Demonstrators Call On Congress To Pass Immigration Reform
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Activists and politicians are staging marches and rallies across the country today on what they're calling a "National Day for Dignity and Respect."
They're trying to pressure the feuding congress to get back to work and pass the Immigration Reform bill that has cleared the Senate but is held up in the House.
In Chicago they gathered in Union Park, where there were speeches, chants and songs.
The message, especially to Republicans in Congress, was to stop tearing families apart.
Activist Emma Lozano said 1,400 people are being deported every day. She said the number would reach 2-million by the end of the year under the Obama administration.
Mayor Emanuel said, "Do not let this slow-motion crippling of the government cripple the dreams of the families that have come here."
Republican State Comptroller Judy Barr Topinka said, it is not fair that "these bozos in Congress" are putting the issue on the shelf." She called immigration reform a human rights issue."
Governor pat Quinn said, " this isn't a Republican or Democratic issue," saying, "this is an issue about people, real people."
A young girl, 14-year-old Rosalda Valdez, sang a song that she wrote when she was 11-years-old after her friend's father was deported.
Demonstrators Call On Congress To Pass Immigration Reform
She sings the song as if it were her own father, and says "Obama, Obama, Obama, don't deport my Dad, give us hope so we can believe in you again."
The activists and politicians singled out republican Congressman Peter Roskam, as one of those standing in the way of immigration reform and planned to taka a caravan of fifty cars to his home in Wheaton to pressure him in person.
