San Francisco Chronicle (CA) - Saturday, May 2, 2009
Author: Tyche Hendricks, Chronicle Staff Writer
Hundreds of immigrants and their allies braved the rain Friday in San Francisco and Oakland to join in spirited marches, calling for an end to immigration raids and legalization for the nation's estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants.
Holding handmade signs reading "Stop the Raids" and chanting "si, se puede," the Oakland contingent marched slowly on International Boulevard from Fruitvale Plaza to City Hall. The spirited if soggy parade of umbrellas and rain ponchos included many teenagers as well as parents pushing strollers and leading children by the hand.
"The rain doesn't matter," said Lucia Cortes, 27, a bakery worker from Sinaloa, Mexico, who is married to a U.S. citizen but cannot legalize her immigration status because she entered the country without authorization. "There are many people like me who are here illegally but who want to comply with the rights and obligations of this country. We want immigration reform."
They were among tens of thousands across the country who turned out for events intended to keep the pressure on President Obama and Washington policymakers for an immigration rules overhaul this year. Pro-immigrant marches took place in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and Washington, among many other cities. In the Bay Area, events were planned for Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Rosa, Napa and Martinez.
Posted By: Ayanna Spikes
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/02/BASO17CSRG.DTL
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