Madison's "A Day Without Latinos" Protest Rally: Monday, April 10, 2006

Protest draws more than 10,000 to Capitol
By Nick Grube
Special to The Capital Times

More than 10,000 demonstrators, waving American and Mexican flags, carrying placards and chanting protest slogans, marched on the State Capitol today as part of a nationwide effort to sway the discourse surrounding immigration law.

The Madison rally, called "A Day Without Latinos," was one of many around the country that were a part of the National Day of Action for Immigrant Justice. Demonstrators, a majority of them Latino, are rallying to oppose bills now before Congress designed to crack down on undocumented workers.

Local labor, political and religious leaders spoke to the enormous crowd gathered on the lawns of the Capitol Square, offering their support against the bills and speaking of a unified America.

"We are a nation of immigrants," said Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, who had a translator repeat his statements in Spanish.

"We all came here seeking a better life to support and to contribute to a better America. Our economy depends on the contribution of immigrants and our culture is enriched by their presence."

 In addition to Cieslewicz, Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager and Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk spoke to the crowd, which was mostly wearing white to symbolize the peaceful nature of the march.

The majority of speakers communicated in Spanish with sporadic translations in English. Some, including Bishop Robert Morlino of the Diocese of Madison and the Rev. Pedro Suarez of Bethel Lutheran Church, addressed the demonstrators in both English and Spanish.

Morlino told the crowd that "the Catholic Church in the United States is an immigrant church. When immigrants suffer unjustly or whenever human dignity or life is attacked, the Catholic Church is attacked and feels this suffering."

The crowd was very responsive and energetic.

Numerous times during the march from Brittingham Park to the Capitol, and during the speeches, a chant would erupt from the crowd: "Si, se puede! Si se puede! Si se puede!" The literal translation is: "Yes, one can."

"I think this is very good," said Angel Mora, who attended the rally with his wife and children, "so the city knows we are here."

"It is very, very important to Madison."

Published: April 10, 2006