Senator Sam Zamarripa's comments for today's historic rally: Remarks of April 10th: The day of dignity and respect for immigrants
May 1, 2006    Georgia Political Digest   Guest Opinion

Found in Speech
Written by Senator Sam Zamarripa
Posted on 2006-04-10

Remarks of April 10th: The day of dignity and respect for immigrants

Sam Zamarripa

I am here today to speak for dignity and respect for each of you and for your families.

I am here to speak for the dignity of your work and to speak of your contribution. I know you work with your hands every day to make our economy strong and powerful for the future. I know you work hard to support your families. I know you have a dream. I believe in your dreams. Thank you for your work. Thank you for working with your hands. Thank you for supporting your families and for your work for America.

I am also here to speak to hope. Hope for comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level and hope for new laws for this country and new laws for each of you.

I am here to speak for understanding; understanding for your dreams and for the dreams of all Americans. I believe there is a path of hope for each of you, and a path of hope for this country. This path will make all of us stronger together and an example for the world to see.

While I speak for dignity and respect for you; and while I speak for hope for you, your families and this great country, I also speak for responsibility. I want the business community to be responsible to the American public. American business depends on immigration to make our economy strong, competitive and growing. American business must send a message to Washington to support immigration reform. American business leaders must be responsible for our future and speak of our needs to the American public. If you as immigrants can stand up for dignity and respect, American business leaders should stand up for the truth about our economy. If you can come out of the shadows, American business leaders should stand with you.

But there is more. I am here to ask more of you. I am here to ask each of you to understand more about this great country. We all must respect the laws. We all must understand American democracy. We all must respect American culture and values. I know this is not a part of dignity and respect for you today, but it is a part of the dignity and respect for the future of this country. This is important for our future together.

I ask you to understand that we are a country of laws. Our immigration laws and immigration system are very important to the future of the United States and to each of you. Today the immigration laws are broken. They must be reformed. When we have national reform, this will be a new opportunity for all of you and, most important a new level of responsibility for each of you. Like immigrants before you, our country is stronger because we are a country of immigrants. In the future these laws will protect you and the future of this country.

So, I am here to ask each of you to take more responsibility for the future of the United States. I am here to stand for dignity and respect for you and I am here to stand for the respect for the future of this country. I know this future includes each of you and this is why I ask for you to understand this message today.

Understand that our laws are not perfect. Understand that the people of the United States want to have confidence in their future, they want to make laws that are fair, clear and good for this country. The American people are generous, and we are serious about what is right, and what is wrong. I ask you to understand this truth about this country.

Last, I am here thank you for your faith in the American dream. It is the most powerful dream in the world. Thank you for your hard work, for your courage and for your determination to make a better life. I pray for success with immigration reform. I pray for you and your families. I pray for understanding between all people and I pray for my country.

Make no mistake. I march with you today because I know who you are and I respect you more than you know. May god bless you and this great country. Thank you for being here. I am with you.

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