As immigrant reform lingers on the backburner of the Congressional agenda amid a government shutdown, this weekend may see one of the largest-ever rallies to be put on by advocates of a comprehensive overhaul of the nation's immigration system with a path to citizenship for the undocumented. October 5 marks what organizers from a coalition of labor, faith and civil rights groups have dubbed the "National Day of Dignity and Respect", or "the beginning of the immigration rights movement's escalation to bring reform across the finish line this year." Organizers say they expect marches in over 150 cities across the country.
The biggest of the rallies will likely take place in Washington, D.C., where the marches on Saturday will extend into a four-day series of events related to the push for immigration reform, including the "Camino Americano: Concert and March for Immigrant Dignity and Respect" on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Organizers have managed to attract a few big names in Latino pop in Los Tigres del Norte - the Mexican norteno band who've often sung of the trials of undocumented immigrants to the US - and Puerto Rican songstress Olga Tañón.
The budget continues to occupy much of the attention of leaders in the House and Senate, who say they're trying to avoid an approaching Oct. 17 default. But ralliers want to make sure both lawmakers and the American public know they're not going to let their priority slip off the agenda. Tampa-based activist Felipe Sousa-Rodriguez told the Associated Press on Friday that "it's about seeing us in our communities, not just as a number: 11 million undocumented." He added, "And it's about immigrants seeing that there are other immigrants out there, and that we are active members of our democracy. A lot of people feel isolated, and when you see all these marchers, that gives you hope and the energy to join them."
House Democrats have signaled they're on board with the immigrant advocates for whom they often serve as allies: earlier this week, they sponsored the second comprehensive bill to be discussed this legislative season, one which consisted of the Senate's comprehensive bill (minus its "border surge" amendment on border enforcement) combined with another smaller border-enforcement bill. Critics of the move called it an empty gesture, saying the bill was too much like the Senate's for House Republicans to support.
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