We Need Humane Immigration Reform
Bill today joined hundreds of thousands of demonstrators in calling for a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants.
Speaking at a rally at the south lawn of Los Angeles City Hall, Bill said the current call for humane immigration reform is "the civil rights struggle of the 21st Century."
"We are all Americans," Bill said. "You are not felons. The only crime here is that our leaders have failed to address this problem for decades and have failed to bring you out of the shadows."
Bill said federal legislation that proposes to criminalize undocumented immigrants is "a total disgrace. It is not who we are. It is not American."
Bill urged federal officials to push for sweeping reform that would legalize the status of the estimated 11 million documented immigrants and create a pathway to citizenship for them.
Bill's comments came during a brief lunch break from city budget deliverations. He was joined at the rally by council colleagues Eric Garcetti and Jose Huizar. Also on hand were Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, state Senator Richard Alarcon, and state Senator Liz Figeroa. They spoke underneath a banner reading: "An Injustice to One is an Injustice to All."
The lively crowd was estimated between 250,000 and 600,000. It was the first of two rallies today. A late afternoon rally was scheduled for MacArthur Park.
Bill also called on the State Legislature to approve a bill permitting undocumented immigrants to get California driver's licenses.
-Mike Bonin, Chief of Staff
Speaking at a rally at the south lawn of Los Angeles City Hall, Bill said the current call for humane immigration reform is "the civil rights struggle of the 21st Century."
"We are all Americans," Bill said. "You are not felons. The only crime here is that our leaders have failed to address this problem for decades and have failed to bring you out of the shadows."
Bill said federal legislation that proposes to criminalize undocumented immigrants is "a total disgrace. It is not who we are. It is not American."
Bill urged federal officials to push for sweeping reform that would legalize the status of the estimated 11 million documented immigrants and create a pathway to citizenship for them.
Bill's comments came during a brief lunch break from city budget deliverations. He was joined at the rally by council colleagues Eric Garcetti and Jose Huizar. Also on hand were Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, state Senator Richard Alarcon, and state Senator Liz Figeroa. They spoke underneath a banner reading: "An Injustice to One is an Injustice to All."
The lively crowd was estimated between 250,000 and 600,000. It was the first of two rallies today. A late afternoon rally was scheduled for MacArthur Park.
Bill also called on the State Legislature to approve a bill permitting undocumented immigrants to get California driver's licenses.
-Mike Bonin, Chief of Staff
posted by lacityorgcd11 at 5:07 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home