When asked if they would participate in the pro-immigration rallies, which are going to be held around the country on May 1st, N.Y. Poles said no.

President Barack Obama's promise to launch initiatives to reform the U.S. immigration system evoked a great deal of enthusiasm among many ethnic groups and encouraged immigrants to participate in May 1st pro-immigration rallies, which will take place all over the country. The main goal is to show support for the president in crafting and introducing the immigration reform that will enable undocumented workers to legalize their status in the United States. The marchers will also call for support to introduce health care for all, and for the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), which will give workers the right to unionize.

Asked about their plans for May 1st, in the majority of cases Poles were unaware about the rallies and did not intend to participate in any, although they expressed their support for the reform.

"Demonstrations and marches won't make a difference. It is a matter of the balance of political power and whether certain politicians will be able to reach agreement on the reform. We are just puppets in their hands", says Dariusz Kawaler, from Queens.

Henryk, from Greenpoint, is not going to join the rally on May 1st either. "I don't think it is going to change anything. I do, however, support legalizing those who have lived here for many years and have paid taxes. They should have been given papers a long time ago".

Irena of Ridgewood, on the other hand, said that if she was off that day and wouldn't mind participating in the rally. "With great regret, I read press coverage of a rally or march after the fact and see no mention of Polish people, who seldom show up at such events, even though there are still many of us here," she says.

There are Poles who used to join pro-immigration rallies in the past. Ewelina, from Greenpoint, is one of them. "I marched three years ago, but did not see many Poles there. In my opinion we should be present and visible at events like that, especially now, when we have a new President and administration. Now is the time for change."

For the moment, Polish organizations have not planned to participate in the May 1st rally.

"Nobody has approached us regarding the march," says Frank Milewski, president of Polish American Congress (PAC), Downstate New York. "Naturally, we support the immigration reform, especially since many members of our community still do not have a clear immigration status and could benefit from a new system; however, as an organization made up of volunteers, we are not able to participate in all events," says Milewski. He commented that on May 2nd his division of PAC will take part in a ceremony at the Military Academy in West Point commemorating the achievements of Thaddeus Kosciuszko.

The representatives of the Polish-Slavic Center (PSC) said that they would love to take part in the march, if such was the will of their members. "The immigration reform is a very important issue; if there are people willing to go we will be most happy to join them," said Bozena Mazinska, who oversees the immigration program offered at the PSC.

The main immigration rally in New York City will begin at 1:30 pm in Madison Square Park in Manhattan (23rd Street and Broadway).

"The more people the better because we will be more visible," representatives of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) say to encourage people to attend to the rally, which they co-sponsor.

"Skeptics may criticize the plans of reforming the immigration system because of the economic situation, but in our opinion the best stimulus for the economy will be nothing else but supporting the working immigrant families and enabling them to come out of the shadows," said NYIC Executive Director Chung-Wha Hong.