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Worker Rights Bills Inspire Rally In Md.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- A rally for civil and immigrant rights bills drew more than 200 people to downtown Annapolis Monday night. Their chants of "Si, se puede" and the rough English translation, "Yes, we can," filled the chilly air outside the statehouse.

Lawmakers and worker advocates addressed four main legislative measures: raising the minimum wage to $10.10, halting foreclosures for six months, stopping police from turning people over to immigration authorities, and providing several billion dollars over 10 years to four historically black colleges and universities, which advocates say have long been underfunded.

Wandra Ashley-Williams of the NAACP provoked loud cheers as a Spanish translator repeated her remarks on the minimum wage: "Diez-diez la hora!"

Ben Jealous, former CEO of the NAACP, gave a keynote speech.

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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