America's Voice Blog

Posted 04/27/10 at 07:47pm

Welcome the Trail of Dreams Walkers to Washington—Plus, Urgent Request for Help

We first told you about these four brave young people walking 1,500 miles to Washington, D.C., back in February.

If you haven't met them yet, watch their powerful story:

Trail of Dreams Walkers: "We are aware of the risk, but our future is already at risk, because our present is unbearable."

As they approach Washington, the walkers need you to stand with them now, more than ever. They are scheduled to arrive at the White House tomorrow at 9:00 am. From there, they will walk to the National Press Club for a press conference. From their website:

WHAT: Press conference with the Trail of DREAMs immigrant students, who arrive in Washington, DC after a 1,500-mile walk from Miami
WHEN: Wednesday April 28, 2010 at 09:15 AM
WHERE: White House, between East and West Executive Avenues on the South side of Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Followed by walk to the National Press Club.
WHO: Trail of DREAMs walkers Gaby Pacheco, Felipe Matos, Carlos Roa and Juan Rodriguez and allies from Florida Immigrant Coalition, Students Working for Equal Rights, Presente.org and other organizations.

They have also run into a major crisis today, when laptops and other valuables were stolen from their emergency vehicle. If you are at all able, please donate now.

  • $50 will cover a pair of shoes for a walker

  • $100 will cover food for one day for the walkers and their driver

  • $150 will cover a full tank of gas for the RV to follow the walkers from town to town

Click here to donate online.

For more on the students' call to action:

Roa, who has lived as an undocumented person in the United States since the age of 2, and the other students from the Trail of DREAMs – Gaby Pacheco, 25; Felipe Matos, 24; and Juan Rodriguez, 20, took off by foot in an inspiring 1500 mile journey from Miami on January 1, 2010.  On their walk, they witnessed innocent immigrants who were the victims of hate crimes, members of the Ku Klux Klan rallying and vowing to “eradicate” Latinos, and children being separated from their parents during raids. These experiences led the students to ask President Obama for an executive order that would stop detentions and deportations of students and halt removal proceedings for individuals with immediate family members who are U.S. citizens until immigration legislation is passed.

The Trail of DREAMs walkers are leading the push for these fixes to our failed immigration system nationally, while states like Arizona are taking steps backwards with laws like SB 1070 that Gov. Jan Brewer signed on Friday.

“Congress has failed our communities with the lack of initiative to pass legislation that will keep families safe and ensure a bright and promising future for all youth raised in this country,” said Gaby Pacheco from the Trail of DREAMs. “In the meantime, the signing of SB 1070 into law in Arizona opens doors to more racial profiling. We are extremely concerned that hate groups such as the ‘minutemen’ and the KKK will gain legitimacy under this legislation.”

Finally, if you can't greet them tomorrow morning, check out their week of action, or join them on May 1st in DC at 1 of the 60+ events taking place around the country for real immigration reform (and against measures like Arizona's SB1070) -- here's their plan for Saturday:

Convergence // 8:30 - 9 am
Converge at Tenant Workers United
3801 Mt. Vernon Ave. Alexandria VA 22305

Walking // 9:30 - 9:45 am
We begin walking toward Memorial Bridge, across to DC, and meet up at Constitution Ave and 15 St.

UWD Pre- Rally // 12 - 12:30 pm
United We DREAM Pre-rally at Constitution Ave & 15 St. as the New York & Florida Trail of DREAMs converge with youth from 21 states nationwide!

Walk // 1 - 1:15 pm from Constitution Ave &15 St. to Lafayette Park

RALLY! @ Lafayette Park // 2 - 3 pm

MAP OF THE DAY: http://tinyurl.com/may1map

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