COMMUNITY NEWS RELEASE- Courtesy Of The Hillsboro Herald
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rally Organizers:
Si Se Puede Oregon
Contact:
Cristian Salgado
cristian@sisepuedeoregon.com – Coalition Leader, (971) 238 – 4451
shalyn@sisepuedeoregon.com – Mecha Representative
“We Make America Great”: MLK Day Rally Calls for Justice and Protection for Immigrant Communities.
On Monday, January 19, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., community members from across Oregon will gather at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem for a Martin Luther King Jr. Day rally titled, “We Make America Great.” The rally is student-led and organized by the coalition Si Se Puede Oregon, alongside partnering community members and organizations from across the state.
Held in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, the rally will bring together families, workers, students, faith leaders, and advocates to call for the dignified, just, and humane treatment of Oregon’s immigrant communities.
Participants are uniting around three core demands:
1. An end to hateful and dehumanizing rhetoric directed at immigrants
2. A long-term, just solution through meaningful immigration reform
3. Stronger action from the State of Oregon to push its limits in protecting
immigrant and mixed-status communities
“Our immigration system is broken. We must stop scapegoating immigrants for our systemic failures and focus on a permanent solution. Let’s work on pushing for comprehensive immigration reform,” said Cristian Salgado, an organizer for Si Se Puede Oregon. “Honoring Dr. King means standing up for human dignity in the face of
intimidating tactics and calling on our leaders to do everything in their power to protect
immigrant communities.”
Students are leading the way in advocating for immigrants and families in their communities, including Mecha – a national student organization made up of college and high school students with chapters and members spanning across Oregon.
“Immigration injustice is not a border issue. It is an education issue. It is a labor issue. It is a family issue. And it is a human rights issue,” said a representative for Mecha in a statement supporting the rally. “Our purpose in joining this statewide rally is to collectively defend the dignity, humanity, and rights of immigrant and mixed-status communities, while amplifying student voices that are directly impacted by unjust
immigration policies. This isn’t just about showing up – it’s about showing up as students, as organizers, and as people whose families and communities live these realities every day.”
The event is free and open to the public. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Attendees are also encouraged to dress for the weather, rain or shine, and bring signs that reflect the mission of Dr. King’s own advocacy for civil and human rights: unity, nonviolence, and justice for all.
*Si Se Puede Oregon is a non-partisan coalition with a focus on passing comprehensive immigration reform and advocating for safety and transparency in the treatment of Oregon’s immigrant and mixed-status communities.
Event Details:
Who: Si Se Puede Oregon
What: “We Make America Great”, MLK Day Rally
When: Monday, January 19, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Where: Oregon State Capitol, 900 Court St NE, Salem, Oregon
Why: To honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and call for justice, dignity, and protection in the treatment of Oregon’s immigrant communities
Help Us: GoFundMe Campaign – Help Us Host MLK Day Rally for Immigrant Justice
