100 people rally in Philadelphia against S.B. 1070
Thursday, July 29th, 2010
By: Susan Phillips
sphillips@whyy.org
A group of Philadelphia area immigrants and their advocates rallied in opposition to Arizona's new immigration law Thursday in Old City. A federal judge put most of the law on hold yesterday.
Protestors in Old City Philadelphia
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter addressed the crowd of about 100 who gathered at Second and Sansom streets.
"Immigration for some has become the new segregation in the United States, that's what's really going on people need to pay attention to what this is about."
Nutter says he was excited by the decision of the federal judge regarding Arizona's immigration law.
But some in the crowd questioned Nutter's recent decision to continue a contract with immigration authorities. The agreement allows Immigration and Customs Enforcement access to arrest records of undocumented immigrants.
Maria Marroquin is an undocumented immigrant from Peru who came here when she was 13.
"I think it was great that he was here and showing his support publicly. But we also need him to show his support by stopping I.C.E. collaboration with the Secure Communities program and I.C.E. collaboration with the police here."
The city renewed their contract with I.C.E. but agreed not to pass on information about crime victims and witnesses.