USA: Millions march for immigrant workers’ rights

ACROSS THE USA millions of people have taken to the streets to
express their anger at Congress’ attacks on immigrant workers.

In Los Angeles, alone, over one million workers, students and youth
demonstrated in the city on 25 March against the Republican party
proposals to further tighten immigration law. Students have spearheaded
the protests by walking out of school in a week-long action.

Under the measures (Bill HR4437), the authorities could jail and
deport undocumented immigrant workers and prosecute anyone who supports
them.

President George Bush, while echoing his party’s ‘get tough’ on
immigrants approach, also wants to ensure that employers aren’t starved
of cheap labour to exploit. Instead, he has argued for a regulated
"guest worker" scheme.

Socialist Alternative (the Socialist Party’s counterpart in the US)
said in its material issued on the demonstrations: "To build the
movement, every immigrant rights organisation, union, anti-war group,
activist groups should go all out to campaign for and mobilise for a
massive strike of immigrant workers and student walkout in May for
immigrant rights.

"The labour movement should put itself at the forefront of this
struggle. It should launch a massive education campaign to convince tens
of millions of workers that immigrant rights is an issue that is vital
to all US workers by distributing millions of leaflets, holding
workplace meetings, and organising mass rallies. It should mobilise
massive solidarity for the strike in May, and broaden it to include
immigrant and native-born workers alike."


For background material see www.socialistalternative.org