April 26, 2021
Media Advisory: May 1, 2021 — 11:00 AM ET
Thousands march in DC demanding long overdue immigration reform from administration for 11 million undocumented, DACA, TPS, and essential workers
WASHINGTON, DC — May Day, or May 1, is celebrated around the world as International Workers’ Day, a day that immigrant communities around the United States rise up to call for an end to racism and xenophobia, demand needed change, and show their power. On this day, a coalition of immigration justice organizations will hold a large-scale march and rally in the nation’s capital, Washington, DC. Community members and allies from the Greater Washington DC area and East Coast will march in DC beginning at Black Lives Matter (BLM) Plaza and ending just outside the US Capitol on the National Mall.
Thousands of immigrants and activists demand citizenship for all 11 million undocumented immigrants, citizenship for the immigrants who have toiled as essential workers during the coronavirus pandemic, citizenship for DACA and TPS holders, and the use of reconciliation to pass immigration reform.
WHAT: March and rally
View the event on facebook: https://fb.me/e/1sqKOLUPL
View the event on CASA’s website: https://wearecasa.org/megamarcha
WHEN: Saturday, May 1, 2021 — 11:00 AM ET
Speaking program at National Mall (Madison Dr. NW and 4th St. SW) at 12:30 PM ET
WHERE: Black Lives Matter (BLM) Plaza, Washington, DC ending at the National Mall (Madison Dr. NW and 4th St. SW)
March Route and Speaking Program: The march will begin at BLM Plaza and end at the National Mall (Madison Dr. NW and 4th St. SW). Along the way to the National Mall, the march will merge with representatives from the campaign Caravan for the Children — which demands the Uncaging, ReUnification and Healing of children in detention centers and allied organizations from Washington, DC and across the country — after they present their demands at US Customs & Border Protection Headquarters (1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, DC 20229) starting at 11:00 AM ET.
When the march arrives at the National Mall there will be a stage and speaking program at the Mall.
WHO: Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO, CASA, Central American Resource Center of Northern CA (CARECEN SF), Central American Resource Center of DC (CARECEN DC), Center for Popular Democracy (CPD), Congregation Action Network (CAN), Community Change Action, DC Jobs with Justice, DC Labor Council, Doctors for Camp Closure, Disciples Refugee & Immigration Ministries, Faith in Action, Families Belong Together, FIRM Action, Haitian Bridge Alliance, LIUNA – Public Service Employees Local Union 572, Make the Road New York (MRNY), NAKASEC, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), 32BJ SEIU, SEIU International, SPACES in Action, SURJ Baltimore, Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice (UUSJ), UFCW Local 400, UNITE HERE Local 23, UNITE HERE, United We Dream (UWD), We Are Home Coalition
RSVP: For more information on the actions, please contact Jenna DeFosse
VISUALS: Visuals will include a quilt from the border and posters of essential workers, as well as photos from the We Are Home: March to Victory relay pictures to show support from around the nation. Along the route there will be banner drops, billboards (stationery and trucks), and street chalking. To uplift diverse cultures and create a festive atmosphere, we will have diverse musical performances, including a Go-go band, Salvadoran marching band, Korean drumming troupe and other cultural artists.
THIS IS A COVID-SAFE EVENT: Masks are required and must cover the nose and mouth. Hand sanitizer will be available and is required for use. All must practice the social distancing policy, keeping six feet of distance.
MORE: President Biden publicly committed to a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented and to stop deportations during his presidential campaign. However, the administration has not shown a clear path to achieving citizenship for all, and detention and deportations of members of the immigrant community continue. By May 1, President Biden will have just completed his first 100 Days in office.
This year, May 1, presents the perfect opportunity — as the end of Biden’s first 100 days in office and as May Day or International Workers’ Day — for the immigrant community to stand together and issue the call to hold the Biden administration accountable to their campaign promises. Immigrant activists, allies, and community members gather to mark the beginning of increasing the pressure on the Biden administration and Congress to act for immigrant communities before the end of the year and the 2022 mid-term election cycle begins.
The DC May Day event occurs in tandem with other coordinated echo actions organized in major cities around the country that share common messaging and demands. This march will be the largest amongst several demonstrations held in DC on May 1, amongst Cosecha and others.
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With over 110,000 members across the states of Maryland, Virginia, and South Central Pennsylvania, CASA is the largest member-based Latino and immigrant organization in the mid-Atlantic region. Visit us at www.wearecasa.org and follow us on Twitter at @CASAforall
