Last night, nearly 30,000 immigration reform advocates joined an emergency strategy call with Representative Luis Gutierrez to discuss the moment we are in. On the call, Rep. Gutierrez talked about what has happened politically in the two weeks since he joined over 10,000 people at a rally in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Listen to (or download) a recording from the call:
At that rally in Las Vegas, Senate Majority leader Harry reid committed to moving immigration reform in the Senate in 2010. It was a huge moment in the push for legislation this year. Since then:
- President Obama has reached out to Republican Senator Scott Brown and is reaching out to other Republicans for support around an immigration push.
- Senators Lugar and Durbin have taken a big step in the right direction, calling an end to the deportation of DREAM Act eligible students.
- House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid have released a joint statement that they would prioritize immigration reform in the legislative calendar before the mid-term elections this year.
- First Lady Michelle Obama has spoken publicly about the need for immigration reform.
Each of these steps was made possible, says Rep. Gutierrez, by the work that we have all been doing to keep the pressure on and build momentum for immigration reform in 2010. From the March For America on 3/21, to the phone calls, lobby visits and April 10th events, we have been holding elected officials accountable and have made it clear that we are not backing down.
He was also highly critical of the Obama administration’s stepped up enforcement tactics and their damaging effects on communities and families.
There are four million U.S. citizen children living with undocumented parents. And our government is saying to those children ‘We are going to make your parents disappear. It is immoral.
Representative Gutierrez, acknowledging the fight at the heart of the movement in Arizona right now, called the listeners to action on May 1st.
“May 1st, you need to pick a place, organize it and hold an event. We need to push Congress to do the right thing. And we need to be clear that it’s legislation or escalation.
I want each of you to look into your hearts and ask ‘What more do I need to do? What more can I do to make sure that it is intolerable for Congress not to act?”
With Senator Harry Reid calling for a deadline on a bipartisan immigration reform deal today, with thousands descending on Phoenix, Arizona to protest racial profiling, with 4 brave students merely days away from their DC destination on the Trail of Dreams, now more than ever, it is our moment.
On May 1st, Representative Gutierrez will be marching in Washington, DC. Will you answer the call to action and march in your area?
Check out a list of May 1st events here>>
Categories: comprehensive immigration reform
Tags: luis gutierrez
