PA Legislative Latino Caucus to join forces with Make the Road PA on behalf of immigrants across Pennsylvania
Rally planned regarding recent action taken against immigrants
Rep. Danilo Burgos January 12, 2024 | 3:22 PM
HARRISBURG, Jan. 12 – The Pennsylvania Legislative Latino Caucus today announced that the group will be joining ‘Pennsylvania Welcomes Immigrants,’ a pro-immigrant rally organized by Make the Road Pennsylvania.
The rally, supported by the Woori Center, Free Migration Project and Pennsylvania Policy Center, is set for noon Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 144 N. Seventh St., Allentown, and is expected to be attended by community leaders, state officials and local advocacy groups.
State Rep. Danilo Burgos, chairman of the Latino Caucus, explained that the group will take a stand against the recent introduction of an anti-immigrant legislative package by state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Lehigh).
“We are determined to put a halt to any actions aimed at terrorizing and harming immigrants in Pennsylvania. We wholeheartedly condemn the promotion of these and any other anti-immigration bills. We want to expose the damaging effects of manipulative rhetoric like the one that Representative Mackenzie has sadly embraced,” Burgos said.
“It is time to recognize the numerous contributions of all immigrants to our economy and culture; it’s time to acknowledge their rights,” Burgos added. “We are glad to have found in Make the Road a solid ally in our crusade to welcome and protect immigrants’ families in the state. We are looking forward to continuing partnering and making strides to uplift and support immigrants.”
Make the Road Pennsylvania Deputy Organizing Director Armando Jimenez said that it’s critical for the organization that he helps lead to ensure that every person, regardless of their citizenship status, race or skin color, can exercise the freedom to move, which includes the right to seek refuge abroad and the freedom to thrive.
"Hateful bills like Rep. Mackenzie's don't just get written about in the paper, they terrorize families and make Pennsylvanians less safe,” he said. “Instead of treating immigrants as political pawns and stoking fear to try to distract us from the real issues, our representatives should do some work to make life better and more stable for every Pennsylvania family, immigrants included."
Woori Center Executive Director Mel Lee stated that discrimination of any form cannot be tolerated.
“Time and again, anti-immigrant politicians are using our community as a political pawn, fostering fear of immigrants and worsening xenophobia and discrimination,” she said.
“We have seen the direct harmful impacts of anti-immigrant rhetoric from the recent surge of anti-Asian violence after Trump’s ‘Chinese virus’ reference. We need to stop any attempt to use our community as a political pawn, including Mackenzie’s proposals,” she added.
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EDITORS NOTE: Media coverage is invited.
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