By John Musick, Executive Director, MOP, Grand Rapids, MI

Over 700 people of the Michigan Organizing Project organized a march and rally on May 15 in Grand Rapids Michigan to demand fair treatment of immigrants from local officials.

"MOP made history today! We took over Division Street and downtown Grand Rapids in a show of political strength that united white Anglos, African-Americans, and immigrants. We wanted to show the political establishment that we cannot be divided, and we are demanding fair treatment and protection of rights for everyone in this city and all of West Michigan," stated Gloria Verduzco, a member of MOP.

The march and rally were organized to put pressure on local and national politicians to support MOP's immigration reform agendas, as well as to bring immigrants into the political arena of Western Michigan. "We have been too quiet for too long. But we served notice that those days are over. We are active, we are organized, and we are demanding action on our issues. We will not tolerate politicians of any race or ethnic group, including our own, who do not deliver on our issues", noted Verduzco.

Led by a banner quoting Martin Luther King, "No stopping point short of victory", the march began at 12 noon from the St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in the Grandville area of Grand Rapids, the traditional home base of immigrants. The march proceeded down Division Street, the main traffic artery through central Grand Rapids, into the downtown area. Nina Asuedo, a MOP leader from Muskegon stated, "Marching down the middle of Division Street was the real highpoint for me. That is the heart of Grand Rapids. For a couple of hours, we immigrants owned that street!"

The downtown rally was held at the Calder Plaza, the center of government activity in Grand Rapids. Traditionally the plaza is used for staid political announcements and political rallies, instead this time the Plaza was filled with homemade signs and placards, Mexican music and dancing, and testimonies from MOP leaders and city officials.

Mayor George Heartwell declared that "Grand Rapids is an immigrant city", and pledged to do everything in his power to prevent the Grand Rapids police from enforcing federal immigration laws. Mayor Heartwell also challenged the crowd to hold political leaders at all levels accountable and to elect those who are supportive of their issues.

Ralph Johnson, a MOP member, kicked off the rally by telling his mother's story who was part of a successful effort to integrate a swimming pool in her segregated hometown. Ralph's story highlights the connection between the current struggles of immigrants to the struggles of the civil rights movement. His wife Gloria Johnson, told a captured audience of her own personal struggle of getting to Grand Rapids from Mexico and the difficulties of surviving in an environment hostile to "undocumented immigrants."

Two immigrant pastors related the struggle of immigrants for justice to God's commands to the Israelites to be kind and fair to strangers. Reverend Rik Stevenson, pastor of an African-American church, concluded with "We cannot succeed alone, but together we will not fail."

As the rally was concluding, MOP members were preparing for the next serious challenge. Recently the Secretary of State has started collecting Social Security numbers as required by the federal government from everyone who applies for or renews a drivers' license. In effect for only two weeks, MOP members are already experiencing abuses. However, the power demonstrated at the march and rally, MOP leaders are confident they will find a solution and they will win.