Vigils will be held across Colorado this Friday in honor of the International Day of the Migrant–and to support immigration reform legislation expected to be introduced by Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and over 50 co-sponsors.
It’s not the first time Colorado’s communities have rallied in support of Gutierrez’s legislation. However, it is the first time Colorado’s ski country plans to get involved.
That’s according to the Colorado Immigrant Right Coalition (CIRC), which wrote the following in a press release about the scheduled vigils:
Colorado’s three billion dollar ski business is the second largest industry in the state. Working in construction, food services, and hotels, immigrant workers, many here on guest worker visas, are critical in ski country and to the state economy as a whole.
The press release went on to quote Brendan Greene, a CIRC community organizer.
“While they’ve been ready for it, this is the first time Colorado’s ski towns- immigrants and allies alike- are getting in on the discussion. These workers are the backbone of the ski industry, and they’re speaking out, excited to support the comprehensive reform bill we expect to be introduced.”
According to msnbc quoting Roll Call, those introducing the bill in the House have acknowledged that it is likely to be an idealized form of such legislation, and therefore unlikely to pass in its initial state.
Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is heading up the issue in the Senate. His bill is expected to be less liberal.
The Vigils in the mountains are set to take place at 6pm in the following locations:
Telluride: “Spruce Street Parks- North and South” (Main and Spruce in Telluride)
Gunnison: IOOF Park located at Main Street and Virginia (in front of the Bank of the West)
Dillon: The Lake Dillon Ampitheater, 176 Lake Dillon Drive, 80345
Glenwood Springs: Sayre Park, 1798 Grand Ave., Glenwood Springs, 81601
Avon: Nottingham Park, 400 Benchmark Rd., Avon, 81620
Vigils will also be held throughout the rest of the state:
Grand Junction: Corner of North Avenue and 12th Street at Mesa State College, 7pm
Montrose: Demoret Park (corner of Main Street and Townsend Ave.), 7pm
Denver: St. Cajetan’s, 299 S. Raleigh, 80219, 4:45pm
Pueblo: Occhiato University Center Ballroom, Colorado State University, 2200 Bonforte Blvd, Pueblo, 81001, time TBA
Colorado Springs: location TBA, 6pm
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