While Congress was in recess, immigrants and supporters continued to rally for humane immigration reform throughout the country. In Los Angeles, religious leaders from Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions and several thousand people gathered downtown for a vigil and procession that emphasized American pride, inclusiveness, peaceful demonstration and affirming the democratic process.

Cardinal Roger Mahony opened the vigil at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church (La Placita) April 10 with a prayer that summoned the faithful to recognize their common bond as children of God.

"You are not a God who excludes. You are the God of all. Only you are Our Father and all your children are brothers and sisters," said the cardinal in Spanish. "Give us a wise heart so that inclusive love triumphs. Do not allow your children to fear one other, hate one another, hurt one another. Don't allow us to have fear towards people who are different. Help this country to be stronger by uniting in our diversity."

Dark, threatening clouds hovered in the sky until the sun broke through nearly half an hour into the vigil. Noisemakers and horns added to the festive yet peaceful atmosphere overlaying the serious and persistent struggle to engage in the democratic process and to persuade lawmakers to enact comprehensive immigration reform.

In his remarks, the cardinal said a just immigration policy would include legalization with a path to citizenship for all undocumented residents, family reunification, respect for civil rights and civil liberties and workers' rights.

Immigrants and supporters waved thousands of American flags while flags from other countries popped up here and there.

Importance of symbols
Immigration reform leaders have become increasingly aware of how every symbol is being perceived by American citizens as they watch television and read newspapers. Some citizens have become alarmed at seeing foreign flags being waved during demonstrations.

Prior to the vigil Cardinal Mahony asked those with flags from other countries to roll them up, saying that those flags "do not help us get the legislation we need."

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa vigorously waved an American flag while he spoke to the crowd. "Wave those American flags," he bellowed. "Because today we say to America, 'We've come here to work. We clean your toilets. We clean your hotels. We build your houses. We take care of your children. We want you to help us take care of our children as well.'" The mayor said he was proud of his father and grandfather who emigrated from Mexico and worked hard for America and their family's future.

Angelica Salas, executive director of CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles), said American citizens were misunderstanding U.S.-born youth who wave foreign flags. Many of these youth, she observed, want to express pride in their heritage and support for their foreign born parents and are not trying to be disrespectful.

Aquilina Soriano, director of the Pilipino Workers' Center and a member of the archdiocesan Justice and Peace Commission, added that the waving of various flags was a way of claiming and "identifying with your roots."

Jose Castro, 24, came with a group of friends from Ontario to attend the vigil and procession. The Mexican immigrant and undocumented worker said he was waving an American flag to send the message: "We are American. We live in America and we want our family to stay."

For three years Castro has been married to an American citizen but said he was reluctant to apply for his legal documents. A broken immigration system would require him to first return to Mexico and possibly be separated from his wife for one to 10 years while his paperwork snailed its way through the immigration process.

Castro said he hoped new and more humane immigration laws would allow him to legalize his situation and keep him and his wife together.