Tens of thousands rally in US in support of immigrant rights

TENS of thousands of immigrants spilled into the streets in dozens of cities across America yesterday in peaceful protests that some compared to the movements led by the Rev Martin Luther King Jr and farm-labour organiser Caesar Chavez.

"People of the world, we have come to say this is our moment," said Rev James Orange of the Georgia Coalition for the People's Agenda in Atlanta, where police estimated that at least 50,000 people marched yesterday morning.

At the Mississippi Capitol, 500 demonstrators sang "We Shall Overcome" in Spanish. In Pittsburgh, protesters gathered outside Sen Arlen Specter's office to make their voices heard as Congress considers immigration reforms.