The May 1st march in Santa Ana, California, also called the march for "¡Unidad y reforma migratoria ahora!" (Unity and Immigration Reform Now! will focus on comprehensive immigration reform. The central message calls for pathways to citizenship for undocumented individuals, protections for immigrant workers, and an end to policies that separate families.
Local activists will warn about presidential candidate Donald Trump's proposed policies against the immigrant community should he be elected for a second term.
As Mike Gonzalez, president of the community organization Los 32 Por México told The LA Times: "in light of the cruel and relentless racist attacks by former President Donald Trump against workers, immigrants, public education, and other communities, we must all recognize that the time to resist is now."
Part of the motivation for this year's march is related to growing anti-immigrant rhetoric coming from Republican-governed states. Last year, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis enacted SB-1718, which prohibits and declares it illegal for anyone to hire, recruit, or employ an immigrant with irregular status.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, on his end, signed SB-4 which would allow local and state police to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants. A court ruling has so far prevented its implementation. Several other Republican-led states are moving toward implementing similar measures, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Louisiana, Iowa and Arizona among them.
Alicia Flores, Executive Director of La Hermandad Hank Lacayo Youth and Family Center, told the LA Times that "these laws criminalize and punish undocumented workers in a way not seen since the mass arrests and deportations carried out by the administration of Ike Eisenhower in the 1950s."
The march of Santa Ana is expected to begin at 10am at 2100 E. 4th St., Santa Ana, California.
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