Observations from the Full Rights For Immigrants March and Rally in Los Angeles, April 4, 2009, by Robert Gittleson

My wife Patricia and I participated in the “Full Rights for Immigrants March and Rally,” in Downtown Los Angeles yesterday. I was fortunate enough to be invited to be one of the speakers at the Rally, held in the Los Angeles Convention Center, that followed the march through the streets of my old familiar stomping grounds, the former garment district, (which over the years has primarily re-settled into nearby Vernon, California).

The event was well attended. I would estimate the crowd at close to 3,000 participants, and I am pleased to report that this event was not only peaceful and dignified, but, unlike the Familias Unidas event that I commented on in early March of this year, this event was unmarred by anti-immigration protesters. There can be no doubt but that the participants of this event were well organized, energized, and committed to achieving their goal of seeing Comprehensive Immigration Reform legislation being championed by President Obama within his first 100 days in office.

Speaker after speaker rallied the enthusiastic crowd, advocating for CIR, an end to the raids that tear families apart, and a call for full legal and constitutional rights for all residents of our country. Certainly there exists an urgent need for these reforms, and their reasonable demands were well articulated, (although, in all honesty, I can only report that their arguments seemed to be well articulated, as my Spanish, despite two years of honors Spanish in High School, is not at all “bueno”).

However, I do want to report on what I sense to be a disconnect. While there is no doubt in my mind as to the sincere support for CIR, and for this movement, within the Latino immigrant community, I am left with the impression that in a very real sense, these events are primarily “preaching to the choir.”

At the press conference announcing this event several weeks ago, there was support from within the greater Los Angeles area A.I.L.A and LACBA members. Several attorneys spoke out on the urgent need for this event, and for the justness of this cause. However, where were they yesterday? I am not at all pleased to report that none of the other advocates from the legal community participated in the actual event. Perhaps they will support this movement when the larger rallies are scheduled for May? I hope so, because if one is to talk the talk, they should walk the walk, so to speak. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that several city, state, and diplomatic leaders from the Latino community, such as State Senator Gloria Romero, did speak effectively, and were greeted very enthusiastically by the crowd in attendance. However, where were the Federal leaders, the ones that will actually have a voice, (vote), on this legislation?

This movement has within it’s grasp an important power; numbers, (i.e. votes). However, the large numbers of participants are a blunt instrument. The impact of the sheer mass of bodies can be an effective tool, but numbers, in and of themselves, will not clinch this deal, (as evidenced by the large numbers of event participants in 2006). I believe that without the coordinated efforts of all supporters of CIR, working together with surgical precision, the effectiveness of these events will be muted.

Case in point, this event received moderate to good press coverage within the Spanish speaking media. However, the “mainstream media” coverage was absent. Where were the networks, and the local papers, such as the L.A. Times?

This is the time for CIR. The political stars are aligning. The polling numbers are strongly in favor of CIR. However, the advocates can not fumble the ball of the one yard line, because the stars will not stay aligned. It is in 2009, or very early in 2010 that is the window to get this much needed legislation passed and signed will remain open. The leaders of the advocacy movement have to work in concert, or they are wasting opportunities to operate at peak efficiency, as evidenced by the underutilization of what was really a very good and meaningful event. I can report that within the Latino advocacy community, there exists outstanding leadership and cohesion. However, now is the time for all advocates to make their voices heard. It is wrong of the advocate community to leave all of the heavy lifting to the Hispanic Community. I am at these events, and I am not concerned by what I see. These events are uplifting and moving. I am more concerned with what, and who, I don’t see.

Robert Gittelson