Hundreds demonstrate in Los Angeles for U.S. immigration reform

Hundreds demonstrate in Los Angeles for U.S. immigration reform - People's Daily Online

Hundreds of people demonstrated Monday in Los Angeles as part of a nationwide campaign to push for U.S. legislation to legalize millions of undocumented immigrants.

Carrying signs that read "Economic Recovery Includes Immigration Reform," the demonstrators marched from the Our Lady Queen of Angels church to City Hall in downtown Los Angeles, where they held a rally calling for an immigration reform that they said would benefit all citizens.

The rally was one of 43 held across the United States as Reform Immigration for America, a coalition of 198 local and federal organizations, began a campaign calling for a comprehensive immigration policy reform, organizers said.

The demonstrators said they wanted U.S. lawmakers to pass laws to legalize undocumented immigrants, reform visa programs to keep families together, support the rights of all workers and go after employers who violate immigration and labor laws.

Angelica Salas, executive director for the Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights of Los Angeles, said that the campaign "promotes immigration reform that actually promotes economic opportunity for all."

Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti joined the demonstrators in their call to action.

"For a stronger economy, we will not get out of the situation we are in unless we include everybody in the recovery that we see before us," Garcetti told the crowd.

Source:Xinhua