FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 21, 2021

CONTACT: press@wearehome.us

Welcome Back Congress: Thousands to March to U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Senators Schumer, Menendez, Padilla; Representatives Garcia, Omar; Labor Leaders, Advocates, Affected Individuals Confirmed to Speak at Rally

[September 21st]  –  Immigrants, allies, and community members from across the country are converging for a march beginning at Benjamin Banneker Park to ICE Headquarters towards the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. on September 21st starting at 12p.m. ET. The march is a part of a nationwide effort to demand Congress ensure a pathway to citizenship stays in the budget reconciliation package, as well as investments in the care economy, and green infrastructure that will help fight climate change are delivered. As members of both the House and Senate come back from August recess it is critical that Congress recognize that investing in citizenship, care and climate justice is necessary. Immigrants, caregivers, and climate change have played and will continue to play a large role in the U.S.’s economic and social recovery. Congress must deliver on their promises and address the issues that disproportionately affect communities of color.

The action is a community-led effort, made up of participants from across the country, including folks traveling from WA, CA, OR, NV, AZ, CO, MN, KS, GA, AR, IL, WI, MI, WV, AL, TN,TX, FL, NC, VA, DE, MD, PA, NY, NJ, MA, NH, ME, UT, HI, NE, and DC.

WHAT: Welcome Back Congress – March for Citizenship, Care, and Climate

WHEN:  September 21st at 12 PM ET

WHERE: Washington D.C. (Speaking portions of the march will be live streamed via Facebook https://fb.me/e/Ennk7lKX ) Speakers include:

  • Stop 1 – 12:00-12:30 pm at Benjamin Banneker Park (429 L’Enfant Plaza SW)
    • Rep. Chuy Garcia (confirmed)
    • Mary Kay Henry, President, SEIU
    • Liz Schuler, AFL-CIO President
    • Min Hee Cho, DACAmented AAPI youth – NAKASEC/HANA Center (IL)
    • Adelaide, Undocumented Homecare Worker from Mozambique
    • Jorge Palacio Maldonado – UFW Foundation (WA)
    • Ai-jen Poo, Executive Director, NDWA/WAH Co-Chair
    • Lorella Praeli, Co-Executive Director, Community Change Action/WAH Co-Chair
  • Stop 2 – approx. 12:30-1:00 pm at ICE HQ – 500 12th St. SW, Washington DC 
    • Rocío Sáenz, EVP SEIU
    • Christine Olivio, FANM
    • Daniel Diaz – LUPE (TX)
    • Murad Awawdeh, Co-Chair – FIRM
    • Ana Rivera, Janitor Member – SEIU 32BJ
    • Ana Maria Archila, Co-ED of CPD/Member of GNDN
  • Stop 3 – approx. 1:25-3:00 pm Grant Memorial/Capitol Reflecting Pool (West Side of the US Capitol)
    • Sen. Schumer,  Sen. Menendez, Sen. Padilla and Rep. Omar (confirmed)
    • Enrique Fernandez, UNITE HERE Vice President
    • Karen Reyes, DACAmented Elementary Special Ed Teacher – Austin ISD/AFT (TX)
    • Mario Chavez, Undocumented LGBTQ Essential Worker – MRNY (NY)
    • Sylvia Garcia, DACAmented Farmworker – UFW Foundation (CA)
    • Arisaid Gonzalez – United We Dream
    • Erika Henriquez, Pediatric Doctors Assistant – Carecen SF (CA)
    • Wendy Larios, DACAmented Essential Worker – CHIRLA (CA)
    • Austen, Cameroonian asylum seeker and essential worker – CASA (MD)
    • Nita KC, TPS recipient Nepali domestic worker
    • Marco Loera Alvarez, DACAmented/LGBTQ Organizer – Unidos MN (MN)
    • Margarita Hernandez, Undocumented Essential LGBTQ Worker
    • Gustavo Torres, Executive Director, CASA
    • Patrice Lawrence, Executive Director, UndocuBlack Network

WHO: 

  • Participating organizations include: CASA, SEIU, Fair Immigration Reform Movement, CHIRLA, NAKASEC, Center for Popular Democracy, National Domestic Workers Alliance, Make the Road, Carecen, United Farm Workers Foundation, United We Dream, Faith in Action, New York Immigration Coalition, Community Change Action, People’s Action, Unite Here, Mijente, iAmerica, and 32BJ SEIU.

With support from the following campaigns:  We Are Home and Real Recovery Now!

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