ward
June 2, 2009
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09153/974311-53.stm
Lincoln Journal Star: Group trying to build momentum for immigration reform
By Art Hovey
June 1, 2009
http://journalstar.com/articles/2009/06/01/news/local/doc4a24567844bad211161950.txt
Las Vegas Sun: Immigration advocates rally for system overhaul
By Torey Van Oot
June 1, 2009
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jun/01/pro-immigration-groups-rally-system-overhaul/
Omaha World Herald: Advocates call for ‘humane’ immigration reform
By Leslie Reed
June 1, 2009
http://omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10644522
Augusta Chronicle: Activists launch immigration reform campaign
June 2, 2009
http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/06/02/met_526073.shtml
Press Enterprise: New coalition pushes for eased immigration rules
By David Olson
June 1, 2009
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_immigration02.3ddc025.html
South Coast Today: Advocates push immigration reform
By Becky Evans
June 2, 2009
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090602/NEWS/906020309/-1/NEWS01
Salinas Californian: Salinas Valley immigration coalition rallies
By Leslie Griffy
June 2, 2009
North County Times: Activists kick off immigration reform campaign
By Edward Sifuentes
June 1, 2009
Santa Barbara Independent: Activists Protest for Immigration Reform
By Allison M. Jones
June 2, 2009
http://www.independent.com/news/2009/jun/02/activists-protests-immigration-reform/
Kenosha News: State immigrant-rights coalition to participate in national campaign
By Terry Flores
June 2, 2009
Nebraska State Paper: Amnesty Rally Pushes for Citizenship
By Ryan Boetel and Sam McKewon
June 1, 2009
http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2009/06/01/4a24a939b9343
Georgia Public News: Advocates Push for Immigration Reform
June 1, 2009
http://gpbnews.blogspot.com/2009/06/advocates-push-for-immigration-reform.html
Progress Illinois: Quigley, Reform Immigration FOR America Launch Nationwide Campaign
By Adam Doster
June 1, 2009
http://progressillinois.com/2009/6/1/quigley-immigration-reform-nationwide-campaign
Xinhua: Hundreds demonstrate in Los Angeles for U.S. immigration reform
June 1, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/02/content_11471750.htm
American Chronicle: Campaign Launch Events: Reform Immigration FOR America
June 2, 2009
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/104567
OPB News: Immigration Reform, What’s It Mean To You?
By April Baer
June 2, 2009
http://news.opb.org/article/5111-immigration-reform-whats-it-mean-you/
KFSN News: Immigration Reform
By Graciela Moreno
June 1, 2009
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/politics&id=6843333
KPBS News: San Diego Activists Part of Nationwide Immigration Reform Effort
By Amy Isacskon
June 1, 2009
http://www.kpbs.org/news/2009/jun/01/san-diego-activists-part-nationwide-immigration-re/
KXNT News: Immigration Advocates Hold Rally
June 2, 2009
http://www.kxnt.com/Immigration-Advocates-Hold-Rally/4516706
WABE News: Renewed push for immigration reform Charles Edwards
June 1, 2009
Westword Blog: Immigrant-rights activists kick off campaign
By Josh Ezpinoza
June 2, 2009
http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2009/06/immigrant_rights_activists_kic.php
Feet in Two Worlds: Organizations Launch National Campaign to Push For Immigration Reform
By Diego Graglia
June 1, 2009