Page 3 - aruba-today-20170502

A3
U.S. NEWS Tuesday 2 May 2017

Thousands of people in US rally for workers, against Trump

STEVE PEOPLES in the United States were
AMY TAXIN aimed directly at the new
Associated Press Republican president, who
NEW YORK (AP) — Thou- has followed aggressive
sands of people chanted, anti-immigrant rhetoric on
picketed and marched on the campaign trail with
cities across America on aggressive action in the
Monday as May Day dem- White House. Trump, in his
onstrations raged against first 100 days, has intensi-
President Donald Trump’s fied immigration enforce-
immigration policies. ment, including executive
Protesters flooded streets in orders for a wall along the
Chicago. They demanded U.S.-Mexico border and
“Donald Trump has got to a ban on travelers from
go!” at the White House six predominantly Muslim
gates. And they sparked countries. The government
at least four arrests after has arrested thousands of
creating a human chain immigrants in the country
to block a county build- illegally and threatened
ing in Oakland, California, to withhold funding from
where demonstrators de- jurisdictions that limit co-
manded that county law operation between local
enforcement refuse to col- and federal immigration
laborate with federal immi- authorities. The travel ban
gration agents. Despite the and sanctuary cities order
California clash, the initial were temporarily halted by
rounds of nationwide pro- legal challenges. People participate in a May Day rally in New York, Monday, May 1, 2017. The demonstrations on
May Day, celebrated as International Workers’ Day, follow similar actions worldwide in which pro-
tests were largely peaceful Trump has said his poli- testers from the Philippines to Paris demanded better working condition.
as immigrants, union mem- cies are meant to keep (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
bers and their allies staged America safe. In Chicago,
a series of strikes, boycotts 28-year-old Brenda Burcia- Angeles park, several thou- in the country illegally to better treatment.”
and marches to highlight ga was among thousands sand people waved Ameri- help make their point. While union members tra-
the contributions of immi- of people who marched can flags and signs reading “I’m an undocumented ditionally march on May 1
grants in the United States. through the streets to push “love not hate.” immigrant, so I suffer in my for workers’ rights around
“It is sad to see that now back against the new ad- Selvin Martinez, an immi- own experience with my the world, the day has be-
being an immigrant is ministration. grant from Honduras with family,” said Quintero at come a rallying point for
equivalent to almost be- “Everyone deserves dig- an American flag draped a Lansing, Michigan, rally. immigrants in the U.S. since
ing a criminal,” said Mary nity,” said Burciaga, whose around his shoulders, took “That’s why I am here, to massive demonstrations
Quezada, a 58-year-old mother is set to be deport- the day off from his job support not only myself but were held on the date in
North Carolina woman ed after living in the U.S. waxing casino floors to pro- my entire community.” 2006 against a proposed
who joined those marching for about 20 years. “I hope test. “We hope to get to be In Miami, Alberto and Ma- immigration enforcement
on Washington. at least they listen. We are respected as people, be- ribel Resendiz closed their bill. In recent years, immi-
She offered a pointed mes- hardworking people.” cause we are not animals, juice bar, losing an esti- grant rights protests shrank
sage to Trump: “Stop bully- In cities large and small, the we are human beings,” mated revenue of $3,000, as groups diverged and
ing immigrants.” protests intensified through- said Martinez, who moved to join a rally. shifted their focus on voter
The demonstrations on out the day. to Los Angeles 14 years “This is the day where peo- registration and lobbying.
May Day, celebrated as Teachers working with- ago fleeing violence in his ple can see how much we Larger crowds returned this
International Workers’ out contracts opened the country. The White House contribute,” said Alberto year, prompted by Trump’s
Day, follow similar actions day by picketing outside did not respond to requests Resendiz, who previously ascension, as immigrant
worldwide in which pro- schools in Philadelphia for a response to the May worked as a migrant work- groups join with Muslim or-
testers from the Philippines and Pittsburgh. Activists in Day demonstrations. er in fields as far away as ganizations, women’s ad-
to Paris demanded bet- Phoenix petitioned state Several protesters, like Michigan. “This country will vocates and black leaders
ter working conditions. But legislators to support immi- 39-year-old Mario Quintero, crumble down without us.” to push back against the
the widespread protests grant families. And in a Los outed themselves as being He added, “We deserve a president.q