Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

By Karen Lee Ziner
Journal staff writer

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- About 300 May Day demonstrators assembled outside the local U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office Friday afternoon, demanding an end to workplace raids and calling for amnesty for illegal immigrants and comprehensive immigration reform.

"We have a very clear message to send to ICE -- you are not welcome here in Rhode Island any more," said Pat Crowley, of Jobs with Justice.

The traffic island across the street from the ICE office began filling with demonstrators around 3:15 p.m., with about nearly 100 people holding signs with messages like "Human rights for all," "Labor rights" and "ICE out of RI now." Some demonstators stood on the sidewalk in front of the ICE office.

Some of the demonstrators included several of the janitors arrested in last year's raid on the state courthouses, as well as workers who were laid off from the Colibri jewelry company in East Providence.

The annual May 1 demonstation was one of many taking place all over the country.

The Homeland Security Department issued new guidelines Thursday calling for a new approach to workplace enforcement raids that will focus on prosecution of employers rather than detainees. President Obama said in his speech Wednesday night that he wanted immigration reform.

In a news release issued earlier Friday, Alfonso Velasco of the Community Defense Network of the Olneyville Neighborhood Association said, "This year, we are holding the demonstration at ICE to reject their tactics and the terror attacks by [Governor] Carcieri. If people see us standing together, right here at the ICE office, they will understand that we refuse to be afraid in our own neighborhood, at work or at home ..."

Organizers included the American Friends Service Committee of Southeastern New England, English for Action, the Committee of Immigrants in Action, and Fuerza Laboral / The Power of Workers.

This story was originally posted at 3:57 p.m.

 Tags  immigration Olneyville Neighborhood Association Providence RI

Comments

Jodi said:

Gee, nearly 100 this time - guess maybe people are getting the message that these people need to come here legally? Keep up the raids, ICE, and let's get the US cleaned up, one raid at a time.

Link | May 1, 2009 4:13 PM
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shadylady said:

We certainly want ICE in RI. Who do these people think they are? What puts them above the law? We are a country of Laws. These people are breaking the law. Send them back with all these babies they are dropping like flies. I'm sick of paying for them.

Link | May 1, 2009 4:40 PM
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Obey our Laws! said:

The illegal immigrant community has become emboldened by the Obama Adminstration in their hopes of amnesty. The illegal immigration debate has never been about racism, it has been about a select group of individuals who enter our country unlawfully, and then start placing demands on the United States.

Enter through a port of entry, and you will find that you are welcomed!!!

Link | May 4, 2009 7:06 AM
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D said:

I really do not understand how these people can break the law and then be upset when they are arrested. I would like to see what their native countries would do to Americans if it was the other way around.

Link | May 4, 2009 10:28 AM
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