Immigration Reform 2013 News: Despite Government Shutdown, Activists Prepare For Weekend Rallies
Immigration activists across the nation will be gathering in groups to demand changes to the current United States immigration system. Saturday is dubbed the "National Day for Dignity and Respect" by the organizers, and many people have been making signs and preparing their groups for the weekend.
Activist Felipe Sousa-Rodriguez said she is looking forward to the weekend because it will show the widespread nature of the problems facing immigrants in all local communities around the United States.
"It's about seeing us in our communities, not just as a number: 11 million undocumented," he said. "And it's about immigrants seeing that there are other immigrants out there, and that we are active members of our democracy," he added. "A lot of people feel isolated, and when you see all these marchers, that gives you hope and the energy to join them."
The immigration activists are gathering at the perfect time considering that the House Democrats took a break from the government shutdown to address immigration. On Wednesday, Democrats proposed a bill that would provide a path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the country while also catering to Republicans by including a provision to beef up security at the border.
The gatherings this weekend are expected to feature very diverse groups of people; Sousa-Rodriguez said that the movement has had the support of a great deal of diverse people such as religious leaders, civil rights organizations and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
According to the Associated Press, activists will be walking along the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles and across the Brooklyn Bridge in New York.