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The wave of outrage at the anti-immigrant legislation like the Sensenbrenner-King HR 4437 (which threatens to criminalize those assisting undocumented immigrants as "alien smugglers" and to turn undocumented status from a civil violation to a federal aggravated felony) has quickly mobilized hundreds of thousands across the country.
In Philly a diverse group of immigrants and immigrant rights supporters descended on LOVE Park for a chance to join together and speak out.
Quicktime 6 video of April 10 rally.
Low rez cam: video of rally around the fountain | marchers from Chinatown
Photos from Sarah Bones |
Photos from preliminary gathering | Photos from mid-march | Photos from Rally | Photos 4 | Photos from Albert Yee.
Sharif Street, Son of Mayor John Street
"It was not long ago that the rights of black men weren’t respected…and we have to make sure the rights of every American are respected."
Erin Garrison, 25, from Bridgeton, NJ
"I’m here to support the people that took me in and are now considered my family."
"We believe in the American dream and we are part of the American dream."
“Choose freedom, not fear! Choose freedom, not fear! We have to make a choice about what kind of country we will be.”
Ricardo Diaz, Organizer
“We are alternating languages, cultures, but not points of view... we’re all in this together.”
PA Senate Candidate Alan Sandals
"Greetings to all immigrants and new citizens... I am proud you are here. America needs the civic lesson that you are giving all of us."
Pedro Ramos, Manager Director of the City of Philadelphia
"We are a city that welcomes immigration. This city was built on contributions from other lands," Pedro Ramos told the thousands gathered in front of the former visitors center at LOVE Park. "I am very worried about the debate in Washington DC... This country is much stronger with all of us in it."
Randall Emery, Co-Founder, American Families United Speaks About His Family
"I'm an American citizen, and I'm here today to defend my family!" Randall Emery said in a statement to be read today before the thousands that have gathered at LOVE Park.
"Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness is the right of every American. But the current immigration system curtails those basic rights. American citizens and lawful permanent residents are routinely separated from their families for years at a time."
My wife's case is no exception. After three years of waiting on a background check, and despite a box of letters written on our behalf from Senators and Representatives, we've been forced to sue Michael Chertoff, the head of Homeland Security, just so that my wife can visit her aunt who has late-stage cancer.
As I look in this crowd, I know what our suffering is your suffering too. I know that the love I feel for my family is the same love that you feel for yours."
Debbie Wei, principal Folk Arts Cultural Treasures Charter School
"Nearly 60 years ago, my mother and father came to this country as visitors, overstayed their visas and promptly became out of status. With China torn apart by war, they could not return. I was nearly 40 years old when I discovered this fact. While going through some of my father's papers as he planned to move, I found the warrant for their arrest and order for deportation.
My parents were eventually allowed to stay because they had us "their 4 children" all US citizens and back then, families mattered. My oldest brother became a doctor. My 2nd brother became an architect and professor here at the University of Pennsylvania. My sister is a nurse practitioner in NY. And I am a school principal here in Philadelphia.
But my father, now nearly 85 years old, remains afraid and ashamed. He tells me "don't tell anyone about how we came here." And I stand to say, Baba, you gave this country your life, your work, your children. There is no shame and no guilt in our lives here and our demands to be treated with dignity.
And now, in my school, where Mrs. Jiang Jianxing is a parent, I find I need to say the same things to my students, my school family, the nation and the world. As here son's 6 year old classmates ask me why William's mommy was taken from him, or whether their own mommies and daddies can be taken from them by the police, I know as a principal I cannot lie to them. But how can I face them with the awful truth of where we are headed as a country?"
Chinatown March Join Rally
 Marchers from Chinatown including Asian Americans United and Asian Americans United/Justice for Jiang Zhen Xing Campaign have arrived at the rally.
Flash video of the March
Rally set for Noon at Love Park on April 10. Get more information on our resource page.
Estimated 500,000 Protesters Set Record For Largest Rally in Dallas History for Immigrant Rights Sunday!.
Guide to the Rally
You don't have to wait until Noon to join the action. A number of feeder marches are meeting at 11am.
West Philly
Location: 40th and Locust Walk, Hamilton Green (across from 40th Street shops)
Meet at 11am to get organized. Marching starting at 11:15am.
Chinatown
Location: 10th and Arch Street at 11am
Join Asian Americans United and Asian Americans United/Justice for Jiang Zhen Xing Campaign
There will be Chinese dragons on hand to energize the crowd and start the march.
Location: 10th and Race at 11am
Join the Community Youth Organizing Campaign
Location: 13th and Arch at 11:30am
Join the Cambodian Workers Alliance, El Comite de Apoyo a Los Trabajadores Agricolas (CATA) and Voices Without Borders
Center City
Location: 16th and Market at 11:30am
Join Juntos before the March
Day Without an Immigrant website.
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