Huge Rally in Seattle for Immigration Reform

Over 50 groups with the Washington Immigration Reform Coalition (WIRC) host massive rally on April 10 in Seattle's Occidental Park for National Day of Action on immigration


April 10, 2010

YES WE CAN ........... YES WE DID!


The Washington Immigration Reform Coalition (WIRC) FOR America, an alliance of over 50 advocacy organizations, faith groups, direct services agencies, community groups, and labor unions from across Washington State, is holding a rally in support of comprehensive immigration reform on Saturday, April 10 at noon as part of the National Day of Action. The giant rally will be held at Occidental Park in Seattle and is expected to draw thousands of people from across the state with one hundred buses already booked.


What: "Stand Up in Seattle for Immigration Reform!" Rally
Who: The Washington Immigration Reform Coalition (WIRC) FOR America
When: 12pm, Saturday, April 10, 2010
Where: Occidental Park, between South Washington & South Main Streets, Seattle 98104
Why: To pass national comprehensive immigration reform in 2010
Public Sign Up: Invididual Sign Up
Organizational Sign Up


In just the last few weeks, momentum for comprehensive immigration reform has escalated. Nationally, Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Graham (R-SC) issued a framework of a bill in a Washington Post op-ed and President Obama signaled support for a bi-partisan bill in both a video message at the "March for America" and in a meeting with leaders of the Reform Immigration FOR America movement. In Washington State, elected officials from every level of government have issued letters of support. These gains have only happened due to people taking action for change. On March 21, over 250,000 people joined the "March for America" in Washington, D.C., the largest march of the Obama era so far. And on April 10, as part of a National Day of Action, Seattle will host one of the largest rallies in the country so that Congress and the President get a crystal clear message that people want comprehensive immigration reform now and an economy that works for all American families.


"Stand Up in Seattle for Immigration Reform!" will feature people who are directly impacted by our broken immigration system telling their stories, including families, students, workers, and business owners.


CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
Rep. Mike Honda, D-California, Chairman of the Congressional
Asian Pacific American Caucus
Dow Constantine, King County Executive
Pramila Jayapal, Executive Director, OneAmerica
Cecile Hansen, Duwamish Tribal Chair
Mike Gempler, Washington Growers' Association
Carlos Padilla, DREAM Act student and activist
... Other speakers to be announced


CONFIRMED ENTERTAINMENT
Master Royal Lion Dancers
Children's Choir, led by Kent Stevenson


EMCEES
Jorge Baron, Executive Director, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
Lua Pritchard, Commissioner, Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs


RALLY INFORMATION FOR MEDIA
MEDIA CREDENTIALS: Fill out the credentials form by April 8 to receive media credentials for the rally


RISERS: Media risers for reporters and direct audio inputs for broadcast media will be available for credentialed media


VIP INTERVIEW AREA: Backstage media availability area for speakers and VIPs will be provided to credentialed media at the rally


For more information about the rally and media logistics:
Charlie McAteer
Media Relations Manager
cell (917) 696-1321
charlie@weareoneamerica.org


About the Wash. Immigration Reform Coalition (WIRC)

The Washington Immigration Reform Coalition (WIRC) FOR America is a coalition of over 50 organizations, unions, and faith communities from across Washington State working together to pass national comprehensive immigration reform this year.

On March 21st, between 200,000 and 500,000 people went to Washington, D.C. to join the "March for America" in support of immigration reform. WIRC is planning an enormous rally for April 10th at Occidental Park in Seattle, where people will be coming from all over the state to show their support for the biggest civil rights movement of our time.


Visit the Coalition on the Web at www.weareoneamerica.org/WIRC


List of April 10 Rally Sponsors:

Puget Sound Alliance For Retired Americans, UFCW 21, Teamsters Local 117, Washington CAN!, UNITE HERE! Local 8, Social Work Immigration Alliance at UW (SWIA), SEIU Local 925, El Centro de la Raza, WA State Labor Council AFL-CIO, National Employment Law Project (NELP), Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS), Asian Pacific Islander Coalitions (APIC) of King, Pierce, Snohomish, Yakima and Spokane Counties, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP), OneAmerica, Casa Latina, Welcome Back Center Highline Community College, SEIU Local 6, SSCC, MECHA, Indonesian Lutheran Fellowship, Lutheran Public Policy Office of Washington State, Asia Pacific Cultural Center, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Washington Chapter, UNITE HERE Local 8, SEIU Healthcare 775NW, Washington Bus, Dreamers for Positive Change, ResCare, Catholic Community Services, UAW Local 4121, Urban Press, Jimenez Signs, Latino Bar Association of Washington (LBAW),Seattle Peoples Fund, Washington Association of Churches