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Dozens Rally for Immigration Reform Outside Schumer’s Long Island Office

Posted March 4, 2010 by Ted Hesson

Roughly 50 people rallied in front of Senator Chuck Schumer’s Melville office at this morning to show support for the senator’s immigration reform efforts, and to ask that he introduce an immigration reform bill in Congress sooner rather than later.

The rally, organized by the Long Island Immigrant Alliance, drew immigrants and advocates from across Long Island, all calling for Sen. Schumer (D-N.Y.) to take a lead role in repairing the federal immigration system, which would help the economy and prevent the marginalization of immigrants in our communities.

“We’re here today to tell Senator Schumer that he has the support and encouragement to follow through with his commitment to introduce immigration reform this year,” said Luis Valenzuela, executive director of the Long Island Immigrant Alliance. “The people of Long Island are tired of political rhetoric—we want real leadership that responds to people’s needs and aspirations.”

Armed with banners and signs in support of reform, advocates marched from Pinelawn Road to the office building that houses Sen. Schumer’s office. In front of the building, Long Island residents—some representing groups and others speaking for themselves—took turns expounding on the importance of immigration reform, citing everything from the economic benefits of reform to the United States’ long history as a nation of immigrants. Nadia Marin-Molina, the executive director of the Workplace Project, translated in Spanish and English.

Towards the end of the hour-long rally, Gerard Petrella, Sen. Schumer’s Long Island regional director, came down from his office and acknowledged residents, accepting a stack of petitions for reform and speaking briefly about Schumer’s efforts. Petrella said that Schumer was still working to drum up Republican support for the bill before introducing it in the Senate.

“The Senator is looking very hard for Republicans in the Senate to work with on this bill,” Petrella. “It’s very important to us.”

After the rally ended, Petrella invited five advocates, including the Long Island Immigrant Alliance’s Luis Valenzuela, to a closed door meeting to discuss reform.

Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) has already introduced an immigration reform bill in the House. Gutierrez’s bill has garnered widespread praise among advocates for its humane approach to immigration policy.

The rally drew a mix of advocates, with representatives from the NAACP and the New York Civil Liberties Union in attendance. Greg Maney, a sociology professor at Hofstra and the head of Hofstra’s Irish Studies department stressed that immigration isn’t an issue bound by ethnicity or race, and that there’s popular support for reform.

“We see the polls; most people want a pathway to citizenship [for immigrants],” Maney said. “We are a land of opportunity, so why not create more opportunities for immigrants.”

Here are pictures from today’s rally.

Tags : immigration reform, rally, schumer

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