Some 15,000 Latinos and others march in Seattle to protest House Bill 4437 on April 10, 2006.

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On April 10, 2006, more than 15,000 people, mostly Latinos, converge from across the state to march through the streets of Seattle to protest a bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, H.R. 4437, officially titled "Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005." If made into law the bill would criminalize undocumented residents. The historic march coincides with national immigrant marches, and will be followed on May 1 with another march in Seattle to coincide with one in Yakima.

The march was part of the "National Day of Action for Immigrant Justice." It started from St. Mary's Church in the Central District of Seattle and ended at the Federal Building downtown. Marchers at the federal building were greeted by Mayor Greg Nickels and an assortment of entertainment and inspirational speeches.

The march's organization and its success relied on masses of informal networks including churches, community leaders, students, etc. from across the state, as well as formal organizations such as Comite Pro-Amnistia Y Justicia Social, Washington State Jobs With Justice, and the Northwest Immigrants Rights Project, among others.

Sources:
Paul Rogat Loeb, "Out of the Shadows: The Seattle Immigrant March," April 15, 2006, Democratic Underground.com website accessed September 15, 2006 (http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/06/04/15_shadows.html); Brad Wong, "Thousands March for Immigrant Rights," Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 2, 2006 (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/268632_immigration01ww.html).

By Gonzalo Guzman, September 17, 2006

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National Day of Action for immigration reform march, Seattle, April 10, 2006, Seattle
Photo by Oscar Rosales Casta�eda

Flyer for National Day of Action for immigration reform, Seattle, April 10, 2006
Courtesy Oscar Rosales Casta�eda