Dream Act and Immigration Reform Rally
The children shall lead
The children shall lead
and students will keep suffering and facing challenges as a nation. We are here today because we know it is time for a change in our nation’
s immigration system. And we know that we, as a community, can contribute in making that change. It is time for comprehensive immigration
reform that will not only benefit one individual or one community, not only the Latino community, not only the Asian community, but also the
African American community, the Caucasian community and all of the communities of our whole nation. We need to recognize the full talent
and contributions of all members of the United States.”
One of those students who may not be able to make a full contribution is Selina, an eighth grade student who is beginning to think about
her future. “Like it is for so many immigrant students across the nation, getting this education is, at this point, close to impossible for me,”
Selina said about higher education. “No one should lose hope. I was brought to the United States without having a say. And I know many kids
with the same experience who live with the fear of coming home one day to find that both of their parents have been deported. But I believe
completely that with the help and support of all of you here today and everyone else in this country, I as well as millions of immigrant
students can get to be somebody important and not another statistic of high school drop-outs, not another minority frying burgers or cleaning
floors. So please help all of those kids who live in fear of having their parents deported and help us accomplish our goal of getting a better
education.”
Sal Carranza, the president of LUChA, emphasized that America needs all of its children engaged and living up to their full potential. “We
need more of our citizens with the educational skills necessary for our country to be able to compete in our increasing global economy. We
cannot afford to lose even one bright, hard-working kid in our nation. The alternative is children who have lost hope and lost their dreams
and have few options and are now at risk of falling into the criminal justice system. This is a high cost for our communities, our society and
our nation. We cannot allow that to happen.”
Fabiola Hamdan, a community activist, feels that the immigration reform movement is in keeping with Dr. King’s ideals. “We can no
longer allow our students to lose their dreams for higher education,” Hamdan emphasized. “We can no longer allow families to be torn apart.
We can no longer allow for our people to live in the shadows. We can no longer afford to be silent. We need to fulfill the dream of Dr. King, a
dream of justice and equality for all. Let our voices be heard. Let us all work together for a just and humane immigration reform.”
As many of the youth in the audience affirmed, they were not in this country by choice because their parents brought them here when
they were young. In their hearts and upbringing, they are Americans and want the rights and responsibilities that the peers they have grown
up with have. Sí se puede!
s immigration system. And we know that we, as a community, can contribute in making that change. It is time for comprehensive immigration
reform that will not only benefit one individual or one community, not only the Latino community, not only the Asian community, but also the
African American community, the Caucasian community and all of the communities of our whole nation. We need to recognize the full talent
and contributions of all members of the United States.”
One of those students who may not be able to make a full contribution is Selina, an eighth grade student who is beginning to think about
her future. “Like it is for so many immigrant students across the nation, getting this education is, at this point, close to impossible for me,”
Selina said about higher education. “No one should lose hope. I was brought to the United States without having a say. And I know many kids
with the same experience who live with the fear of coming home one day to find that both of their parents have been deported. But I believe
completely that with the help and support of all of you here today and everyone else in this country, I as well as millions of immigrant
students can get to be somebody important and not another statistic of high school drop-outs, not another minority frying burgers or cleaning
floors. So please help all of those kids who live in fear of having their parents deported and help us accomplish our goal of getting a better
education.”
Sal Carranza, the president of LUChA, emphasized that America needs all of its children engaged and living up to their full potential. “We
need more of our citizens with the educational skills necessary for our country to be able to compete in our increasing global economy. We
cannot afford to lose even one bright, hard-working kid in our nation. The alternative is children who have lost hope and lost their dreams
and have few options and are now at risk of falling into the criminal justice system. This is a high cost for our communities, our society and
our nation. We cannot allow that to happen.”
Fabiola Hamdan, a community activist, feels that the immigration reform movement is in keeping with Dr. King’s ideals. “We can no
longer allow our students to lose their dreams for higher education,” Hamdan emphasized. “We can no longer allow families to be torn apart.
We can no longer allow for our people to live in the shadows. We can no longer afford to be silent. We need to fulfill the dream of Dr. King, a
dream of justice and equality for all. Let our voices be heard. Let us all work together for a just and humane immigration reform.”
As many of the youth in the audience affirmed, they were not in this country by choice because their parents brought them here when
they were young. In their hearts and upbringing, they are Americans and want the rights and responsibilities that the peers they have grown
up with have. Sí se puede!
| Clockwise from upper left: Fabiola Hamdan, Sal Carranza, Evelin Rodriguez, Marching down State Street from the State Capitol |
By Jonathan Gramling
As the debate over comprehensive immigration reform has raged and
simmered over the last decade, thousands of immigrant children have been left
in a state of limbo. Brought to the United States by their parents, these
“undocumented” children have grown up as Americans in every way but one:
their legal status. For them, the DREAM Act, which would give conditional
residency status to undocumented children who attend higher education or
enter the military, represents their futures.
Inspired by the King Holiday, about 50 predominantly Latino students and
their supporters marched to the State Capitol January 19 to express their
support for the passage of the DREAM Act and for the American Security and
Prosperity Act (ASAP) Act of 2009, which is a comprehensive immigration
reform bill.
“Yesterday we dreamed, today we act to fight for undocumented students’
higher education and legalization,” said Evelin Rodriguez, one of the organizers
of the rally. “It is important to understand that as long as our immigration system
is broken and outdated, our economy, American families, all American workers
As the debate over comprehensive immigration reform has raged and
simmered over the last decade, thousands of immigrant children have been left
in a state of limbo. Brought to the United States by their parents, these
“undocumented” children have grown up as Americans in every way but one:
their legal status. For them, the DREAM Act, which would give conditional
residency status to undocumented children who attend higher education or
enter the military, represents their futures.
Inspired by the King Holiday, about 50 predominantly Latino students and
their supporters marched to the State Capitol January 19 to express their
support for the passage of the DREAM Act and for the American Security and
Prosperity Act (ASAP) Act of 2009, which is a comprehensive immigration
reform bill.
“Yesterday we dreamed, today we act to fight for undocumented students’
higher education and legalization,” said Evelin Rodriguez, one of the organizers
of the rally. “It is important to understand that as long as our immigration system
is broken and outdated, our economy, American families, all American workers