I think it's 1 May has been marked with big parades and known as workers day. In addition to honoring workers in general the rallies and parades celebrate the contributions of Latinos and other immigrant workers and provide a platform for demands about immigration reform. Joining me is immigration coordinator for unite here local 30 the union for hotel and hospitality workers in San Diego. She is chair for the San Diego immigrants rights consortia. Welcome to the program. Thank you for having me. There have been a number of recent mergers what turned out thousands of people even last weekend's climate March. Do you expect the same level of enthusiasm and participation today. I think we are expecting the same information. There has been a history to unite under Mayday for the workers so they are helpful with everything that is going on it will help us with more participation. Talk about some of the events happening today. There are several events going on today that will be culminating into one. City college will start with some other events around 9 AM but they are marching around 1 PM to the federal building. Then you have the students that will also be rallying and some of them walking out around noon and I will be joining the March at the federal building. The overall call will be at 3 PM. So the students will match their. The students will catch up with everyone as well and everyone will participate in their own capacity. They will be at the federal building and that March goes to Chicano Park. What are some of the specific issues today's marchers want to bring to the public attention. For the general March the for points that we had our note to the deportations note to the ban note to the wall and we believe that workers are afraid of the ban and the wall and we are also fighting for fair wages for everyone unionized and nonunionized workers. So we use international workers day as a way to propel all of these issues and make sure that we are at the forefront you know as a human being we are intersected to different parts of society. Having a voice about the deportations is very important to our workers. Why do you think taking to the streets is an effective way to get the message out to I think for the people to have an outlet to be able to come together and see that there are other people that think like them and what to do something better for the society. I think also for all those they can see that something is being done. Also acknowledging the fact that coming together and marching is only one step at the bigger picture and that after the March with have to come together and sit down and continue working on these issues. I and remembering Mayday marches in the past. There were businesses closed and students leaving classrooms. Is that the kind of things that you expect to happen today as well. I think like 10 years ago I personally participated I think it also depends on the atmosphere I think for this one we are expecting some people to probably leave their work and some students leaving schools. In reality what we have called for is in March later in the day so we can have more participation from people that may not be able to do that. With the women's March, March for science, climate more is are concerned that the public is getting fatigued by these actions. I do not think that people will be fatigued. I think that there is so much to me at was the right now that is causing for so many subjects to be able to March. The of climate change and women's March. At the end of the day these issues have always been important even put the current administration. Now more than ever people are a lot more conscious of what is going on around them. Finally, how do you do -- turn today's March into action? We have to to community organization and student organizations that are be able to have further steps. I think we have to remember even going back to the question of if people are going to be fatigued -- marches are only one of the many ways to fight against what is going on. Unit at work behind the scenes and being able to do the meetings and making sure that people are enthusiastic all the way. I've been speaking with Laura Marino immigration coordinator for unite here local 30 and chair for San Diego immigrants rights consortia and. Thank you for having me today. I hope to see you at the federal building.
Immigrant rights groups and unions opposed to President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown were set Monday to protest it at rallies Monday in at least a dozen California cities.
Marches were planned in cities from Santa Rosa to San Diego. Tens of thousands were expected in downtown Los Angeles after groups in years past held separate May Day events joined together this year.
Students at San Diego State University and San Diego City College are expected to gather for afternoon rallies on those campuses. A rally will also be held at 3 p.m. at the Federal Building in downtown San Diego. Demonstrators plan to march to Chicano Park.
The Mercury News in San Jose reports (http://bayareane.ws/2pAcz9E ) about 10,000 demonstrators were expected for the city's afternoon demonstration. Many San Jose businesses were expected to close for the day and officials announced some bus routes will be rerouted.
Walkouts at dozens of California schools and businesses were also expected for the May Day rallies, with hotel workers in Oakland and neighboring Emeryville planning to walk off from the jobs in support of immigrant workers.
Immigrant advocates hoped to draw large crowds in their attempt to convince Trump and congressional lawmakers to rethink efforts to boost deportations and pressure local governments to assist federal deportation agents.
"We are being challenged like never before, and we have to step up to the plate and deal with the situation and offer some hope to the community," said Juan Jose Gutierrez, coordinator of the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition in Los Angeles.
Union members march globally May 1 in support of workers' rights. The event in 2006 became a rallying point in the U.S. in support of immigrants when more than 1 million people marched against a proposed immigration enforcement bill.
The demonstrations waned in subsequent years as groups took different approaches on immigration, including lobbying and voter registration.
But large crowds were expected this year as diverse groups united in opposition to Trump came together to support the marches.
In San Francisco, immigrant rights groups have joined with Muslim organizations and women's advocates, said Roberto Hernandez, organizer for the city's May 1 Coalition.
A similar coalition emerged in Los Angeles, said Jorge-Mario Cabrera, a spokesman for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights.
Since taking office, Trump has sought to deport more immigrants in the country illegally and announced plans to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.
The measures are opposed by many state and local leaders in heavily-Democratic California, which in recent years has adopted immigrant-friendly policies such as issuing driver's licenses regardless of immigration status.
