They want reform, now. That’s what about 300 people, mostly Hispanics, chanted Saturday as they marched along Route 9 and Clifton Avenue, carrying red, white and blue balloons, American flags and megaphones. “We are marching because we want immigration reform passed in 2010,” said Jose Villanueva, a march organizer. “We need it passed to fix a broken system we have now.” There are more than 10 million illegal immigrants living in the United States. Now that an overhaul of the health care system has been passed, immigration reform is quickly becoming the new issue of the day.
The march was organized by New Labor, an advocacy group with an office here. Protection for undocumented workers when they are threatened or not paid by their employers and protection for families who are torn apart by deportations are chief among New Labor’s reform wish list.
The marchers on Saturday simply wanted to grab the attention of one congressman, Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., who represents Lakewood.
“We know that Chris Smith will do the right thing,” said Marien Casillas, the executive director of New Labor. “We need to get the support of Smith. He understands the rights of families.”
Smith, a staunch Roman Catholic, has lobbied for human rights throughout the world during his long tenure in the House of Representatives. A Smith spokesman did not immediately comment Saturday afternoon.
The march here was one of many throughout the country. The most notable was the march in Las Vegas, where a crowd of 10,000 people was expected. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., was slated to speak.
The marches throughout the country were a follow-up event to a march on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. late last month attended by tens of thousands of people. New Jersey sent the third largest contingent to the capital, Casillas said. Her group sent 15 buses full of people.
In a videotaped message presented on giant screens to thousands marching on the National Mall last month, President Barack Obama warned of the cost of inaction. He said problems with today’s immigration system include families being torn apart, employers gaming the system and police officers struggling to keep communities safe.
Obama said he would work to forge a bipartisan consensus on immigration reform this year. APP
But they have no right to demand rights, it’s just not one of their rights. I don’t understand were they get the right to march and demand rights from. Right?
I’ll welcome all of you -if you first serve in the military and learn the queens ENGLISH not much to ask If you love AMERICA so much, fair deal is it??
Vote H.H. he would not allow this to continue in the town of lakewood.
they dont even have the right to assemble, they should have all been rounded up and sent back. the chuztpa!!
I am so sorry if I dissapoint any staunch anti- immigration supporters of mine, but I feel this would be a good time to once again explain my position on the immigration issue. I will elaborate further at a later date.
There needs to be a system established for those without legal status to have a path to live here legally as citizens. I am not suggesting amnesty, nor am I in support of sending people back to their country of origin to reenter our country legally. We need to have a system where the many law abiding, hard working Hispanics that are currently residing in Lakewood can differentiate themselves from the few that have no interest in living here legally, but are using our town for their illegal activities. To put it in a simple, albeit corny phrase, there are no illegal people, there are just people that do illegal things. At a later date we will discuss the problem of those from our own community that profit from the current situation.
amazing all these imigrants in one place and not one arrest? WHy is that, they are announcing they are illegal scoop them up and bring them back to where they belong. this is pathetic that they are even allowed to march like that. They make our town look like garbage,
Where is ICE when we need them or for that a COP?
The only part of the system that I see is broken is the border between the US and Mexico!
Harold all of the ilegal alians have done something ilegal by tresspasing our borders and ARE doing something ilegal evey day by being in a plce they are not legaly alowed to be. (The USA)
U are saying that if I brake in to a fire station and sit there for a weak I would be a fire fighter?
There is a legal order to everything and they must be followed
The arrogance is incredible!
Goyim Billy,
You took the words right out of my mouth! They need to learn thet you cannot just take, you also must give . . .
I just don’t get it. They’re illegal and they’re demanding rights? The whole business of having border patrols and immigrations laws is one big joke.
To Vote HH: learn how to spell then join the discussion!
To Annonymus: same goes to you and also educate yourself on the issue. Not all the people that were marching are ilegal aliens. There were legal people fighting for the rights of the one that can’t do it for themselves.
To Harold: I am so glad you commented on this! Your wisdom is almost tangible! I would like to read your opinion on the possible immigration reform…
And who do you think is paying for these illegals’ healthcare?? WE ARE! And that’s thanks to OBAMA! They came to the U.S. to have a better life because they don’t have to lift a finger to do anything. WE the taxpayers get stuck with their bills-healthcare, education, etc. It’s ridiculous! Make life harder for them here and they won’t want to stay! Can you imagine going to their country illegally, and organizing a march for our rights? We would all be arrested on the spot and thrown into jails.
I think a lot of them would gladly learn english pay taxes and sere in the army. Most of the mexicans are here to find a better life. they would participate in society if we allowed them to. The probelm with legalizing all of them is that then more and more would come and the American borders would be over run.
lets call them what they are illegal. My great grandparents went through Ellis Island at the turn of the last century. They were forced to learn english and my great grandfather even had his name changed to something more American. Until they go through the proper procedures they will always be illegals not imagrants they deserve nothing and should have no rights. It is time for us to stand up and to put a stop to it, when our legal tax paying citizens can not get proper care and they can just waltz in a get what they need there is a big problem. My children are being forced to learn spanish in schools for the simple reason that the government will not declare Enlish the national language. We are the only country that has not declared a national language. It is time for a change round them up send them home and make them go throuh the proper channels to become citizens then they can have the right to protest. just my opinion.
It is good the debate is up,
at least we can discuss what the politicians in USA do not want to (do not forget they are paid by taxpayers)
We should take the issue under some facts;
Hispanic DOES NOT MEAN ILEGAL OR INDOCUMENTED
Hispanic does not mean criminal,
Some hispanic people do wrong things as any other race or group do,
Both; pro-inmigrants and anti- inmigrante agree on one point; the existing inmigration it is not working.
We should open our minds to address this issue and do it good.
A reform is need NOW, (the changes are up to legislators)
Whatever change is made is going to affect some and benefit others.
But I just think for a moment: what our grat ancestor said when they fight for liberty:
ALL MAN ARE CREATED EQUAL
ALL MEANS ALL
EQUAL MEANS EQUAL
…AND HAVE THE RIGHT TO
LIFE
LIBERTY
AND PURSUIT OF HAPPINES
So we can not say they have not rights!
Law does not always mean CORRECT,
Law is not infallible
Moral and Correct are values that keep our society
NO ONE OBEYS THE LAW 100%
BE HONEST!
As a religious community; We shall not forget that we are asked to be mercy
The day we are able to discuss this matter feeling ourselves as equal,
and whit not intentios of hurt anyone, than we will make a big step as a community….