About 200,000 immigrants and supporters marched on March 21 in Washington to protest against the inaction of President Barack Obama and Congress on legislation that could legalise more than 11 million undocumented immigrants.
The marchers demanded an end to raids and deportations, measures to assist family reunification, and a more just and humane immigration system.
This latest rally — among the biggest in recent years — was called by the coalition Reform Immigration for America (RIM). This includes more than 200 organisations around the country — among them are immigrant rights advocacy groups, unions and churches.
Together, they seek to force immigration reform onto the political agenda of Congress this year.
If the harsh anti-immigrant proposals recently put forward by New York Democratic Senator Charles Schumer and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham becomes the basis for legislation, further protests and resistance will be necessary.
The March 21 protest illustrates the potential to revive the immigrant rights movement, which showed its strength in spectacular fashion in 2006 with mass marches against draconian anti-immigrant proposals.
Undocumented workers, youth and immigrant rights activists have challenged the politicians' indifference.
Campaigns such as the fight to stop the deportation of Chicago college student Rigo Padilla and the big recent protest against anti-immigrant Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Arizona — both led mainly by youth — have helped rebuild the confidence of the immigrant rights movement.
The movement's revival could be seen in the march of undocumented youth in Chicago on March 10 to announce that they were coming out of the shadows to fight back. Their spirit was carried on the hundreds of buses that came to Washington on March 21.
The protesters loudly voiced their demands: for legalisation for all, family unification, and justice and dignity.
Sí se puede! Yes we can — and we must come out again on May Day for legalisation and jobs for all.
[Abridged from US Socialist Worker.]