STOCKTON, CA — In the City of Stockton; as in the rest of the nation, residents’ rallied calling for immigration reform.
Participants rallied at the downtown DeCarli Plaza on Tuesday, May 1st and they marched down El Dorado Street holding signs, waving American flags and chanting traditional slogans.
In 2006 the May First march drew thousands in Stockton, this year a much smaller crowd took on the streets. ”We are the voice of many who are in the shadows; we need to send a message to Washington,”said one of the protesters.
“Even though we are relatively few people we represent millions who are still struggling for the recognition of their dignity,” said Fr. Dean McFalls of St. Mary’s Church.
Since Arizona passed its anti-immigration law in 2010, 
many other states like Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina have attempted to pass similar bills, explains Gerardo Serrano, one of the organizers of the march.
“We are all Arizona,” read one of the signs.
“Stockton is present at the May Day [May 1st] March for the seventh time, in the demand for a just and humane immigration reform as well as a fight against anti-immigrant laws,” said community organizer Luis Magaña.
“This country needs the strength of the migrant labor,” emphasized Serrano.
While hopes for an immigration reform continue in the community, many are concern that the immigration movement has created little or no impact on the tone or direction of the immigration debate in Washington.
Written by Mayra Dennise Rocha
Bilingual Weekly
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