May 1 was a holiday for immigrants and essential workers in Los Angeles; both continued their fight against racism, against those who oppose the legalization of undocumented people in the United States and are against union democracy for all.
A large contingent of at less 10, participants gathered at the historic corner of Broadway Street and Olympic Boulevard, where they defied warm temperatures and marched together to Gran Park, in front of the Los Angeles City Hall.
“We make a call to the president to declare a general pardon for all undocumented workers, a first step to clear the path to citizenship and legalization,” asked Miguel López, a member of the Chicano Moratorium Committee of 1536.
A general pardon from the president is a power that only Biden controls and that would guarantee the rights of the undocumented to obtain labor benefits.
On May 1, not only immigrants are honored on the so-called “May Day”, but also the Chicago martyrs who established the eight-hour workday and gave voice to the international movement of the working class in its struggle for dignity, respect and justice.
Organized by the Coalition for Human Rights of Los Angeles Immigrants (CHIRLA), its executive director, Angélica Salas, expressed that the population continues to march together “because we have not received the justice we deserve”.
“We want our families to be united, but we see what happens with our people who ask for asylum at the border and so many people who are here, and who deserve justice for all their contribution, “he added. “We continue to fight for racial equality for African Americans and Latinos, and with love we have to understand that we must defeat white supremacy in this country.”
Dreamers
A significant group of “dreamer” students, led by Professor Armando Vázquez, from the Center of Studies California Mexico-States advocated for a “presidential pardon” for millions of undocumented.
They yearn for President Joe Biden to act in a similar way to how former presidents Geraldo Ford did, who pardoned 250 thousand deserters from the Vietnam War, after surrendering to the power of former President Richard Nixon and the 550 thousand pardons granted by former President Jimmy Carter to those who avoided joining the ranks of the United States Army.
“I think there would be little chance of this request, because they don’t even consider it an option,” stressed Professor Vázquez. “What’s more, they don’t know in Congress that the president could pardon undocumented immigrants, but he doesn’t want to.” teachers, who live alone in the United States, since their mother decided to return to Hidalgo, Mexico to take care of their sick parents.
“We just need an opportunity to be better and contribute more to this country”, commented Edgar. “It is unfortunate that in this country you have to choose who comes and who doesn’t”.
The migrant federal deputy, María Elena Serrano expressed that raising your voice is important, “and it is It is necessary to continue pressuring people in Washington, because it is time for them to give us immigration reform.”
For her part, Senator María Elena Durazo celebrated that in California some 200,000 undocumented may already be eligible to receive insurance state doctor.
“We will continue fighting until everyone has that benefit, so that we finally stop feeling that feeling of discrimination ”, he indicated. “Does 25 years they attacked us with the Proposal 80 ; today we tell those who wanted to do us so much harm, that in California their policies are not going to work”.
Street vendors
Taking advantage of the demonstration, a contingent of street vendors populated the downtown streets of the Los Angeles metropolis to remind the municipal authorities that are not going to rest until they eliminate the proposal to increase the sales permit charge of $250 to $768.
“In Chicago, the city works with its vendors and helps them do their jobs honestly by charging only $100”, said Rosa Miranda, organizer of the Colectivo Poder Comunitario . “The main opponent we have is Councilman Mitch O’Farrell; of 192 fines applied, 165 occurred in your district and it is clear that you want to eliminate the sales in Hollywood.”
One of the protesters, Lidia Catalán, from Guerrero, Mexico, who marched alongside her husband Gerardo and their children Rosa and Gerardo Jr., told Real America News who for a decade has been selling tools and jewelry, but the police won’t let them sell in peace.
“They should let us work in peace,” he said. “We are not harming anyone with our work; On the contrary, we contribute to the city’s economy with our taxes.”
Edgar Murillo, from 34 years, an immigrant from Durango, Mexico, who led the march in his wheelchair.
“We have to make ourselves known as immigrants; I joined the march, because like most, I would like to have my papers and a legal residence”, said the worker of a shipping company in Los Angeles.