At least 100 demonstrators, reform activists, marched around Independence Hall and the Federal Building complex at midday.
They were angry at the Obama White House for its inaction on an immigration overhaul and condemning the controversial new Arizona laws which give local police the power to question anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally.
Anti-racism activist Danielle West will travel to Arizona this weekend for a mass rally against the Arizona laws, a similar one is now pending in Pennsylvania's general assembly.
"White supremacy is a national problem; we see the strongest symptoms showing up in Arizona around these ethnic cleansing laws," West said.
Pamela, a Temple University student, was born in Bolivia over 21 years ago. Her parents brought her to the U.S. as an infant. She says they have lived in the shadows, working hard to achieve the American dream. She says the Obama reform package would help her situation.
"The Dream Act focuses on students like myself who have basically lived here all our lives, have high school diploma, have contributed, are studying, working hard, good student, good moral character," Pamela said.
Today in Washington,10 top police commanders from around the country, 3 from Arizona, told attorney General Eric Holder that Arizona's new law will only divert their resources from fighting crime.
Among those in that closed door meeting was Philadelphia's Commissioner Charles Ramsey.
"They plan to move forward very, very quickly on coming up with reforms," Ramsey said.
One of the police chiefs at that meeting told the attorney general that laws like Arizona's will break down the trust police have built in various communities and will wind up increasing crime rather than decreasing it.
