Hundreds of Thousands to March on May Day

Phoenix: Opponents of Arizona's new immigration enforcement law protest, 04/25/10. (photo: Getty Images)

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ueled by the controversial new immigration law in Arizona, hundreds of thousands of protesters are expected to take to the streets across America today. May Day protests will take place in over 70 American cities. The largest is expected to take place in Los Angeles, where the LAPD is preparing for 100,000 to take part in a downtown march and rally.

"What happened in Arizona proves that racism and anti-immigrant hysteria across the country still exists. We need to continue to fight," said Lee Siu Hin, a coordinator with the Washington, DC-based National Immigrant Solidarity Network.

International Workers Day celebrations will take place around the world. May Day is a workers holiday in many countries. May Day originally grew out of a strike in Chicago in the late 1800s that resulted in the hanging of eight labor leaders. In recent years, the day has been the focus of several large immigrants' rights events. The largest was in 2006, when over a million protested against a proposed immigration reform bill that would have raised penalties for illegal immigration and classified illegal immigrants and anyone who helped them enter or remain in the US as felons. The last couple of years the turnout was not as large, but that could change this year.

"The marches and demonstrations are going to be far more massive than they otherwise would have been," Juan Jose Gutierrez, a Los Angeles rally organizer who runs an immigration assistance company told Reuters.

Earlier this week at a news conference, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called for participation: "I encourage all Southern Californians to join the May Day activities in Los Angeles, I encourage you to voice your support in unity and solidarity."

Chicago's event begins with a 1 pm rally in Union Park (Washington and Ashland). The protesters will march at 3 pm to Daley Plaza, where a second rally will be held at 4 pm.

Douglas Interiano, a spokesman for Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance, which is helping plan Saturday's march in Dallas, projected up to 100,000 could march in Dallas, with similar events planned in El Paso, Houston, Austin and San Juan.

In New York, the May 1st Coalition for Worker and Immigrant Rights will rally at Union Square at noon and march down Broadway to Wall Street. A couple of miles away, the Alliance for Labor and Immigrant Rights and Jobs for All will rally at Foley Square at 11 am, and then march around City Hall before returning to Foley Square. The Alliance is composed of more than two dozen labor union locals and several prominent immigrant rights groups. High unemployment and severe budget cuts have galvanized many of the city's unions to take action.

In San Francisco, there will be a march at noon from 24th and Mission to Civic Center Plaza. The march will be followed by a rally at the Plaza at 2 pm. Marchers will demand full rights for undocumented workers, money for jobs and education, and no budget cuts or fee hikes. Also in San Francisco, UA in the Bay is hosting a celebration in Dolores Park from 3 to 7 pm. The event will include performances, face painting, maypole dancing, soccer, and tabling by groups like AK Press and Indybay. A Reclaim the Streets March and street party will follow the celebration in the park.

In Washington, DC, four undocumented students will be wrapping up a 1,500-mile walk from Florida and participating in a May Day rally in Lafayette Park, across the street from the White House.

Caby Pacheco, Carlos Roa, Felipe Matos and Juan Rodriguez say they understand the need for states like Arizona to secure their borders - but not at the expense of the lives of the varied immigrants who live here.

Scott Galindez was formerly the co-founder of Truthout, and is now the Political Director of Reader Supported News.

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