"We are organizing these protests weekly to wake up people's consciousness and get their support," explained José Sandoval, a leader of Centro Azteca de Información, one of the groups sponsoring the protests. "Some people join in because they understand that it is very important to fight together so that all workers get the same rights as those who are born in this country," he said.

Other recent protests included one on November 18 in Oakland of 120 people, a march in Hayward of 20 people, and another action in Redwood City of 60. A protest is planned for San Francisco on December 16. "We will continue organizing them. We won't let go until all the workers get their license," said Sandoval to the crowd.

Other groups sponsoring the marches are the Spanish Speaking Citizens Foundation, Day Labor Program, Alianza Comunitaria Latina, Asociación de Jardineros del Area de la Bahía (Bay Area Gardeners Association), Comité Pro-derechos del Inmigrante del Este de Palo Alto (Committee for the rights of immigrants in East Palo Alto), California, Comunidad de Base Iglesia San Francisco East Palo Alto (Community of San Francisco Church of East Palo Alto), and Native Americans of the Americas, Inc.

The leaflet promoting the events reads, "Governors, Congressmen and President of the USA...who proclaim the world over the very democracy, justice and freedom which you don't grant us in this country, which we strengthen every day by our work." The flyer and a petition also being circulated demand the right to a drivers license, a social security card, legal status, and an end to police brutality and to the imprisonment of immigrants.

Luis Avelar, one of the organizers of the East Palo Alto action, said, "We want the authorities, those who are in power, to know what the people feel. If the people don't protest against the things they are suffering, those in power will think only about their business."

Julio Ramos said that although he is a citizen, he supports the fight "because if this country is one of democracy, everyone should be equals. It should not depend on if one is legal or not." Miguel Trejo, who is a landscaper, said that "without a license it is not possible to travel back and forth from the workplace to home."

Deborah Liatos, of the Socialist Workers Party, addressed the crowd. "The fight for the right to a drivers license for undocumented workers is part of the broader struggle to defend the democratic rights of all workers today," she said. "The U.S. government is carrying out a war against the people of Afghanistan and a war against workers' rights in this country. This demonstration is important for all workers because requiring a social security number to get a drivers license is part of the ruling class attempt to establish a national ID card to better restrict the movements of all workers in this country."

Several people signed the petition to demand that Michael Italie be reinstated to his job. Italie, a garment worker who was the Socialist Workers candidate for Mayor of Miami, was fired from his job for speaking out against the U.S. war in Afghanistan and on other questions during a televised candidates' debate.

Rollande Girard is a garment worker in San Francisco.  
 
 
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