Driven by Arizona immigration law, Workers' Rights March draws 15,000

Protesters took to the streets Saturday to voice concerns over immigration and workers' rights in this year's May Day march.

"Obama, esucha, estamos en la lucha," chanted demonstrators marching from Judkins Park to Seattle Center. Translated to English, "Obama, listen, we are in the struggle."

According to Maru Mora-Vilalpando, director of the Workers' Rights March, more than 15,000 people were in attendance.

The march took on a special significance this year in light of Arizona's recently passed Senate Bill 1070, a law that critics say will lead to racial profiling. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed SB 1070 into law April 23. The state legislature amended the bill April 30 to deal with such claims, but many protestors still have complaints.

The original bill gave Arizona police the authority to ask for immigration papers from anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant. However, the amended version requires police can only ask for documentation from individuals suspected of violating another law.

Proponents of the legislation suggest that, short of a complete federal reform on immigration, the law is a start. According to a New York Times/CBS News Poll, 51 percent of Americans think the law is "about right."

Marchers carried an entirely different message.

"There are a lot of negative stereotypes of illegal immigrants, and I would like to eliminate those," said Osbaldo Hernandez, a sophomore public affairs major who emigrated from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with his family when he was 12.

Juan Gallegos, senior psychology and Spanish major, finds the law disgusting because he believes it has a capacity for racial profiling. The law's passing was his primary motivation for participating in the march this year.

"At the expense of justice, our immigration policy doesn't take into account the human being. Any time our country goes through a crisis, we try to find a scapegoat,"
Gallegos said.

Echoing Gallegos' statement, Mora-Vilalpando believes immigrants tend to be
that scapegoat.

"I'm also looking forward to a reformed policy that takes into account the rights of individuals and families," she said. "We should protect immigrants regardless of whether they have documentation. They still contribute to the U.S. economy. They deserve rights such as due process."

A group behind the march, El Centro de la Raza, employs some Seattle University students in its attempt to do community outreach and organizing for the Latino community in South Seattle.

"Through our comprehensive programs and services, we empower members of the Latino community as fully participating members of society," reads El Centro's website.

Hilda Magana, director of the Jose Marti Child Development Center, commented on the role Seattle U students play in their mission of social justice.

"If the person comes in here and works, I feel they have obtained information to participate on the part of the community, not just to do their work," Magana said. "They are working for change and will obtain the leadership skills to actually be part of the community."

After the march, protesters gathered at Leon H. Brigham Field to listen to public speakers discuss unjust immigration laws. Carlos Reyes, sophomore creative writing major, was also in attendance.

"I am concerned about young people who have been here [in the U.S.] since they were babies, now have college degrees and still can't get a job because they have yet to receive documentation," he said.

According to Maru-Vilalpando, a main concern needs to be keeping families together, as well as establishing a reasonable path to citizenship.

"Of course we need to screen for criminals," she said. "But putting people in limbo for years opens the door for deportation."

Dillon may be reached at dgilbert@su-spectator.com