April, 09 2013, 04:29pm EDT
TODAY: 200 Immigrant Families from Wisconsin to Travel to Washington for National Immigration Reform March
Supporters Call for a Fair Path to Citizenship for 11 Million; Demand Congressional Action
WASHINGTON
This evening, bus riders representing 200 Wisconsin families will depart for Washington, D.C. to take part in the national April 10th "Time Is Now" rally for citizenship.
Five buses departing with delegations representing all 8 congressional districts will join tens of thousands of immigrants and supporters from across the country to deliver a strong and powerful message to Congress: the time is now for fair immigration reform.
Prior to the rally, they will take part in the largest lobby day Congress has ever experienced, advocating on behalf of immigration reform that includes a clear and direct path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented Americans who have been living in the shadows.
Immigrant families will tell their stories about how our broken immigration system has torn families apart. They will stand side-by-side with clergy, labor activists, policymakers, grassroots supports and artists to demand immigration reform now.
While traveling to D.C., rally-goers will turn the bus into a mobile phone bank, making thousands of calls to voters to urge them to call their members of Congress.
WHAT: State-wide Press Conferences and Send-Off Rallies to Washington DC
WHEN: Tuesday April 9th 5:00 pm
WHERE: MILWAUKEE- Buses depart from the parking lot in Mitchell Park, Rally at 5 pm
WHO: Voces de la Frontera, Youth Empowered in the Struggle, Wisconsin Network for Immigrant & Refugee Rights (WNIRR), SEIU Healthcare WI, SEIU Local 1
Speakers:
Milwaukeee Alderman Jose Perez
Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera
Jennifer Nava, leader with Youth Empowered in the Struggle and graduating senior at Pulaski High School
Erika Sanchez, Dreamer and leader with Youth Empowered in the Struggle and graduating senior at St. Joan Antida High School
Bramouse Muhammed, YES teacher advisor at Pulaski High School and part of the leadership of Milwaukee Teachers Education Association (MTEA)
Speakers and bus attendees will be available to speak to the press prior to departure. Contact the number above to arrange media interviews.
Voces de la Frontera is Wisconsin's leading immigrant rights group - a grassroots organization that believes power comes from below and that people can overcome injustice to build a better world.
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