USA: Los Angeles residents hold boycott, march in support of immigrants' rights

Record ID: 215683

  • Title: USA: Los Angeles residents hold boycott, march in support of immigrants' rights
  • Date: 2nd May 2006
  • Summary: (W5) SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND, UNITED STATES (MAY 1, 2006) (REUTERS) WIDE EXTERIORS OF CLOSED SHOPS (3 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 17th May 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA35M296JZLWV8EVJ0056BWXEIW
  • Story Text: Tens of thousands of California's immigrants gathered on Monday (May 1, 2006) to march in a bid to legitimize millions of workers now in the United States illegally.
    In Los Angeles, thousands skipped work and school to take part in one major rally, marching for miles, waving flags and pushing baby strollers. A second, potentially larger rally is scheduled for Monday night.
    The common bond was a bid to win from the U.S. Congress rights for an estimated 11.5 million to 12 million illegal immigrants, and to scuttle a proposal that would criminalize them and anyone who tries to help them.
    "We want amnesty," said protester Guillermo Torres. "We want them to value the work that we are doing, because thanks to Latinos the United States is what it is, the most powerful country in the world."
    Illegal immigrants, who flood across the Mexican border at a rate of half a million a year, work mostly at low-paid jobs in agriculture, construction, restaurants, as janitors, meat packers, maids and gardeners and many other occupations.
    "I'm asking for all our brothers, they deserve the amnesty. Because we all have rights," said Magdalena Estrada.
    The demonstrations drew longtime residents as well as those who would become citizens.
    "We've been in this country for more than forty years," remarked Otoniel Avila. "Thank God we can't say that we have been mistreated and we're supporting our brothers."
    About a quarter of those living in California, the country's most populous state, are foreign-born.
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