Progressive Groups Hold National Day of Action for the Dream Act ... 3 of 4 >
Feb. 7, 2018 - At the rally Missael Garcia declared, "I am Missael the immigrant and I am not a criminal."  According to CASA de Maryland,

"Missael Garcia, a young man who came to the United States as a child, would have been eligible to apply for DACA before the deadline Oct 5, 2017, but didn't do it. Unlike the racist and cruel attacks from Trump Administration Chief of Staff John Kelly saying folks who failed to renew were "too lazy," Garcia had a good reason for not applying. He had to prepare to welcome his first child into the world and was bogged down with preparations. Now, thanks to a recent ruling forcing USCIS to continue honoring DACA applications, Missa has re-applied and could receive his renewal permit soon."
Ady Barkan, director of the Center for Progressive Democracy's Local Progress and Fed Up projects, used a "Mike Check" to amplify his voice which has been weakened by Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).  Barkan came to national attention in Dec. 2017 when he pushed to protect disability benefits during the tax reform debate.
Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights declared, "Enough is enough.  Enough of using the DREAMers as political pawns.  Enough of the nativist, white supremecist, anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies that are fundamentally not what we aspire to be.  Enough."  Gupta said, "This fight is about who we are as a country.  It is literally about saving the soul of our country."  She stated, "Pulling a rug from under DREAMers is not what America stands for.  My America is a country of hope and humanity and dignity."
Ben Wikler, Washington director of MoveOn.org, declared, "Our message is no DREAM, no deal."  "I know that our movement is stronger than their hatred.  I know that our love is stronger than their fear.  I know that our movement is growing faster than their anger.  And I know that there will be a reckoning..."
Antonio Alarcón, representative of Make the Road New York, declared, "DREAMers are not lazy."  He emphasized, "The original DREAMers are our parents."
U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) said that Americans made a promise to the DREAMers and we must keep it.  "The DREAMers is not just about standing up for stories and decency and not having families torn apart and having an ounce of humanity," Khanna said.  "It's about our country keeping its word."  Khanna said DREAMers at his town halls have told him, "Our government made us a promise.  We filled out forms, we put our Social Security number, we paid a fee."
Jeanette Vizguerra, a leader with We Belong Together, spoke on behalf of domestic workers.  Vizguerra came to national attention in 2017 when she took sanctuary in a church in Denver for 86 days to avoid deportation.  Time magazine named her one of its 100 most influential people for 2017.  Speaking in Spanish she said, "We are going to stand together and fight for each other."  "I have been fighting for human rights, for workers' rights, for immigrant rights for 20 years, and I am not tired and will not get tired until my grandchildren know that they can rest without the fear that their mothers will be taken away," she said.
Several hundred thousand people left Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.  One such woman spoke in unity with DREAMers.
Sara Chieffo, vice president for government affairs at the League of Conservation Voters, explained why her organization is involved in this issue.  "First, we believe in DREAMers.  We believe that a generation of young people who are invested in this country's future and who know no other home are indispensible members of our community."  "Second," Chieffo said, "To combat the climate crisis we must stand together.  Communities of color and working families are hit first and worst by the impact of climate change and uncontrolled pollution."  "Third," she continued, "This issue is personal for us.  Some of our staff, our volunteers, and our more than three million supporters are directly affected by Trump's anti immigrant actions."  Chieffo concluded, "Fourth, we believe that these young people should not be used as bargaining chips against their parents or in an effort for Trump to build his xenophobic and environmentally destructive border wall."
Rabbi Jason Kimelman-Block, director of Bend the Arc Jewish Action, Fr. Vidal Rivas, senior priest at St. Matthew's/San Mateo in Hyattsville, and other faith leaders wrapped up the rally.
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