Hundreds of people marched through the streets of downtown Denver on Monday morning before rallying for immigrants’ rights outside the Colorado State Capitol.
Participants of all ages chanted the Spanish phrase, “Sí, se puede,” which means “Yes, we can” or “Yes, it can be done” in English. The motto is credited to Dolores Huerta, the co-founder of the United Farm Workers Association — who spoke at the Denver rally.
Standing in the bed of a red truck, Huerta, 94, gripped a microphone and told the crowd on Welton Street: “We are here to march for (undocumented immigrants) — to let them know that they are not alone.”
The rally took place on Latino Advocacy Day, a Colorado event that’s occurred for almost two decades to lobby lawmakers at the Capitol. This year, more than 300 people first convened in front of the Grand Hyatt Denver, holding handmade signs and waving Mexican flags.
Jeff Carlson, a 60-year-old pastor, stood on a sidewalk with teacher Rachael Carcaterra, 59, and Maria Chansky, 58. They had traveled from Glenwood Springs for the march.
To the immigrant community, Carlson said: “They’re not alone in this. We want to be here — with them and for them.”
Other represented organizations included the Voces Unidas, the St. Thomas Episcopal Church, New Era Colorado, GreenLatinos and the Denver branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
Leading the crowd through the city streets from behind the wheel of a cream-colored Cadillac Fleetwood was former Colorado state Rep. Tim Hernández, with Huerta sitting in the passenger seat beside him. University of Colorado Denver students Reagan Doleman, 21, and Maya Baca, 20, walked behind the car.
When asked what they hoped would come of the rally, Doleman responded: “Change. I hope (for) more change, I hope (for) more amplification of the actual issue.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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