Participants and supporters of the Immigration Freedom Ride gathered Sunday at the Madison Labor Temple to rally around and send off local Immigration Freedom Riders on their way to Washington D.C. for a rally Oct. 1.
The issues for which protesters are demanding recognition include family reunification, civil and workers rights and various documentation issues.??The range of concerns drew many community members and groups to the send-off.
\I am riding because it is necessary to bring a message to all workers that there is a necessity for us to be given some rights. Workers have it difficult. We hope to gain respect and have status,"" said Armando Campa, a Wisconsin resident and ride participant.
Because of the risk of arrest, deportation or being fired, workers were hesitant to disclose personal details concerning their employment and immigration status.
Senator Russ Feingold was the featured speaker at the event.??
""This country has benefited by welcoming those from other countries.?? I want to be supportive of this,"" he said.?? ""The biggest problem is getting the federal government back to work on immigrant issues.""
Six participants from Wisconsin will be riding to Washington, D.C., to partake in the demonstration inspired by the 1960s Civil Rights Freedom Rides.
Leon Carlos Miranda is a senior working toward majors in Spanish and sociology at UW Madison and is another one of the riders traveling to Washington.
""I want students to be educated on both sides of the issue and not just go around with preconceived notions of immigrants,"" Miranda said. ""Not all Immigrants are undocumented and even those who are, are still human beings.""
Miranda plans on making video, photograph and written journals of the event to share with students when he returns.
The South Central Federation of Labor and the Interfaith Coalition for Worker Justice co-sponsored the event.
""[This is] primarily an issue of workers' rights. Thousands do not have proper documentation and work under exploitive conditions and there is no pathway for them to become legal citizens,"" said Sarah Shatz, director of ICWJ.
After leaving Madison Sunday, Wisconsin buses were to stop in Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Baltimore to participate in events and rallies on their way to Washington D.C.
