DALLAS—On Sunday, March 30, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) held a march for immigrant rights. The march’s demand was comprehensive immigration reform and an end to deportations. It was called the Mega Marcha 2025. Thousands marched from the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe through downtown Dallas to Dallas City Hall. Texas Congressman Al Green, who famously disrupted Trump’s recent State of the Union speech, was also present and marched with protesters. Multiple leaders from the National and state LULAC spoke at the end of the march. Dallas City Councilman Adam Bazaldua also spoke.
The general theme was fighting back against the attacks on immigrants by the Trump administration and the MAGA movement. In the crowd, there was also a general theme of fighting fascism.
Many American flags were carried in the march as directed by the LULAC. Still, many others brought flags from their home country, including Mexico and other areas of Latin America.
A variety of organizations and individuals participated. The Labor Movement was present, including members of the Young Active Labor Leaders (YALL) and the Dallas AFL-CIO. Workers Defense, an organization under the AFL-CIO that defends and builds power for immigrant workers, helped organize the event. The Texas Organizing Project (TOP), which organizes Black and Latino communities in Texas for power and representation, also marched.
There was a wide array of signs about defending immigrant rights and ending racism, fighting fascism and hate. Some read, “When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him, have the same love for him as yourself, for you too were once aliens in the Land of Egypt.—Leviticus 19:33-34,” “Justicia Y Dignidad Para Todos los Immigrantes,” “Families Belong Together! Stop Mass Deportation,” “Immigrants Make America Great,” and “The Only Minority Destroying the Country Are The Billionaires.”
Roman Palomares, National President of LULAC, spoke about the reason the organization called the march:
“For the father working two jobs, but still living in fear of being taken from their families, we are here today because we refuse to let their voices go unheard…We marched today for millions who call this country home but are still treated like strangers; we marched because this is our country too because no human is illegal, [and] because America is stronger when it embraces those who come here seeking a better life…For too long our communities have lived in fear, fear of being separated from their loved ones, fear of losing everything they have worked so hard for, fear of a system that too often turns its backs on them, but today, we stand together to say no more waiting, no more broken promises, no more families being torn apart. We are not invisible; we are not illegal; we are human beings, and we deserve dignity and respect. We are here, we belong, and we will not stop until justice is real for all of us.”
Hector Flores of LULAC spoke about the importance of Latinos and immigrants in the country. He exclaimed that “Latinos are the backbone of this great state” and that “we are the architects, the artisans, the caregivers, the teachers, the scientists…You will see us, and we are not going anywhere. Aqui estamos y no los vamos… Si se puede!”
Dallas City Councilman Adam Bazaldua spoke against the scapegoating of immigrants by Trump. “We have reached a point where we human beings are seen as scapegoats to be blamed…families are being torn apart, children are being left without parents, good hardworking people who only ever wanted a chance at the American dream are being hunted down not for committing crimes, but for simply existing.
“This is not about enforcing fair immigration law, this is about cruelty…this is about leaders who have chosen to build their power by fostering division. We refuse to go back to a time when people are demonized because of where they were born or the language that they speak….What kind of country do we want to be?… Do we want to be a nation that chooses compassion over cruelty, justice over injustice, and unity over division?”
Congressman Al Green, a member of LULAC and the NAACP, spoke against oligarchy and plutocracy. “I believe in justice for all, not just for some,” he said. “I believe in a government of the people, by the people, for the people, not government of the billionaires, by the billionaires, for the billionaires. We have to make sure that every Latino child grows up and has health care. Let’s protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid!”
Arash Farasat, a member of YALL, explained to People’s World why many people in the labor movement participated in the march. “Labor stands with immigrant families. These are our co-workers, friends, and neighbors. We all share a common interest as working people and will never be divided by the rhetoric of the bosses. Their propaganda only serves as a distraction from the inequality in our system between the rich and everyone else who works for a living. We won’t fall for it,” said Farasat.
Prominent Transport Workers Union labor activist and First Vice President of the Tarrant County Labor Council, Tevita Uhatafe, marched and chanted loudly and passionately as usual. Tevita said he was there to build solidarity and unity with the labor movement and immigrant communities.
“Many of the undocumented workers take up service, hospitality, and construction jobs. If we can show the broader organized labor movement the opportunities we have… by way of building a relationship and trust with the Latino community, then the more industries we can economically affect if we do call on a general strike…When we start messing with their money, that’s the language [the capitalists] speak. Withholding our labor is the language we speak, and it’s quite effective,” Uhatafe said.
Members from the coalition of organizations organizing May Day/International Workers Day events this year also passed out fliers about the upcoming Dallas May Day celebrations and actions.
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