LOS ANGELES (CNS) – In honor of International Migrants Day, local organizations and hundreds of people rallied in downtown Los Angeles yesterday in an act of solidarity with immigrants, who fear President-elect Donald Trump’s promised plans for mass deportation.
The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) led attendees for a 1.5-mile march, rallying at 10 a.m. at Placita Olvera. Participants headed toward the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Center, located at E. Aliso Street and N. Alameda Street, culminating with a program.
The National Day Laborer Organizing Network gathered participants at LA City Hall at 4 p.m., followed by a march toward the ICE detention center at 5 p.m., where Mexican and Latin American bands, Los Jornaleros del Norte, Los Cadetes de Linares and La Sonora Dinamita, performed.
Labor, faith and social justice organizations such as SEIU 721, SEIU USWW, SEIU 2015, UTLA, CARCEN, Korean Resource Center, ACCE, Community Coalition and many others joined CHIRLA for the march.
Pastor Stephen “Cue” Jn-Marie of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice and Suyapa Maldonado of ACCE served as master of Ceremonies.
Angelica Salas, executive director of CHIRLA, was scheduled to give remarks, as well as Yvonne Wheeler, president of LA Federation of Labor, and Jocas Perales, of Pilipino Workers Center of Southern California, among others.
LA City Council members Eunisses Hernandez, Hugo Soto-Martinez and Ysabel Jurado were expected to make an appearance as well.
CHIRLA led the events as part of the Fair Immigration Reform Movement national week of action, which calls on President Joe Biden and Congress to protect immigrant families, and do what they can to enact measures to prevent incoming President Trump’s promised crackdown on illegal immigrants.
Biden and the 118th Congress can take action by voting against a proposal to increase funding requests for immigration enforcement and detention, according to CHIRLA. Additionally, federal leaders have an opportunity to extend protections for immigrants who have temporary protected status and deferred action for childhood arrivals, also known as DACA.
In anticipation of the marches in downtown, Metro LA implemented detours on several bus lines from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.