Immigration Protesters to Lawmakers: "We will not stop, this is not over"

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By Heather VacLav

Story Created: May 16, 2012 at 6:54 PM CDT

Story Updated: May 16, 2012 at 6:54 PM CDT

Immigration protesters say just because the Senate passed the immigration rewrite bill Wednesday, doesn't mean they are going to stop the rallies or protests.

 

Ralliers young and old showed up outside the Alabama State House to protest the immigration law, HB56. Wednesday afternoon, the rally started with people of all ages holding hands and circling around the state house steps. They said they were praying to God so lawmakers would repeal the immigration law.

 

“We're here to bare witness to what's going to happen,” said Luis Robledo, an organizer for the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice. “And let the legislators know that we're going to continue to oppose anti-immigrant laws and we're going to continue to oppose racism and injustice in Alabama.”

 

Many protesters have been driving to the CapitalCity from all over the state on a weekly basis to make their voices heard.

 

“They're regretting according to most of them,” said Salvador Cereantes about the state legislator’s decision to pass the immigration law last year. “They are doing what they did last year, they didn’t have the time to read HB56, and it’s the same thing this year.”

 

But as more time passed, more protesters moved inside the state house and then things took a turn for the worst.

 

Seven demonstrators sat outside the Senate chamber and linked arms, but were dragged out of the way by Capitol Police, four were led away in handcuffs. Three more moved their protest to the House chamber, where they were also handcuffed after blocking the hallway.

 

It is not the first time protesters have been taken into police’s custody at the State House. Two weeks ago six adults were taken away in handcuffs for kneeling on the floor outside the Senate chamber.

 

But no matter the consequences, protesters say their message to lawmakers remains the same. “We're not going to let you do this, this is not over,” said an undocumented immigrant and community organizer with the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice.

 

“We're not going to stop this legislative session, we're not going to stop next legislative session, we're going to keep going until this law is repealed in its entirety,” Palafox said outside the state house following the arrests.

 

Many protesters like Palafox say experiencing the protests and rallies has opened up their eyes to the power behind their voices. Voices they say will not be silenced regardless of what happens inside the State House by the end of the legislative session.
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