Just a week ago, thousands of us marched in solidarity…

In Bozeman, Montana marchers gathered at Lindley Park to make signs and sign petitions while tour buses brought supporters from other Montana towns.  While organizing in rural Montana can be challenging, over 100 supporters from across Montana spent the day at Lindley Park to support immigrant rights.  Over the past several weeks, local organizers have been coordinating efforts to mobilize the community to support the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act, sponsored by Senators John McCain and Marco Rubio, among others.  The law would give legal status to 11 million immigrants and allow them to earn their citizenship.

In Salem, Oregon a massive group of 3,000 people cheered as Governor John Kitzhaber signed into law a bill to grant four year driver cards to Oregon residents who cannot provide proof of legal presence.  The bill grants driving privileges to applicants who have resided in Oregon for at least a year.  They must also provide proof of identity and date of birth, such as an unexpired valid passport from the person’s country of citizenship.  Governor Kitzhaber explains, “This bill is part of a larger vision where all Oregonians deserve and get their shot at the American dream”.

In Seattle, Washington thousands took to the streets to participate in the May Day March & Rally for Workers and Immigrant Rights making this Seattle’s largest May 1st rally to date!  The march was led by the Ce Atl Tonalli Aztec Dance Group that helped pace the march from 20th and Jackson to the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building in downtown Seattle.  The day ended with a program that included speakers who spoke on how current immigration law impacts youth, families, LGBT, women, workers, and all of our people.  Demonstrators came from across the state in Auburn, Tacoma, Bellingham, and Yakima.

As legislation is debated locally as well as nationally, marchers across the Northwest made it clear that the time for humane, dignified immigration reform is now!