WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Hundreds Rally For Justice For Immigrants

Hundreds Rally For Justice For Immigrants

By Wendy Suares
wsuares@wlbt.net

Protests all across the country were held Monday in what's turning into a national Immigrants Rights movement. Mississippi's state capitol was no exception. Immigrants and their advocates gathered in Jackson in support of immigration reform and justice.

A crowd of close to a thousand sang along in Spanish to "We Shall Overcome." A song symbolic of the Civil Rights movement now has new meaning for immigration reform advocates.

"I want more respect for us, for all my people, and for all the families," says Victor Melendez.

There are an estimated 100,000 illegal immigrants in Mississippi. Monday's rally in Jackson, like those across the country, is in support of federal legislation that would allow the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the country the chance to become U.S. citizens.

"Immigrants care about what happens to them in the United States. They want to be our neighbors and coworkers. They want a better life for their family," says Bill Chandler, executive director of MS Immigrants Rights Alliance.

Tens of thousands of undocumented workers went to work on the Mississippi Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. Though many at Monday's rally work in poultry farms. Two dozen organizations that work with Mississippi's immigrants speak out for their cause.

Sister Sherry Barrett says, "I want to see justice for them, comprehensive justice, because our immigration laws need to come up to date."

Most of their chants were in Spanish. Rally organizer Jerrica Romero translated one for us. "We're here. We're not leaving. If they take us out of this country, we'll come right back."

It's clear Mississippi has a voice in a national movement. They ask for fair immigration reform, but above that, respect and justice.

State Auditor Phil Bryant recently released figures on Mississippi's illegal aliens. He estimates they cost taxpayers $25 million a year for their education and healthcare.