DC Rights Activists Cheer as Obama Halts Deportations of Undocumented Youth

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Local Latino, labor and community activists celebrated the surprise announcement Friday afternoon that President Obama was halting deportations for tens of thousands of undocumented youth across the country. "I remember when the same stereotypes were used against African Americans" said SEIU 32BJ member Judith Howell, a security guard currently in negotiations (Labor Photo: Security Officers Flier Downtown Rush Hour, UC 6/15/2012) at an impromptu rally Friday afternoon in front of the White House. “Beginning today, America’s best and brightest can finally contribute to our nation’s economy and help our communities prosper,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, who had made a personal appeal  to President Obama just the day before, urging him to take executive action to provide temporary administrative relief for deportations for the “Dreamers.” Activists from SEIU 32BJ, CASA de Maryland, Jews United for Justice, DC Jobs with Justice, and more were giddy with happiness and excitement as they cheered and sang at the White House rally. Saul, an 18-year-old undocumented student from Hyattsville, MD,  came down to join the celebration and told Union City he was excited "to be able to drive, to get my license" and, more than anything, "to go out with my friends without fear of getting deported." Click here for the AFL-CIO Now blog report. - photo by Chris Garlock