Hundreds of thousands flock to Washington to speak up for immigrants

Published: 2006-04-11

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- As many as 500,000 people left work early or took advantage of spring break from school and thronged to the National Mall April 10 to voice their support for immigrants. Bracketed on one end by the Capitol and on the other by the Washington Monument, people with accents from Bolivia, El Salvador, Mexico and Peru waved American flags and signs reading "We are America," as speakers on a stage blocks away called on elected officials to fix problems with the legal immigration system and provide a way for the 11 million to 12 million illegal immigrants already in this country to legalize their status. "I look across this historic gathering and I see the future of America," said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., co-sponsor with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., of an immigration bill promoted on signs carried by many in the crowd. "Today we stand together as brothers and sisters to shape America's destiny -- old Americans, new Americans, future Americans -- all joined together for the common good."

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