Voces de la Frontera will host rallies in Milwaukee and Madison on May Day for “A Day Without Immigrants.”
The rallies look to build solidarity within communities and demand meaningful changes in the United States’ immigration policy. Demands include creating a reasonable pathway towards citizenship, calling for the end of ICE funding, and freedom and dignity of work, regardless of legal status or identity. The rallies will feature speakers from union and faith-based leaders, community members and students.
A Day Without Immigrants has been held before, but this year feels different, said Luis Velasquez, organizing director at Voces de la Frontera.
“Because of the relentless attacks that have been received, unfortunately, it is a day of action that we’re calling a day of truth and power to be able to speak truth to authorities that are attacking our communities,” Velasquez said. “It’s about workers, about dignity, about collective power, not funding a deportation machine that is literally killing folks.”
Velasquez draws attention to ICE and border patrol funding that could otherwise be directed towards investing in communities.
The budget for ICE has drastically increased over the past 10 years. Back then, it received less than $6 billion, but now sits as the highest-funded U.S. law enforcement agency with a budget of $85 billion, NPR reported.
“May Day is about making sure that the investment goes towards workers, to care, housing and education,” Velasquez said. “How can we orient all of this funding to go to work that matters to families and not building more cages and creating more pain and more suffering? Invest in people and not prisons and camps.”
Part of its core demands is to build a more sensible pathway towards citizenship and common-sense solutions.
Velasquez notes that many are just trying to live in dignity, but the systems at play have left many like DACA recipients and asylum seekers to “live in the shadows” and struggle to get by, often needing multiple jobs to surrive.
“The message is very simple. We all deserve safety and dignity. We all belong here,” Velasquez said. “Here in Dane County, we should focus on making sure that workers have dignity, fair pay and a safe workplace where they don’t live in fear.”
Students also have an active role in the rallies tomorrow. Madison East and West High School will lead their own marches to the Capitol. In the programming, a middle school student will also speak on issues.
Velasquez feels inspired and anchored by the organizing of students who fight to make a change that recognizes the struggles of their parents and ancestors.
“This is nothing new [with] these barriers, these struggles. I am feeling grounded by the students organizing, and that’s happening at all levels,” Velasquez said.
A Day Without Immigrants will be held on Friday, May 1.
The rally in Milwaukee will take place at Voces de la Frontera’s office at 733 W. Historic Mitchell Street at 10 a.m. and will march to the Federal Building at 11 a.m. The main program will begin at noon.
Madison’s rally will start at noon at Library Mall, 715 State Street. The march will start at 1 p.m. at the Wisconsin State Capitol. Programming will start at 2 p.m. outside.
