GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Part of US-131 was closed Sunday due to a march demanding access to driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants.
While the march was scheduled to be held at the intersection of 28th Street and Division Avenue in Grand Rapids, marchers moved into the northbound lanes of US-131. The Michigan State Police was called in to clear the roadway and one person was ticketed for a pedestrian being on the highway.
The march is calling for "licenses today, papers tomorrow" and demanding a vote on the Drive SAFE bills. The bills would allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses.
“For the last several years, undocumented immigrants in Michigan have been fighting for the basic right to drive without fear—to work, to pick up our kids from school, to live our daily lives,” said Zara Ortiz from Cosecha Michigan. “We are tired of empty promises from politicians, at the state and national level, who say they stand with us but just continue the status quo of detention, deportations, and attacks against our immigrant community. We are mobilizing today, demanding licenses today, papers tomorrow. The first step that Michigan legislators can take is to immediately advance the Drive SAFE bills to a public hearing and vote.”
Marchers also called for respect, dignity and protection for undocumented immigrants.
Cosecha Michigan is part of Movimiento Cosecha, which fights for undocumented immigrants' rights across the U.S. Other marches were organized Sunday in Boston, Massachusetts and Washington DC.
Undocumented immigrant rally in Grand Rapids
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