Thousands head to City Hall to demonstrate for Immigration rights

(City Hall-WABC, April 10, 2006) (WABC) -- Congress may be on vacation but immigration reform is taking center stage today. Large rallies are planned nationwide including one at city hall.

Eyewitness News reporter Lisa Colagrossi is live there with the latest.

It's all part of a coordinated nationwide day of action. Advocates for immigrant rights are planning to converge on city hall this afternoon for a massive four hour rally.

Up to 500,000 people poured into the streets of Dallas yesterday, the latest in a series of demonstrations that has surprised even organizers by their size. They waved U.S. flags as they urged federal lawmakers to pass immigration reform that would legalize an estimated eleven million undocumented immigrants.

Hispanics are America's biggest minority, 40 million strong. But their political influence has not matched their numbers. This issue could change that.

Jamie Contreras, March Organizer: "People are waking up and saying that this is not right and enough is enough and we're not gonna stand by and just watch, we're gonna take action."

There were demonstrations in at least half a dozen other states yesterday.

On Long Island, several hundred demonstrators took to the street in front of the office of Republican Congressman Peter King. They were protesting his co-sponsorship of one of the toughest anti- immigration bills ever, one they say calls for the "criminalization of undocumented workers."

Congress tried and failed to reach a compromise on an immigration reform bill before adjourning for Spring recess last week. Any resolution is now up in the air until legislators return from their break in two weeks.

The City Hall rally takes place from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. this afternoon here at city hall. Many city high school and college students are pledging to stage walkouts. Protesters are also expected to gather at Liberty State park in New Jersey.

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