Allan Appel Photo
Labor Leader Bob Proto called it a “crime” that Congress has left immigration reform and a pathway to good jobs so broken for so long for so many. And local student Cinthia Perez declared “I am Mexican, undocumented, unapologetic, and unafraid.”
Theirs were two among 20 passionate voices addressing a crowd of more than 700 who rallied and marched for labor and immigrant rights on a picture-perfect May Day late afternoon on the New Haven Green.
JUNTA and CT Students 4 a Dream member Perez stood beside Josemaria Islas, whose deportation case has become a rallying cry for immigrant-rights activists. Click here for a story of his arrest and the protest of his scheduled deportation. Andclick here to read about how major politicians have taken up his cause.
Many people bore signs at Wednesday evening’s event reading “Keep Families Together.”
Chanting “Que hora es? La hora es ahora!”, activists, unionists, and whole families with sign and balloon-bearing kids filled Church Street curb to curb as the march moved up to City Hall.
Members of Communidad de East Haven, a group of activists created in the aftermath of the racial profiling scandal there, were among advocacy groups from as far away as Bridgeport who attended the rally.
Decmoratic mayoral candidate Henry Fernandez (right, speaking with lead rally organizaer John Lugo of Unidad Latina en Accion) was one of the many politicians and office-seekers in attendance.
The rally’s first speaker, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy (pictured with Common Ground senior Kelvin Payton) drew applause when, in support of drivers licenses for undocumented Nutmeggers, he declared, “I want good, safe drivers on our highways, and I don’t care where they come from.”
Abril Casco, 13, with the Latino Advocacy Foundation in Bridgeport, said she was at the rally so that the governor and other leaders would hear her voice.