Angelenos To Protest Florida Immigration Bill Thursday
June 1, 2023
Angelenos will protest at Placita Olvera in downtown L.A. Thursday as part of a nationwide protest against Florida's SB 1718 immigration law.
The rally will begin at 9 a.m. on Olvera Street, followed by a march at 11 a.m.
The protest is being organized by the Mobilize 4 Immigrants coalition, with a second protest planned in the Orange County city of Santa Ana at 5 p.m.
These efforts are in addition to a nationwide labor strike that has caught fire on social media, asking supporters to not work or shop and instead join a local rally, such as the ones being held in L.A. and Santa Ana.
"This is a community-led labor strike in solidarity with our indigenous immigrant community," the organizers wrote on their call to action. "We can put a stop to these anti-immigrant bills by boycotting. Enough is enough."
A push on social media has also led to talks of Latino truck drivers striking Thursday, possibly putting stress on deliveries meant for Florida.
Florida governor and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis' calls the bill the "strongest anti-illegal bill inn the nation," as it would revoke employer licences for employing undocumented immigrants, set aside $12 million to relocate undocumented immigrants from Florida, as well as task hospitals with asking for a patient's immigration status.
"Biden’s Border Crisis is a catastrophe," DeSantis said after signing the bill. "While Washington abdicates its responsibility to secure our border, Florida is once again stepping up. Today, I signed legislation to combat illegal immigration and to deter illegal immigrants from coming to Florida."
The law will go into effect July 1, with Thursday's protests attempting to send a message to the Florida governor.
"We cannot tolerate the inhumane treatment of people any longer," Camila Cuevas of Mobilize 4 Immigrants said in a social media post. "This strike is about standing up for all marginalized communities, particularly those impacted by tyrannical laws like the ones being passed in Florida."
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