Scores of demonstrators marked International Workers Day by marching through the streets of D.C. on Saturday and calling for immigration reform.
There were many families with small children among the demonstrators, mostly Latin American immigrants who had traveled from states including Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.
“In Virginia, we have more than 140,000 people who are essential workers and they deserve legalization. They deserve more opportunities in this country,” said Edgar Aranda of Martinsville, Virginia.
— Dick Uliano (@DickUliano) May 1, 2021
The peaceful, well-organized march, which filled the street for more than two blocks, was sponsored by several groups and coordinated by Casa and the Service Employees International Union.
The group is advocating for a path to citizenship for the nation’s undocumented immigrant workers.
“We’re here all the way from New York to remind President Biden that he owes us a promise, to a lot of immigrants in this country, who throughout the pandemic have been working as essential workers…he needs to provide relief to our community and that means passing a pathway to citizenship,” said a woman who identified herself as Yatziri.
The demonstrators marched from the White House along Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol.
