‘We Are American and Here to Stay’

Critics have suggested that the Latino March on Washington Oct. 12, because it attracted only tens of thousands of people, did not change the face of the immigration debate and therefore was a failure.

But the object of the march was not to change the public’s perception of Latinos or, for that matter, of all immigrants, in one single mobilization effort. Instead, its purpose was to reaffirm our contributions to America’s quilt and begin the groundwork for mass political action.

The quick sound bites and visuals of people scurrying across the border late at night delivered to us by the nightly news were overlaid by new images from the march-- hard-working, law-abiding men and women, young and old, union members from Chicago, college students from Stanford, Harvard and other universities, police officers from New Mexico, and doctors, lawyers, teachers, social workers and nurses from throughout the nation.

More crucially, the march provided the foundation for broad participation by Latinos in the American political process. We also helped put a human face to the polemics of our national debate on immigration, immigrants and the role that Latinos will play in shaping the future of America.

The anti-immigrant and anti-Latino animus of Congress, as reflected in welfare “reform” and immigration measures and attacks on affirmative action and bilingual education, have served to unite Latinos around a common cause.

Because the American political system makes crucial and valid distinctions between citizens and non-citizens, Latino legal residents are becoming U.S. citizens in record numbers. This is an important first step, but political strength also depends on galvanizing Latinos to become a continuing part of a truly representative movement that echoes their real concerns. Our struggle for an equal and pluralistic society cannot be won just at the ballot box. More Latino elected representation will not cure our socioeconomic and political ills if those who hold or aspire to hold elected office do not embrace the dignity of a people who for too long have been vilified and used as a wedge issue.

The march on Washington filled a leadership vacuum created by aloof institutions and elected representatives. It turning local activists into potential national leaders and brought our communities closer together.

For the first time, Puerto Rican leaders from the South Bronx and Dominican leaders from Washington Heights sat and broke bread with Mexican American leaders from East Los Angeles and elsewhere in California. Salvadorans from the Adams Morgan section of Washington, D. C. discussed with Guatemalans from Houston their common problems with ambiguous immigration status. Cubans from New Jersey locked arms and marched with Latino farm workers from the apple orchards of Eastern Washington State.

Most of the more than 1 million new citizens sworn in this year are Latino, the start of a movement that could finally bring our political power to the level of our numbers in the population. As one marcher’s placard read that sunny Saturday, “We are American, too, and we are here to stay.”