Immigration

BOSTON/Back Bay - Hundreds of immigrant advocates and supporters held a rally in Copley Square on Saturday to protest the controversial Arizona anti-immigrant law SB 1070 and a local appearance by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer at the annual meeting of the National Governors Association. Following speeches by several activists, the attendees marched in sometimes driving rain to the Sheraton Boston where they picketed outside the governors' meeting for a short time - surrounded by heavy security.

BOSTON/Fenway - About 100 immigrant, labor, community and religious advocates held a picket outside the Boston Red Sox-Arizona Diamondbacks baseball game at Fenway Park on Tuesday in opposition to an Arizona law that they believe is discriminatory to immigrants. Organizers said that they were calling on Major League Baseball to reschedule the 2011 All-Star game to a city outside of Arizona - which is the target of growing international boycott since the April 23rd passage of the controversial legislation SB 1070.

BOSTON/State House - Over 200 immigrant, labor, religious and community advocates held a rally in front of the Grand Staircase in the State House on Thursday to protest anti-immigrant legislation that was recently passed by the Mass. Senate, and to demand that Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) start speaking out on immigration issues. Organizers said that Brown has "remained silent" on the immigration reform debate since taking office.

BOSTON/Dorchester - The outer walls of the Suffolk County House of Correction at South Bay rang with chants last Sunday as a group of 60 immigrant advocates marched and rallied in protest of the local prison's policy of accepting federal money to house unauthorized migrants after their arrest in raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The event was organized by the new Resist the Raids network and was endorsed by over 15 immigrant, labor and community organizations across Massachusetts.