Scores of people who want undocumented immigrants to be able to get driver’s licenses marked the completion of a four-day walk from Framingham with a demonstration at the State House Monday afternoon.
The group held public forums along the way to discuss the Work and Family Mobility Act, a bill stuck in the Joint Committee on Transportation that would allow any otherwise qualified resident to receive a standard Massachusetts driver’s license, regardless of their citizenship status, the Globe reported.
“La Gran Caminata,” or the Grand Walk, was 22 miles, and organizers were joined by around 100 activists each day chanting “Sí se puede,” meaning “Yes we can,” originally the motto of the United Farm Workers of America in the Southwest, organizers said.
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“I want any legislators out there who are listening to know undocumented people are not bad. We bring so much to our community,” said Sonia Terbullino, of Lawrence.
Terbullino told the crowd in front of the State House she has lived in the United States undocumented for 15 years after moving here from Peru. She explained that to care for her sick mother she has paid nearly $120,000 for taxis and rental cars because she cannot legally get a license.
“For what? Why do we do this? As if we’re not human beings, not just like every one else? We wake up every morning and we go to work, we pay taxes. Were asking that this time we be heard and our demands be answered,” she said.
Sabrina Schnur can be reached at sabrina.schnur@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @sabrina_schnur.