Thousands Rally at the Capitol for Immigration Reform

Activists march from CWA headquarters to the U.S. Capitol.

Below: CWA brought 177 activists to the April 10 Rally for Citizenship.

CWA rallied with 100,000 immigrants, union members, civil rights activists, faith leaders and community advocates at the Capitol on Wednesday to tell Congress that our country needs a pathway to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants.

Under the hot sun, the crowd chanted "Si, se puede!" and "Time is now!" They held up signs supporting reform that keeps families together. Supporters waved American flags, along with flags from Mexico, Brazil and El Salvador.

That afternoon, 177 CWA activists marched from CWA headquarters to the Mall. Naomi Bolden, Roanoke area vice president of CWA Local 2204, organized and led members from her own Local, plus CWA Locals 2201, 2222, 2205, 2106 and 2108, to Washington to support their brothers and sisters.

CWA President Larry Cohen took the stage with other labor leaders to advocate comprehensive immigration reform.

"We've been through this before, but this time it's different," Gustavo Torres, executive director of CASA de Maryland, speaking on the west lawn of the Capitol. "We are different, and Washington is different. The politicians can't ignore us now. We will become citizens, and we will vote."

Members from CWA Local 2204 made the nearly six-hour road trip from Lebanon, Va., to the immigration reform rally.

A bipartisan group of senators is currently finalizing a bill, and the legislation is expected to move to the Senate floor for a vote before Memorial Day.

CWA was proud to stand with our partners CCC, CASA de Maryland, SEIU, CARECEN, NEA, NAACP, Greenpeace, UAW and many others in supporting the rally. Once undocumented workers are covered under labor laws, together we can build a united movement of working people to raise the living standards and fight those who want to drive wages down for all working people in America.