Protesters rally Monday in uptown for immigration protection

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Community organizations are asking Charlotte elected officials and big businesses to protect immigrants.

Demonstrators presented a letter of demands Monday morning at Trade and Tryon streets in uptown Charlotte as part of a nationwide movement called “A Day of Resistance.”

[RELATED: Immigrants, unions march in US for rights, against Trump]

They hope that corporate giants like Bank of America will use their influence to put pressure on the Trump administration to soften its stance on immigration policy.

Tania Barron is a Bank of America customer and immigrant who said she and her loved ones live in fear now.

"Our families are being separated, they are constantly living in fear. Our local economies are struggling and your customers are being sent back to their native countries," Barron said.

Once demonstrators presented the demands, they gathered in Marshall Park to prepare for a march.

The march route went from Marshall Park to Stonewall Street to Tryon Street to 4th Street and ended at the government center.

More than a hundred rallied across the uptown streets.

“It goes to show there is a lot of fear in our communities,” Elisa Benitez said.

Marisol Alvarez, who was born in Mexico and has lived in Charlotte for more than a dozen years, attended the event with her two boys.

“We're not hurting anyone,” Alvarez said. “We are here because, we basically, our country is not good for us.”

Organizers said those who marched are the immigrant workers who “built this country.”

“We're here to help. We're not here to hurt no one,” Alvarez said.

The march remained peaceful, but at times, police closed down streets as protesters crossed.

Police quickly talked with a driver who honked when protesters crossed the road, keeping tensions calm in a march that could have been escalated by disruptive people.

“I think it just shows a clear representation of our community,” Stefanie Artega said.

In February, activists rallied uptown for a "Day Without Immigrants," while students walked out of school. About 8,000 people shut down streets to send a message just weeks after President Donald Trump took office.

Groups asked immigrant families to keep their kids home again Monday.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials hoped students would remain on campus, but allowed them to have a 15 to 20-minute march around their school.

The rally falls just after the Trump administration passed the 100-day milestone, during which he signed policies that made it easier for immigrants to be prioritized for deportation, something his supporters have applauded.

“I truly believe the first 100 days in my administration has been just about the most successful in our country's history,” Trump said.

On Monday, CMS released the following statement:

CMS strives to provide all students the best education available, preparing every child to lead a rich and productive life. Academic achievement is strongest when students are safe in class during the instructional day. For this reason, CMS is not in support of any community effort planned for May 1, which encourages students to skip school. All students are reminded that skipping any class without prior administrative approval is not in alignment with CMS educational priorities.

CMS is not coordinating any activity at the district level. Students who would like to have an activity at their school should work with their principal to receive approval and coordination.

Cox Media Group