One of the largest marches in Los Angeles history reflected many Catholic and human values --- the value of family, work with dignity, non-violence, and advocating for the poorest in society.

More than 500,000 people throughout California converged in downtown Los Angeles March 25 and marched some 20 blocks to City Hall to protest a House bill (H.R. 4437) that would make illegal presence in the U.S. a felony and would criminalize those who help undocumented workers.

In their white t-shirts symbolizing peace and enthusiastically waving American flags, multi-generational families walked together for fair and humane immigration reform and a legal path to citizenship. Police said they made no arrests during the peaceful demonstration, which sported plenty of spirited kazoos and many children in strollers.

"We're not delinquents. We come to work," said Armando Marquez of Mexico while holding his ten-month old daughter named America. Others held signs with messages like: "We are workers, not terrorists," "Human rights are for everybody," and "We are not the enemy. We are part of the solution."

The impact of "La Mega Marcha" (The Big March) in Los Angeles and numerous other protests nationwide could be seen in a Senate Judiciary Committee that sharply departed from the House bill by approving a proposal March 27 that would create a path to citizenship for some of the estimated 12 million undocumented workers. The full Senate was to debate its provisions in the coming weeks setting up a contentious fight among Senators.

The massive Los Angeles march took place between two significant Catholic commemorations --- March 24 honoring the martyrdom of Archbishop Oscar Romero for his outspoken defense of the poor in El Salvador, and March 31 which commemorates the birthday of California farm worker labor leader Cesar Chavez, a life-long proponent of non-violent social change.

The prophetic and courageous voices of both men continue to echo in the Los Angeles faith community.

In a January 1980 homily a couple of months before he was assassinated, Archbishop Romero called for the unity of all people saying, "Baptism makes us citizens of one country --- citizens of the reign of God."

Cesar Chavez once said: "Perhaps we can bring the day when children will learn from their earliest days that being fully man and fully woman means to give one's life to the liberation of the brother who suffers."

Angelenos, including many U.S. citizens and legal residents, said they marched to support undocumented family members, co-workers or friends.

"I came to support those who don't have their papers," said Virginia Juarez, a housekeeper and parishioner of Resurrection Church in East Los Angeles. Juarez was once undocumented, but benefited from the 1986 amnesty issued by President Ronald Reagan.

Sebastiana Perez, a seamstress, said she worried about the havoc an enforcement-only bill would cause her family. She's a legal resident, but her oldest son is not. Her other three children were born in the U.S., but her two brothers don't have documents. She fears any law that would turn her into a criminal for helping her son or brothers. "It would divide parents from children and brothers from sisters," said Perez.

Sigifredo Lopez, a Vietnam veteran and former dishwasher, cook and farm worker, brought his three grown children and four grandchildren to the march, saying, "They need to know it's not enough to live. They have to be part of history. They have to be part of the decisions."

Farm workers protest
Several thousand farm workers, organized through United Farm Workers, held a rally for immigration reform in Los Angeles March 26 followed by the annual Mass in honor of Cesar Chavez at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. San Gabriel Region Auxiliary Bishop Gabino Zavala was the principal celebrant, with Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Solis, vicar for Ethnic Ministries, and a dozen priests concelebrating.

"We all know that a broken immigration policy in this country has led to thousands of deaths in the desert and the cruel separation of hundreds of thousands of families," said Bishop Zavala during his homily. "Is it an outrage that we have a system that leads to the economic exploitation of millions of undocumented workers who toil in jobs essential to the American economy but that American citizens won't even apply for?... Of course it is."

The bishop praised the efforts of farm workers and community leaders to carry on the legacy of Cesar Chavez --- "non-violent resistance to injustice, patient and sacrificial commitment to the cause of social justice, especially for the most vulnerable among us."

Sixth in a series of aricles on comprehensive immigration reform.