A crowd estimated by police at nearly 3,000 filled Newark's Lincoln Park yesterday afternoon, chanting, waving American flags and hoisting signs in support of immigrants' rights.
The display of pride and protest of federal legislation that would crack down on illegal immigrants was organized by the Immigrants Rights Defense Committee of New Jersey.
Called the March for Peace and Liberty of Immigrants, the rally and march come a week before a nationwide action planned for May 1.
New Jersey Attorney General Zulima Farber was among the pub lic officials who addressed the crowd yesterday in Spanish and in English.
All people have the right to be treated with dignity and respect, to live in safe, clean and affordable housing and to walk down the street without being afraid, Farber said. "I understand your struggle and the challenge of being an im migrant," she said.
Geovanny Rodriguez, a resident of Passaic Park who came from the Dominican Republic, said legal and illegal immigrants contribute to the U.S. economy by buying cars and homes and doing jobs "that the American people don't like to do."
"We are here because we love this country," Rodriguez said. "We love to contribute, to grow this beautiful economy."
Miriam Valencia, an Ecuadorian-American who lives in Newark, said people want to come to the U.S. because "it's so hard in other countries."
"I don't think they should criminalize people who are illegal," Va lencia said. "They have kids. They work."
Wearing a blue poncho to protect himself from the drizzle that wet the crowd in spurts, Passaic resident Miguel Soriano said he chose to attend the rally because he sought justice for immigrants.
Soriano, a legal permanent resident who moved to the U.S. from Mexico, said he has seen undocumented Mexican immigrants paid less money than promised for jobs by abusive bosses. He held high a handmade sign. "We are not criminals, we are workers," the message read in Spanish.
Apart from aiding the cause of justice, Soriano said he wants to help his young daughter get her dream job. The 10-year-old wants to become a lawyer who helps "people who come without papers," Soriano said.
"That's what she wants to do, and I'm going to help her do that," he said proudly.