100,000 Expected To Attend May Day Immigration Rally

100,000 Expected To Attend May Day Immigration Rally

100,000 people are expected to take to the streets of Downtown Los Angeles and Westwood Saturday in a May Day rally for immigration rights. The LA Times reports:

LAPD officials are preparing for a surge in the number of participants in the wake of an outcry over a controversial new Arizona law that requires police to check the legal status of people they suspect of being illegal immigrants.

Deputy Chief Jose Perez Jr. said that police initially estimated no more than 60,000 people would participate in the May Day march to Los Angeles City Hall. But Perez said those numbers were revised after organized labor and immigrant rights groups informed authorities they expect far more people.

LAist has information on street closures and transportation for the events.

Earlier today, LAist reported that Senators Boxer and Feinstein have sent a joint letter to Attorney General Eric Holder calling for a review of Arizona's new law:

April 29, 2010

The Honorable Eric Holder
United States Attorney General
950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20530, Room 4400

Dear Attorney General Holder:

We write to support your thorough review of the recent immigration law enacted in Arizona - a law which is troubling on many levels.

We believe that questioning a person's immigration status based on "reasonable suspicion" - as the law states - raises serious constitutional questions, and could lead to the unintended consequences of unreported crimes, higher crime rates, and overburdened police departments.

As Senators from a border state, we understand that many Americans are frustrated with our broken immigration system, and that is why we must pass comprehensive immigration reform. This state law, however, is already proving to be polarizing and hurtful.

We look forward to a report on your analysis of this law as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer, United States Senator
Dianne Feinstein, United States Senator

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