For Immediate Release: Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013
Contact:  Donna De La Cruz, [email protected]; 202-339-9331, 202-441-3798 (cell)

Members of the Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM) will proudly take part in the 50th anniversary commemoration of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom as Americans come together to celebrate how far the nation has come on civil rights, but to remember how much more work needs to be done to achieve equality for all.

“FIRM is proud to remember this historic event and the impact it had in pushing forward legislation to grant civil rights for African Americans,” said FIRM spokesperson Kica Matos. “Those who fought for civil rights in our country have taught the immigrant rights movement a valuable lesson: never give up when the humanity and equality of people are at stake.”

FIRM groups plan to take part in events with marches, rallies and vigils. Meanwhile, FIRM groups will continue their efforts to achieve comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship with House GOP members.

Here are some upcoming events:

Arizona—On August 24th, Promise Arizona will kick off their statewide “Pilgrimage for Citizenship,” a series of faith-based informational community forums about the status of federal immigration reform which will also commemorate the March on Washington. The first forum will take place at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Phoenix at 10:00AM immediately following a 9:00AM mass at the church officiated by The Most Reverend Eduardo Nevares, auxiliary bishop in the Phoenix Diocese. The pilgrimage will last through August 28th and will visit the cities of Yuma, Tucson and Prescott. For details, visit https://www.facebook.com/PromiseArizona.

Michigan—The Revive the Dream march will take place on August 24th in Detroit. Activists, including Michigan United and the NAACP, will meet at Saint Anne’s Church courtyard at noon to march for civil rights, voting rights, equality and immigration reform. On the same day, the March for Family Unity and Immigration Reform will take place in Lincoln Park in Grand Rapids at noon. For details on both of these events, visit www.facebook.com/michiganunited.

New York—On August 28th, thousands are expected, including members of the New York Immigrant Coalition, to attend NYC People’s Power Assembly Rally and March for peace, labor rights, human rights, immigration reform and the right to have a place to call home. The march will take off from the Adam Clayton Powell state office building in New York City at 4:30PM. For more information, visit http://www.communityorchaos.org/.

Washington, DC—A 50th Anniversary March on Washington to Realize the Dream March & Rally will take place on the National Mall on August 24th. Marchers, including members of CASA de Maryland will gather at the Lincoln Memorial at 8:00AM. For more details, visit http://nationalactionnetwork.net/.

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The Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM) is a national coalition of grassroots organizations in 30 states fighting for immigrant rights at the local, state and federal level. For more information, go to www.fairimmigration.org.