Over 500,000 March and Rally for Immigration Reform in Nation's Capitol

Today, over 500,000 people converged on Washington D.C. to call on President Obama and the Congress to pass immigration reform.

Courtesy: CAUSA

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - After several interfaith services around the D.C. area, organizations and individuals gathered at the National Mall to demand immigration reform for new American families and economic justice for all American families.

Members of CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition and a contingent from Oregon met at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in D.C. and helped lead a march with 20,000 Latinos from the community to the National Mall.

Francisco Lopez, CAUSA's Executive Director assisted in organizing the effort.

"There is nothing more inspiring than this. Hundreds of thousands of people are here in Washington D.C. to call on Congress and President Obama to pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform", said Lopez.

"Reform is long overdue and our elected leaders are hearing it from all of us here at their front door and from around the nation."

Some of those who spoke at today's rally included Ben Jealous, president and CEO, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles and Esther Lopez, director, UFCW Civil Rights and Community Action Department.

Other event speakers included Gregory A. Cendana, president, United States Student Association, Janet Murgía, president and CEO, National Council of La Raza, Marc Morial, president and CEO, the National Urban League, among others.

There were also appearances by Eddie "El Piolín" Sotelo and actress Lucía Méndez and musical performance by Los Lonely Boys.

Actions will continue tomorrow as immigration reform advocates will go to the Republican National Committee to request a meeting with Chairman Michael Steele and Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to urge them to support Immigration Reform and to support a bipartisanship process to get a bill passed this year.

This afternoon, the Reform Immigration For America Campaign called on all Immigration Reform supporters to call their Senator at 866-877-5552 and tell them they want immigration reform now.

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Source: Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition