That Washington
PubliCola Video and Photos from Saturday's Immigration Reform Rally
We originally posted this story and video on Saturday afternoon. We're moving it up because Camden's on-the-scene interviews with U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott; Mike Gempler, President of the Washington Grower's League; and Carlos Padillo, an undocumented youth and immigration reform activist, are hot stuff.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QKJXO84Mf0[/youtube]
On Saturday, the Washington Immigration Reform Coalition (WIRC) hosted a rally in Occidental Park near Pioneer Square calling for an immigration reform bill in Congress. Thousands of people showed up—including U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA, 7), who addressed the crowd (Cola video interview below). Sen. Patty Murray and Sen. Maria Cantwell spoke via video feed. And Mayor McGinn and King County Executive Dow Constantine were also there to voice their support. The crowd also was also treated to a youth marimba ensemble and a performance by Master Mak Fung Kung Fu Club & Lion Dance Group (see the lion photos below).
The coalition wants immigration reform to be Congress's next task following health care reform. They've got four demands, said Lua Pritchard, chair of the Asian Pacific Island Coalition, Pierce County:
1) The legalization of undocumented immigrants currently living and working within the United States
2) A way to prevent families members from being separated by because of deportation
3) Additional labor protections for undocumented workers
4) Full due process for undocumented immigrants and safeguards for their civil rights
A full story is forthcoming, but for now we've got Cola video [above] of two old white guys and an high school senior who immigrated from Mexico when he was two and now advocates for immigration reform (he's the vice president of his student government). WIRC promoted him today as an "undocumented youth." His comments are also in the video below.
Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), one of the two white guys, thinks the fight over immigration reform in D.C. will be as tough as the fight for health care reform, but maybe the third time's a charm: An immigration reform bill has been passed by the U.S. Senate in 2006 and again in 2007, but failed to make it any further both times.
The other white guy, Mike Gempler, President of the Washington Growers' League puts things in an economic framework, which may be a smart move when convincing conservatives. Also, check out our photos of the event:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QKJXO84Mf0[/youtube]
On Saturday, the Washington Immigration Reform Coalition (WIRC) hosted a rally in Occidental Park near Pioneer Square calling for an immigration reform bill in Congress. Thousands of people showed up—including U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA, 7), who addressed the crowd (Cola video interview below). Sen. Patty Murray and Sen. Maria Cantwell spoke via video feed. And Mayor McGinn and King County Executive Dow Constantine were also there to voice their support. The crowd also was also treated to a youth marimba ensemble and a performance by Master Mak Fung Kung Fu Club & Lion Dance Group (see the lion photos below).
The coalition wants immigration reform to be Congress's next task following health care reform. They've got four demands, said Lua Pritchard, chair of the Asian Pacific Island Coalition, Pierce County:
1) The legalization of undocumented immigrants currently living and working within the United States
2) A way to prevent families members from being separated by because of deportation
3) Additional labor protections for undocumented workers
4) Full due process for undocumented immigrants and safeguards for their civil rights
A full story is forthcoming, but for now we've got Cola video [above] of two old white guys and an high school senior who immigrated from Mexico when he was two and now advocates for immigration reform (he's the vice president of his student government). WIRC promoted him today as an "undocumented youth." His comments are also in the video below.
Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), one of the two white guys, thinks the fight over immigration reform in D.C. will be as tough as the fight for health care reform, but maybe the third time's a charm: An immigration reform bill has been passed by the U.S. Senate in 2006 and again in 2007, but failed to make it any further both times.
The other white guy, Mike Gempler, President of the Washington Growers' League puts things in an economic framework, which may be a smart move when convincing conservatives. Also, check out our photos of the event:
