2008 Woodie Awards
Springfield Area Protesters Speak out Against New Immigration Legislation
Christine Linton
Issue date: 4/20/06 Section: News
On Thursday, May 13, demonstrators gathered in front of the Old First Church in Springfield, Mass. to protest new immigration laws working their way through the Senate.
Protesters assembled in opposition to a new piece of legislation that would affect millions of undocumented workers in the United States, as well as those who associate with them.
The demonstration began with music and a short prayer followed by several speakers who addressed the audience in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Between each speaker, members of the protest chanted "The people united will never be defeated" alternately in English and Spanish to a drum beat. Demonstrators carried signs reading "No Human Being is Illegal," "Money for Jobs, Not War" and "Citizenship For all Immigrants."
Outspoken Springfield resident Rob Okun addressed the rally, stating, "this country is about who is here today. If America is going to come from a place of fear and restricted freedom then our country is poorer for it."
The demonstrators in Springfield were acting in solidarity with national protests that have been heating up over the past month. In the past two weeks a number of major U.S. cities have held protests. New York, Boston, Los Angeles and Denver have seen gatherings of over 50,000 people in opposition to the proposed legislation.
The bill being protested is known as HR4437, the Border Protection, Anti-Terrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act. The legislation proposes to criminalize any individual or organization that assists undocumented workers including refugee agencies, businesses, churches, charitable organizations and individual family members. The bill also stipulates increased border security and grants state and local law enforcement agencies the right to impose immigration laws. The bill also introduces a number of other restrictions on undocumented workers and immigrants themselves.
This legislation was proposed by Wisconsin State Representative and Chairman of the Republican House Judiciary Committee F. James Sensenbrenner. The bill was passed in the House of Representatives in December 2005 with the support of 92 percent of Republicans and 18 percent of Democrats. The proposed law is currently being debated in the Senate.
Erika Rico, a student who came out to support the demonstration, held a sign that read, "We work hard, follow the rules, pay our taxes, this is our land too!" When asked why she opposed the new legislation, she said, "It is inhumane. Everyone here is an immigrant. It is not right to make someone who is looking for a job into a criminal. If we all unite we can show that we are not going to let this pass."
The Senate hopes to resume discussion on the bill when it reconvenes following a two week recess. Debate continues across the country amongst state legislators, popular meetings and nationwide protests.
Protesters assembled in opposition to a new piece of legislation that would affect millions of undocumented workers in the United States, as well as those who associate with them.
The demonstration began with music and a short prayer followed by several speakers who addressed the audience in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Between each speaker, members of the protest chanted "The people united will never be defeated" alternately in English and Spanish to a drum beat. Demonstrators carried signs reading "No Human Being is Illegal," "Money for Jobs, Not War" and "Citizenship For all Immigrants."
Outspoken Springfield resident Rob Okun addressed the rally, stating, "this country is about who is here today. If America is going to come from a place of fear and restricted freedom then our country is poorer for it."
The demonstrators in Springfield were acting in solidarity with national protests that have been heating up over the past month. In the past two weeks a number of major U.S. cities have held protests. New York, Boston, Los Angeles and Denver have seen gatherings of over 50,000 people in opposition to the proposed legislation.
The bill being protested is known as HR4437, the Border Protection, Anti-Terrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act. The legislation proposes to criminalize any individual or organization that assists undocumented workers including refugee agencies, businesses, churches, charitable organizations and individual family members. The bill also stipulates increased border security and grants state and local law enforcement agencies the right to impose immigration laws. The bill also introduces a number of other restrictions on undocumented workers and immigrants themselves.
This legislation was proposed by Wisconsin State Representative and Chairman of the Republican House Judiciary Committee F. James Sensenbrenner. The bill was passed in the House of Representatives in December 2005 with the support of 92 percent of Republicans and 18 percent of Democrats. The proposed law is currently being debated in the Senate.
Erika Rico, a student who came out to support the demonstration, held a sign that read, "We work hard, follow the rules, pay our taxes, this is our land too!" When asked why she opposed the new legislation, she said, "It is inhumane. Everyone here is an immigrant. It is not right to make someone who is looking for a job into a criminal. If we all unite we can show that we are not going to let this pass."
The Senate hopes to resume discussion on the bill when it reconvenes following a two week recess. Debate continues across the country amongst state legislators, popular meetings and nationwide protests.
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