Thousands of people marched on Monday, October 11, Columbus Day in the United States. The march began on the south side of Milwaukee and proceeded to the Federal Courthouse as part of the statewide "Day Without Latinos and Immigrants" strike.
People like Ramiro Castillo, a Latino immigrant who joined the strike against immigration reform, understand what it's like to live in the shadows, arriving in the United States from Mexico at 18 and starting to work for little money, receiving a paycheck for $500 after working 80 hours a week, that is, approximately 11 to 12 hours a day.
Ramiro, now the owner of a business called Castillo Landscaping, decided to close on the day of the march to support his community in demanding immigration reform.
The strike was organized after a U.S. Senate member gave his opinion on the reform, stating that immigration-related reforms could not be included in the Build Back Better reconciliation budget bill awaiting Congress.
«We demonstrated great power by participating in a day without Latinos,» Castillo said in Spanish. The mobilization culminated in a rally at the Federal Courthouse, where teachers, farmworkers, and allies spoke about their experiences as immigrants in the country.
More mobilizations are planned in other states leading up to the October 31 deadline when Democrats will vote on the bill.