Activists link May Day action, fighting Arizona law

Arizona’s reactionary new anti-immigrant law has given another impulse to the already growing pressure for powerful May Day marches around the U.S. focusing on immigrant rights.

Teresa Gutierrez of the May 1 Coalition.

To discuss this development, activists, organizers and supporters of the May 1 Coalition for Worker and Immigrant Rights in New York held a news conference in Union Square Park in New York on April 28, three days ahead of the May 1 mass rally to take place at this historic gathering site for labor.

Hip-hop artist Gonzalo Venegas of the Rebel Diaz group announced the May Day action and invited everyone to come from noon to 2 p.m. to listen to artists and speakers on the big issues “facing immigrants and all workers.” Scheduled to perform are Hip-hop pioneers Mos Def and KRS-One.

Larry Holmes of the Bail Out the People Movement. WW photos: John Catalinotto

Teresa Gutierrez from the May 1 Coalition condemned the “racially charged legislation” passed in Arizona, saying it was aimed at terrorizing “immigrants and all communities of color.”

Gutierrez also criticized the immigration law changes proposed by U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer from New York for “not granting immediate legalization and for continuing to militarize the border. The Schumer plan also means the further criminalization of the undocumented and will serve to drive workers further underground.”

The speeches were continually interrupted with chants of “May First where? Union Square!”

Rico Foz of the National Alliance of Filipino Concerns spoke of the 4 million Filipinos/as living in the United States. “One million don’t have legal documents,” he said, “and we will be joining the demonstration Saturday in solidarity with all of our brothers and sisters in this situation.”

Larry Holmes of the Bail Out the People Movement spoke of the need for solidarity from the Black community, which is also threatened by the racial profiling that is inherent in the new Arizona law. Holmes stressed the need for unity of all workers in the fight to win jobs.

Brian Barraza and Mike Gimbel, both from May 1 Coalition, and others spoke explaining in depth the demands of the march for immigrant rights and jobs. LeiLani Dowell of Fight Imperialism, Stand Together (FIST) and Katherine Diaz of the group Urban Butterflies raised the struggle to defend education and pledged the participation of young people in the May Day action.