US: It was the largest Irish demonstration ever in the US capital, writes Denis Staunton in Washington
More than 2,400 undocumented Irish immigrants and their supporters rallied in Washington yesterday in support of an immigration reform Bill that would allow them to remain in the US legally.
Senators Edward Kennedy, John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer addressed the demonstrators, who wore white T-shirts with the slogan "Legalize the Irish".
The demonstration, organised by the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform was the largest rally of Irish people ever seen in the US capital and attracted almost twice as many participants as expected.
"There has never been a presence like we've had today," said Ms Clinton.
The rally came as the Senate Judiciary Committee began considering a number of competing immigration reform Bills, including one proposed by Mr Kennedy and Mr McCain that would allow undocumented immigrants to embark on a path to US citizenship.
Ms Clinton said that Congress must find a way to reconcile the need to strengthen border security with the aspiration of an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants to regularise their status.
"It's not one or the other, it's both. That's the reasonable, smart way," she said.
The demonstrators had travelled to Washington by bus from New York and Boston and by air from as far away as California and Florida to lobby congressmen and senators on Capitol Hill.
Throughout the morning groups of activists visited congressional offices to make their case before squeezing into an overflowing ballroom at a nearby hotel.
"You are doing what democracy is supposed to be all about, petitioning the government to right a wrong," Mr McCain said.
Mark, a 40-year-old painter from Dublin, left his home in the Bronx at 4am yesterday to travel to Washington with his wife, Fiona, who is expecting their first child.
Mark, who asked to be identified by his first name only, has lived in the US for eight years but, like many undocumented immigrants, has recently lost his driving licence and has not been back in Ireland for four years.
"Now that we're having a baby, we need to buy a house. If we don't get a green card in the next year or so, we'll have to go back to Ireland," he said.
Former congressman Bruce Morrison told the demonstrators that they should not underestimate the challenge of seeking immigration reform.
"Don't get discouraged if this battle continues beyond this week, this month and this year . . . If you stick at it, you can get it done," he said.
Senator Kennedy spoke of the contribution generations of Irish immigrants had made to America, noting that his own ancestors could have been denied entry to Boston if restrictions had been in place.
"You are reminding us of what America is all about when it is at its best . . . These are men and women we should be proud to make US citizens," he said.
Irish Voice publisher and Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform chairman Niall O'Dowd praised the Irish Government's role in lobbying on behalf of the McCain-Kennedy Bill and Joe Hackett from the Irish embassy in Washington said the Taoiseach would place immigration reform "at the very top of his agenda" when he meets President George Bush at the White House on St Patrick's Day.
The mood of the rally was upbeat and sometimes light-hearted, as New York congressman Joe Crowley - egged on by Ms Clinton - sang a verse of Thomas Moore's The Harp that once through Tara's Halls.
As Mr McCain was welcomed with a standing ovation, he said: "This kind of reception is enough to make a guy want to run for president of the United States".