Hispanic March

Latino March on

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e are going to start this historic day by reminding America, a nation of immigrants like all of us, that we are Americans because we believe in the Constitution and (the) Bill of Rights," Jose Gutierrez said. "And that means equality and justice in the law for everyone, not just some people."

With that, Gutierrez, chief coordinator for "La Marcha," introduced the Choir of the Americas and the children sang the national anthem in Spanish, then in English. The crowd erupted in loud cheers.

For the first time in history, Hispanics from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C. to voice their concerns as a single community. More than 40 IU students traveled the 10 hours by van and car to witness and participate in the event. "I'm really happy to see everyone unite. I am really proud," senior Dawn Ferrer said. "I hope we can finally get recognized and be treated equally with everyone else. This is a time for Hispanics to make a difference."

Gutierrez turned the stage over to Eleanor Holmes Norton, representative of the District of Columbia. She thanked the crowd for participating in the march and "talking hack" to the American government. "We thank you for talking hack to a minimum wage that is so minimum, you can't support your family no matter how hard you work," she said. "So let us this glorious day that God has sent us, talk back and then turn back all of this injustice."

La Marcha, sponsored by a socio-political coalition called Coordinadora '96, began as an underground movement. As word spread, so did the importance of attending and representing the local Latino community. "There are so many things we need to fight for: equality at work, in school and we needed to be here representing IU," said senior Hernan Diaz, vice president of Latinos Unidos.

The Oct. 12 march began with a rally in Meridian Hill Park, a Hispanic residential neighborhood. Bands played and people from across the country danced and mingled while awaiting the arrival of the last few big groups of people. The march began an hour behind schedule to wait for these groups to make their way to the park. Speakers announced the busses were en route for the park and organizers wanted to wait for them, the crowd cheered and continued mingling.

Police watched from the perimeter of the park as they did for every march, but peacefulness proved the officers unnecessary. In fact, the rally was so calm that several marchers carried trash bags and picked up the discarded flyers, newspapers and cans as the crowd left the park and headed

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down the march route. "I feel a certain excitement — almost to the point of tears," Lillian Casillas, program director at La Casa. "It's like you don't see this very often, so there is a certain passion — a certain kind of energy that is just amazing and it just gets in your blood. We're here because we want to celebrate who we are."

The estimated 30,000 marchers filed shoulder-to-shoulder onto 16th Street, and marched to the Ellipse in front of the White House. They carried banners crying out against the discrimination against Hispanics and the recent changes made in immigration laws. Flags of several nations were high and signs read "Clinton: Aren't we all immigrants?," "I'm a human being, not an alien" and "The house is brown today."

There are so many things we need to fight for: equality at work, in school and we needed to be here representing IU.

Hernan Diaz

In addition to the banners and signs, marchers chanted their discontent with the government's treatment of Hispanics. "We're all here now and we know that it's a presidential year and this is a time to be loud and we need to voice our opinions," senior Vanessa Villarreal said. "Basically, tell the government that we're not going to tolerate any more abuse."

People lined the streets and cheered as the marchers passed through the residential neighborhoods and business district en route for the rally in front of the White House.

Zapatista rebels, students, migrant workers and families from all over the United States and several other countries rallied for respect and acknowledgement long overdue.

Making their presence known, seniors Vanessa Villarreal and Lisa Williams shout their discontent with the government. Almost 30,000 people from around the country and world formed the first-ever Latino March on Washington, D.C. to show unity and to protest recent changes in immigration laws. More than 40 students from IU traveled to Washington to participate in the historic movement.

Photo by Matt McClain.