May Day Rallies Push For 'Sanctuary State' Designation
BOSTON (CBS/AP) — Immigrants and activists are marking International Workers' Day with marches and rallies in the Boston area.
The "Here to Stay" rallies in Boston, Chelsea, and Everett on Monday are also meant to be a call for Massachusetts lawmakers to approve the Safe Communities Act.
That proposal would make Massachusetts a so-called "sanctuary state" where state agencies limit their cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
The May Day rallies are part of a nationwide effort to show opposition to President Donald Trump's immigration policies.
"What we are facing right now with this administration has not been an easy time, so we are going to have to act bold and really demonstrate and get out of the shadows," said Cosecha's Gloribell Mota.
The group planned a day-long festival in East Boston's Maverick Square.
Mota said it is important for immigrants to come together at this time.
"We're going to be as loud as possible but we also understand that what we are asking our community, and our immigrants, and our allies, and supporters to do is not an easy feat," she said.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports
About 200 people rallied at the Statehouse steps in Boston midday on Monday.
"We want to end Trump's strategy to vilify immigrants, we believe it is only leading to hate crimes," one participant to WBZ NewsRadio 1030. "His strategy to deport -- on a massive scale -- immigrants from this country is only separating families and tearing them apart."
They continue with late afternoon marches stepping off from Maverick Square and the City Hall in Everett, and then converging in front of City Hall in Chelsea.
Similar marches will begin at 4 pm. in front of the Lynn City Hall and Brockton City Hall.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports
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