Immigrants March in Phoenix May 1st 2007

The demands of the tens of
thousands of people who marched
through the streets of Phoenix and
other cities across the country
cannot go unheard.
Photos by Eduardo Barraza | Barriozona

Editorial May 1, 2007

Phoenix, Arizona - Leaving their fear aside, tens of thousands of
demonstrators streamed through downtown Phoenix demanding a
legal status for millions of undocumented immigrants and a stop to
deportation raids that increased precisely after the 2006’s marches
across the nation.

Even though the turn out was much smaller than the one that made
history last year on April 10, the number of marchers exceeded
expectations that predicted a weak attendance due to the sharp
divisions among local organizations.

Last year’s massive pro-immigration protests did not persuade
federal authorities to pass an immigration reform. Instead, the
immigration movement unleashed a backlash from state and local
governments causing an opposite effect, and increasing the number
of massive deportations across the nation.

The effects of this year’s marches are still to come, but many people
doubt they will affect current’s immigration enforcement or generate
a drastic change in the federal and local governments tactics to fight
against illegal immigration.

Nevertheless, the people of the United States cannot continue to
afford the Federal government’s inability to resolve the existing
polarizing and tense situation in regards the millions of individuals
and families who lack legal status.

The call for action is unavoidable and urgent. A major legislation to
regularize the status of millions of families that are deeply embedded
in U.S. economy cannot to be postponed. Continuing to ignore the
existing unrest of the society at large and the imminent increase of
social tension will degenerate into a much worse situation.

The demands of the tens of thousands of people who marched
through the streets of Phoenix and other cities across the country
cannot go unheard. Among these crowds there are countless of men
and women, young people and children who are not only a present
reality but also a promissory future that strengthens this great
nation.