WASHINGTON, DC — Hundreds of progressive activists from immigration, climate, and care groups converged in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday morning to march on Congress. Activists delivered a message to Democrats in Congress that it is time to act now to approve a transformational investment in workers, communities, and the environment as part of the Build Back Better act.
Occurring just days before President Biden attends a U.N. climate summit, participants hammered that Congress must deliver the transformational change needed for our communities and planet.
The activists demanded that “four months after passing budget resolution language outlining critical investments in human and physical infrastructure, it is time for Congress to deliver on their promise of: Green jobs and infrastructure, childcare and Medicare expansion, home care and paid leave and a path to citizenship through green cards for immigrants as part of the Build Back Better plan.”
“Today’s march was empowering. It was great to be around people who understood the need for a pathway to citizenship for all immigrants. Our lives are beyond temporary bandages and we need permanent solutions that won’t suffer from rollbacks from future administrations. We demand policy that will acknowledge our humanity and need to grow,” said Ronnie James, UndocuBlack Network’s Community Engagement Coordinator.
The march began at Folger Park with a brief rally. Participants then marched through the streets of D.C. with chants, megaphones and homemade protest signs passing by the DNC headquarters before ending at Independence and South Capitol.
Unifying critical priorities in the Build Back Better plan, participants also had engaged in symbolic representation of the need to include 8 million green cards for immigrants, 2 million green jobs to slow the pace of climate chang and 3 million new affordable housing units. The plan also calls for childcare and universal pre-K for more than 8 million children, paid leave, Medicare expansion, home care jobs and more.
In her opening speech Patrice Lawrence, Executive Director of UndocuBlack Network said, “Climate change is real, just ask anyone from Haiti. Immigration justice is climate justice. Immigration is racial issue. Immigration is a Black issue. And There is no Build Back Better bill without the inclusion of undocumented immigrants of all ages and from all backgrounds and the inclusion of climate and environment justice.”
Here is the footage of the rally: “DEMS DELIVER NOW!” March by hundreds of activists.
