Thousands of people wearing white and waving American flags poured into the streets of Atlanta today demanding dignity and rights for millions of illegal immigrants in the United States.
Shouts of "Si se puede!," Spanish for "Yes, we can!" reverberated through the wave of protesters stirred to action by legislation that would turn them into felons and fence off the U.S. border with Mexico.
Among a sea of white T-shirts, some read "We are not criminals." Banners declared "We have a dream," echoing civil rights leader Martin Luther King.
Sweeping across the country from California to Maine, the protests, vigils and marches have snowballed into one of the biggest Hispanic movements since the 1960s when farm workers united under Cesar Chavez.
The demonstrations arrive at the doorstep of the US Congress later today when more than 100,000 are expected to gather in the shadow of Capitol Hill where lawmakers have been unable to agree on legislation giving illegal immigrants a path to citizenship.
In New York, organizers are expecting 15,000 to 20,000 for a "We are America" rally at City Hall. In Phoenix, the estimate is about 100,000. In Portland, Maine, a state where Hispanics make up less than 1 per cent of the population, advocates were hoping for several hundred.
"We're all coming together," said Hector Yturralde, president of the Arizona Hispanic Community Forum. "We have one main cause. As you can see, it is a powerful one."
Events were planned for 94 cities and towns across the United States. Groups are also planning work walkouts, product boycotts and other measures. Some will target lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, the Tennessee Republican who has supported measures that emphasize law enforcement over citizenship.
Congress went home last week for a two-week break gridlocked on a compromise plan to to reform immigration law and give millions of illegal immigrants a shot at citizenship.
Failure to push through a Senate bill, which would create a temporary worker program as proposed by President George W. Bush - but opposed by many in his own Republican Party -could derail major changes in immigration laws for this year.