Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
As reported by The Arizona Republic, Immigration backers plan U.S. marches:
Immigration reform advocates have scheduled marches and similar events in at
least 90 cities. They expect tens of thousands of people to participate
nationwide in the so-called National Day of Action.
In Phoenix, immigrant advocates plan to march from Immaculate Heart
of Mary Catholic Church on Washington Street through downtown to the
Sandra Day O’Connor U.S. Courthouse.
Along the way, the marchers will make stops at the downtown campus of
Arizona State University to call attention to young undocumented
students known as “dreamers” and at the Maricopa County jail to protest
local immigration enforcement that has contributed to record
deportations.
“We need to send a very strong message to our lawmakers that this is
very serious,” said Petra Falcon, director of Promise Arizona, a Phoenix
immigration-reform advocacy group helping organize the march here.
“Every day, I get a call from someone that a relative has been picked up
and is going to be deported.”
Organizers expect 2,500 to 3,000 people to participate in the Phoenix
march, said Raquel Teran, director of Mi Familia Vota, a program run by
the Service Employees International Union, which works to increase
Latino-voter participation.
To make sure that many people turn out, organizers are providing bus
transportation for supporters who will caravan to Phoenix from Yuma and
Tucson.