Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Saturday immigration rally could draw thousands downtown

Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse

Thousands of people are expected to attend a noon rally advocating immigrants' rights Saturday in downtown Las Vegas.

Organizers said they expect more than 10,000 people to attend the Rally for America, scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. outside the Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse.

City officials said Las Vegas Boulevard will be closed between Clark and Bridger avenues from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the event. Motorists should use Main Street as an alternate route for north and south travel through downtown, or Fourth Street for one-way northbound travel.

Organizers are billing it as a nonpartisan event to encourage sensible immigration reform. According to its Web site, the group is seeking updates to what organizers say are outdated immigration laws, and they want better wages and working conditions for immigrants.

The organization is also seeking legislation to deal with undocumented immigrants already in the country that would allow them to achieve lawful permanent residency and eventual citizenship.

Sen. Harry Reid and Reps. Shelley Berkley and Dina Titus are expected to attend the event. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) is also expected to attend.

A number of labor leaders are scheduled to be at the rally, including AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, UNITE-HERE President John Wilhelm and United Farm Workers President Arturo Rodriguez.

The rally follows a march held March 21 in Washington, D.C., organized by the Reform Immigration for America campaign.

“The March put Washington on notice, and now advocates are doing it in their states. They want action now from their senators in Washington, and they are rallying, marching, chanting, praying, lobbying and calling their elected leaders out until they get it,” said Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum and chair of the Reform Immigration for America campaign, in a statement.

“This movement will not rest until the president and the leadership of both houses of Congress have fulfilled their promises to fix our broken immigration system this year,” Noorani said.

Similar immigration reform rallies are planned for Saturday in Seattle.; Chicago; Lakewood, N.J.; Philadelphia; El Paso, Texas; and Providence, R.I.

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