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Edition:
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FLORIDA
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METRO (DC-MD-VA-NY) |
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US IMMIGRATION NEWS
1 MAY 2006 |
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Immigrants Unite in Mass Action; Filipino Participation place
Asian Face on Issue |
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Supporters held the American Flag at the demonstration chanting
“USA! USA!” and “We love America!”
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ORLANDO -- “YES WE CAN!,”
exclaimed Romie Dela Paz, as an estimated 30,000 cheered in a mass
action supporting comprehensive immigration reform.
“I subscribe to the position to oppose the bill criminalizing the
illegals. America is a nation of immigrants.”
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Mr. Dela Paz, Chairman of the Florida Chapter of the
National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA)
delivered the position of his organization. “We do not
support legislation to criminalize the very vulnerable
segment of our society who are undocumented,” said Mr. Dela
Paz.
“We ask our legislators to pass a comprehensive reform bill.
It should include measures on family reunification to
eliminate the backlog of more than twenty years of waiting
time before families can join their petitioners.”
“Mabuhay!” Mr. Dela Paz called out as he completed his
rousing bilingual speech. “Its a tremendous gathering. We’ve
done a good job of stressing our concerns for a fair and
humane immigration reform.”
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“The May 1st march and rally in Orlando and nationwide for a
comprehensive immigration reform wa a cry for fair and just
treatment of hardworking people.” -- Volunteer, Cinco de
Mayo Festival, Fellsmere, Florida
“Be careful. We need the issues to be heard. We need people who
are able to lead and continue the discussion of urgently needed
immigration reform,” -- G.Z., Satellite Beach, Florida
“I’m for a comprehensive immigration reform especially a
dramatic increase of immigrant visa numbers for family-based
petitions to eliminate waiting time of 20 or more years for
family reunification,” M. Cruz, Palm Bay, Florida
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Romie Dela Paz, NaFFAA Florida Chairman gestures as Sister Ann
Kendrick of the Farmworker Ministry look on at the assembled
marchers. |
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It was a satisfactory culmination to the march which was
unprecedented in Orlando’s history. “I’ve never seen anything like
it in my 35 years in Orlando,” said Sister Ann Kendrick of the
Office of Farmworker Ministry in Apopka.”
The march was well-organized and vigorous.“I arrived at parking lot
at T.D. Waterhouse at 11:30 a.m. The assembly was at the south side
where the. march started noontime,” narrated Mr. Dela Paz.
The packed marchers inched its way through downtown Orlando to Lake
Eola and passed by the offices of Sen Martinez and Sen. Nelson. The
crowd was chanting “USA, USA!” “We love America!” “Yes we can!”
There were small groups of individuals bearing placards written with
“Illegals are criminals” “Amnesty is economic treason.” as marchers
passed by. “Its a free country,” said Mr. Dela Paz. “I saw great
support from people watching out from buildings who were cheering as
we marched. There were people bringing out boxes of bottled water
and were providing these to the marchers.”
Marching at the vanguard were leaders Tirso Moreno and Sister Anne
Kendrick of the Farmworker Association of Florida, Romie dela Paz,
of the NaFFAA, and other organization leaders. The march ended back
at the assembly place where leaders stepped-up to speak about
immigration issues, jobs with justice.
Mr. Dela Paz’s speech made its way into Orlando’s major media
outlet. “A representative from a group of Philippine immigrants
spoke to the crowd on behalf the 1 million illegal immigrants who
are (from the) Philippines,” said the Orlando Sentinel on its
printed and online editions.
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“In addition to that, Filipino participation placed an Asian face on
the issues, to show that we have the numbers too and this is not
just a Latino issue,” said Mr. Dela Paz.
“We need to exercise our voting rights. The vote is a powerful tool
to express concerns of the community. We need to get out the vote.”
The march was organized by the Farmworker Association of Florida and
ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now)
. “I was very happy to find a young Filipino who was a staffer with
a mainstream organization like ACORN.”
Mr. Dela Paz added further,“We cannot be just bystanders on issues.
We marched today, tomorrow we vote.” (BASTA PINOY NEWS)
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