Basin joins fight for immigrant rights

COLUMBIA BASIN — Across the country, pro-immigrant rallies and a boycott are planned for May 1 in a show of support for immigrant rights.

Protesters from the Columbia Basin will join in this national effort Monday in a march that will begin at 3 p.m. in Othello's Lions Park.

A carpool of Moses Lake residents will gather at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church at 1 p.m. and will caravan to Othello from there. Marchers are asked to show up with white shirts and American flags at Lions Park by 2:30, in preparation of the 3 p.m. march down the city's Main Street.

Moses Lake resident Ronaldo Delgado is organizing the event alongside Othello's La Caliente radio station. Delgado said organizers chose Othello because of its central location in the Columbia Basin, and because of the high percentage of Hispanic residents. Delgado has heard an attendance estimate from city police of anywhere from 300-1,000 people for the march.

"We are marching to one: Educate the community at large as to the immigration issue," Delgado said. "Two: To let the community at large that we want fair humane and workable immigration reform."

Organizers are opposed to HB 4437. Passed by the U.S. House or Representatives last year, Delgado said the bill toughens security problems but does nothing to fix the immigration problem.

He said workers in the Columbia Basin are among the 12 million undocumented workers nationwide, and said organizers want those workers to be able to incorporate themselves into American society.

"We're inviting everyone who supports immigration reform to come out and support us," Delgado said.

As Congress debates immigration law reforms, protest events are planned in 102 cities, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Community Change.

— Staff report