Maldonado's Speech at the 3rd Anniversary of the New Majority March and Rainbow Rally
May 1, 2008
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Two years ago, I stood here with many of you at one of the largest pro-immigrant marches in U.S. History and one of the largest public demonstrations since the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
As far as the eye could see, hundreds of thousands of hardworking immigrants and their families crammed the streets of Chicago, united in our hope for humane and just comprehensive immigration reform.
That march was historic not only because of its massive size. It was historic because immigrants from around the world united in peace. We united to exercise our basic liberties of freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of conscience, and freedom of thought—basic liberties that define our nation’s democracy.
Today, we stand at the same crossroads the African-American community did in the 1960’s during the pinnacle of its civil rights movement. As the government intensified its oppression with the aim of slowing down the progress of real change, African-Americans could either retreat or fight for their human rights. They chose to fight, and so must we.
Now, we see the same pattern of oppression in the Latino community, as the federal raids intensify and local governments step up their frenzy of anti-immigrant laws. We cannot allow these tactics to suppress our struggle for justice. That’s why I applaud all of you who did not retreat and are here today to march, to be seen, and to be heard.
We are participating in the most important civil rights movement of our generation. We must continue to exercise our basic liberties—march, rally, educate, write letters, make phone calls, and exercise our real political power—our right to vote. This is our strongest defense to fight the growing anger and resentment by a small, but very vocal, minority segment of our country that promotes the Minuteman mentality and its racist beliefs. And it’s our strongest defense to fight the legalized discrimination, tolerated by our government and its broken immigration laws.
Now that immigration reform has taken center stage in the national presidential campaign, imagine what would happen if we used our voting power. Latinos may be the new largest minority in census numbers, but until we vote we will have no respect and no voice in our democracy.
Vote…and we will gain political power.
Vote…and we will change the laws that oppress us.
Vote…and we will give our children a future.
Let’s not give up the fight. We can make a difference in this presidential election and future elections by demonstrating our political power. Only then will we win our struggle for fairness, equality, and justice. And only then will our democracy work for us and free us from oppression and discrimination.
Roberto Maldonado
Commissioner, 8th District
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