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Immigration Protests Taking Place Today 5/1/06 Noon Yusila Ramirez As immigration activists planned marches, prayer and demonstrations across South Florida to mark Monday's National Day of Action, organizers in West Palm Beach led a march Sunday to ensure immigrants working in the booming construction and resort industry would not have to miss work. Organizers estimated at least 1,500 people participated in Sunday's march. Some marchers carried signs reading "We're Americans" and "We're not terrorists, we're not criminals -- we came here to work," said Jose Alcerro of the Honduran Community Center, which helped sponsor the event. "The community is raising their voice for a fair immigration reform for all the immigrants who don't have legal documentations," Alcerro said. The West Palm Beach event was rescheduled after organizers received reports of employers threatening to fire workers who did not show up on Monday. Many activists did not expect as many immigrants to attend Monday's events as the more than 75,000 who attended an April 11 rally in Fort Myers. That number surprised even organizers. Activists said a few immigrants lost their jobs after that march, and many were concerned about recent Homeland Security immigration raids, in which hundreds of immigrants with criminal backgrounds were rounded up in Florida and throughout the Midwest. "We're not officially coordinating a work stoppage. We are leaving it up to every individual. We don't want people to lose a job, but we want to encourage people to stand up for their rights," said Maria Rodriguez, head of the Florida Immigrant Coalition. Activists in Fort Lauderdale were organizing a day of prayer followed by a rally. In Sarasota, demonstrators planned to join arms across the Ringling Bridge, and in Miami activists planned to gather at the Orange Bowl. Other groups planned events in Belle Glade, Fort Pierce and Tampa. Here is a preliminary schedule of events planned for South Florida Monday: COALITION "UNITED FOR LEGALIZATION" (38+ organizations) HOMESTEAD Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Sacred Heard Church US 1 and SE 2 Drive, Across IHOP Ecumenical mass and rally to Miami Contacts: Herman Martínez 786 226 5203 Selene Echeverría 305 450 6376 TAMIAMI PARK Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Concentration and rally to Orange Bowl Contact: Hernando Torres 305 301 8196 ORANGE BOWL Time: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Multicultural Event: Music, dances, folklore and more. Rally to "Jose Marti Park". Contact: Francisco Portillo 305 962 4089 PARQUE JOSE MARTÍ Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Vigil and demonstration Contact: Ramón Alonso 305 303 0526 ARCHDIOCESE OF MIAMI: Archbishop Favalora has designated Monday, May 1st as a day of prayer and education in the Archdiocese of Miami on the question of immigration reform and justice. Archbishop Favalora will celebrate the Mass of Saint Joseph the Worker in Saint Martha Church at 11:45 a.m at 9301 Biscayne Blvd, Miami Shores, BOLIVIAN YOUTH & OTHERS: Sunday, April 30th Workers Rights May Day Rally in Miami uniting diverse groups fro workers rights. 2:00 PM, April 30, SUNDAY Torch of Friendship, Bayfront Park (Biscayne Blvd. & NE 3rd St.), Miami. FT. LAUDERDALE: Monday, May 1st 3:00-7:00 pm, Rally in front of Federal Building, Broward Blvd. & 2nd Ave. Rev. Ivalier Duvra 954-588-0915.