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Thousands March in Connecticut for Immigrant Rights

Steve Thornton, 11.04.2006

Marching and rallying in Hartford and New Haven, Connecticut on April 10th, thousands of immigrants who now call Connecticut home declared their opposition to the Republican attempts to criminalise undocumented workers. They were joined by churches, labor groups and local elected officials. Photos and story appear on Homefront,  http://www.homestead.com/homefront



¡Somos Immigrantes, No Criminales!
April 10, 2006: Thousands march in Hartford and New Haven against racist immigration bill HR 4437


"We haven't seen a march through Hartford streets like this since 2003," remarked one participant, remembering the massive union protest against Governor Rowland's state employee layoffs.

Today's event, however, was one of dozens across the country in reaction to the current Republican push to criminalize undocumented workers.

The Coalición Pro Immigración, formed just week ago, tapped into the growing Peruvian, Colombian, Mexican, and other communities that now call Hartford home. Through Spanish-language radio, churches, unions, community and merchant groups, close to 2,000 people were mobilized to march from Sacred Heart Church to the State Capitol. The church has been the center of much progressive community activity over the years.

"This is really personal for people, regardless of their status," said Gabriela Campos-Madison. "My mom is not an activist, but she was making phone calls to turn people out."

One of the chants during the march sais it all: "No somos diez/No somos cien/Somos milliones/¡Cuentanos bien!" (We are not ten/We are not one hundred/We are millions/Count us well!)

Several thousand people also turned out on the New Haven Green on April 10th for a rally called by Latinos/Latinas Contra la Guerra.

photos at  http://www.homestead.conm/homefront

- [article.email.prefix]: homefront1@hotmail.com
[article.homepage.prefix]: http://www.homestead.com/homefront




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