Immigrant workers to rally Tuesday

By SEAN C. McCULLEN

Staff Writer

BRIDGETON -- As many as 1,000 immigrant workers from throughout the area are expected to gather in the city Tuesday for a march and rally calling for immigration reform.

The march is slated to begin at 11 a.m. at the parking lot in front of the Dollar Super Store on Irving Avenue. It will proceed south on Church Street, west on Commerce Street, north on Laurel Street and east on Irving Avenue to Bank Street.

Once the marchers reach Bank Street, they will head south to the field behind city hall, where the rally will be held.

The rally on Tuesday will feature speakers and cultural presentations. Representatives from local churches, families affected by deportations, students and other local organizations will speak about "the need for immigration reform," according to a press release issued by CATA, a Spanish acronym that translates in English to The Farmworker Support Committee.

Jessica Culley, a CATA representative, noted that the organization has informed city police that 500 to 1,000 people are expected for the march.

Tuesday's march and rally marks the second consecutive year CATA has organized such an event in the city on May 1, known around the world as International Workers' Day, or May Day, a holiday celebrated around the world but not in the U.S.

Last year, the march started with only about 100 people at the Irving Avenue parking lot, but by the time marchers reached the rally location behind Bridgeton High School, the number of participants had swelled to 1,500, according to police estimates.

Culley said May Day has been chosen for the rally, and others like it around the country, because it is an important day for workers' issues and rights.