LATINO MEMPHIS INVITES THE 901 COMMUNITY
TO MARCH TOGETHER AND SUPPORT LOCAL IMMIGRANTS
Memphis, TN – On Monday, May 1st Memphians from all walks of life and backgrounds will gather at Clayborn Temple at 5 p.m. dressed in red, white and blue where they will march together as one community to the National Civil Rights Museum to take a stand to support our immigrant communities.
Hundreds are expected to join the march where speakers will affirm the right to dignity, respect, and protection for all immigrants in the United States. Local students, David Aguilar, Chantel Barcenas, and Daniela García will present an original and powerful spoken word performance, which expresses a united voice that is often unheard. Danza Azteca will also perform an indigenous Aztec dance in their colorful feathered traditional costumes. “A Day Without Immigrants” is not exclusive to Latino immigrants. This is a march that calls for unity and support for all immigrants. Members from the Muslim community will also be at the march to show support and will lead a prayer.
Immigrants and allies in over 25 states and 50 cities will participate by staying home from work and school and not making any purchases to demonstrate that immigrants are significant contributors to our economy and an integral part of this country.
“Our purpose is to highlight the contributions newcomers make to our country. We are calling minorities, refugees, allies and really all Memphians to walk with us and stand with parents, workers, students and kids. We need to show that Memphis is a welcoming community,” said Marcos Villa, Latino Memphis community engagement coordinator and one of the organizers of the march.
The May 1st march is part of the national strike “A Day Without Immigrants” led by Cosecha, a nonviolent movement fighting for permanent protection, dignity, and respect for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country.
“May 1st marks the start of a season of strikes and boycotts throughout the nation. Thousands of workers throughout the nation will not go to work. We will not stop until we get permanent protection. On May 1st we will show the nation how much we contribute to this country,” said José Salazar, Cosecha Memphis organizer.
The organizers are a mix of immigrant rights organizations and allies including Memphis Intercultural Coalition, Memphis Voices for Palestine, Mid-South Peace and Justice Center, Cosecha Memphis, Showing Up for Racial Justice Memphis, Latino Memphis, Workers Interfaith Network, Coalition of Concerned Citizens, Fight for $15 and Union Rights Movement, Casa Luz, Latino Cultural Center, and Comunidades Unidas en una Voz.
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About Latino Memphis
Latino Memphis is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. More than two decades since its beginning, Latino Memphis has become the go-to organization for issues impacting the Hispanic community in the Mid-South. Latino Memphis has since become the largest Latino-serving nonprofit in West Tennessee, connecting thousands of clients each year to needed services in the areas of health, education and justice. Latino Memphis has over thirty happenings unique to the organization including three large events, Congreso: The Latino Memphis Conference, Latino Memphis Festival, and Day of the Dead Fiesta.
The work of Latino Memphis is a collective approach that aims to create a vibrant Latino middle class in Memphis; a concept that will not only impact Latinos, but the entire community. Latino Memphis remains more committed than ever to raising the voice of Latinos in our region and working toward building a vibrant middle class.
