Posted on 03/25/2006 4:34:12 PM PST by calcowgirl
Joining what some are calling the nation's largest mobilization of immigrants ever, hundreds of thousands of people boisterously marched in downtown Los Angeles Saturday to protest federal legislation that would crack down on undocumented immigrants, penalize those who help them and build a security wall on the U.S. southern border. Spirited crowds representing labor, religious groups, civil-rights advocates and ordinary immigrants stretched over 26 blocks of downtown Los Angeles from Adams Blvd. along Spring Street and Broadway to City Hall, tooting kazoos, waving American flags and chanting "Si se puede!" (Yes we can!). The crowd, estimated by police at more than 500.000, represented one of the largest protest marches in Los Angeles history, surpassing Vietnam War demonstrations and the 70,000 who rallied downtown against Proposition 187, a 1994 state initiative that denied public benefits to undocumented migrants.
(snip)
Many of the marchers were immigrants themselves — both legal and illegal -- from Mexico and Central America. Some had just crossed the border, while others had been here for decades. There were construction workers and business owners; families with young children and people in wheelchairs. Throughout the afternoon, protesters heard speakers demand a path toward legalization and denounce HR 4437, which would tighten border enforcement and crack down on employers who hire undocumented workers.
The rally was organized by numerous unions, religious organizations and immigrant rights groups and publicized through Spanish-language media, which encouraged participants to wear white to symbolize peace and bring American flags. The mostly peaceful march stretched over 26 blocks, shutting down streets and tying up traffic around downtown for hours. Police estimated the crowd at 500,000... Participants said the massive mobilization shows that immigrants' voices must be heard and that they are contributing to the country's economy.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
or another view
It is galling and appalling that the citizens have the brass not only to be immigrants or decendents of immigrants, but to take over the govt. demand no more immigration and "I got mine and you others are not getting yours".
We have more guests now than we can handle.
Think of YOUR house. Think of YOUR "relatives". Now think of them ALL, coming to your house as (cough) guests (uninvited)...and not leaving. But demanding that you, staytrue, feed, clothe and shelter them for life.
No need to respond. Just think of that.
Since guest workers would be a different class of worker, you can add or subtract whatever taxes you want. You could impose a hillarycare health care tax or a 15% flat tax or whatever. But I suspect that even a 100% tax might not be good enough for you.
Your teeth are not sharp enough to break the skin on my ankles. Try again.
I thought I already said that I agree with this. What I don't agree with are people who think we shut the border and deport everyone.
If you say we need zero guest workers, I disagree.
Try this out.
If you want a wall built and no guest worker program and immediate deportation of illegals.
Hell will freeze over before you get that.
You and your buddies are going to have to compromise. Life is about making compromises. If you don't want to compromise, be prepared to be run over by a steamroller.
Then, at this stage of the game....since we have FAR too many illegal "guests", yes indeedie. You and I disagree.
Still not sharp enough.
We've already been hit by the steamroller and anyone with self-respect would fight back.
I am not compromising with anyone on this issue.
I say to the other side, YOU compromise with ME.
(snip)Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles; Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles; and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa were among the speakers who addressed Saturday's jubilant crowd from City Hall's south balcony.
"I come today, mayor of the city of Los Angeles, to welcome you, the immigrants, who built this city, God bless you," Villaraigosa said.
The crowd roared and chanted "Si, se puede," Spanish for "Yes, it can be done."
"We come together to say that we are workers, not criminals; that we work hard, we pay our taxes, we play by the rules and we want this great America to take us into account," Villaraigosa said.
The reason nobody is turning to Pat Puke Cannon is that he's too busy writing press releases for Arab terrorists.
They're marching again today, aren't they?
How very Hamas of you.
Death to Israel and there will be no compromise.
Keep trying. You will never draw blood.
But I can see how much you really like me. Just admit it.
Hug?
What a POS. Tony was born here and went to Roosevelt High School in East L.A.
Now he is trying to pose as a pocho? What a puto!
So how many drug pushers, murderers,rspists,,and Nazis are you wanting to compromise with ?
Today they go to mass in LA and the rallys start in Washington DC. Last night I ventured on some of the websites to see who was behind this and found the ANSWER. Funny that none of that gets covered in the news accounts, nor the background of these pro-illegal alien groups.
This movement has been nationwide. With many celebrating a holiday in the name of Cesar Chavez this week, it will probably go until next weekend (my guess).
Here are some events from a lefty site (immigrantsolidarity.org):
March 2006 Lists of Pro-Immigrant Events Across the Country
March 7 Washington DC: Rally and Interfaith Service, beginning at 4 PM. West Front Lawn of the US Capitol Building. For more information contact Juan Carlos Ruiz Tel: (414) 758-0600 e-mail juancarlos@core.com
March 7 Chicago, IL: Immigration Community Forum. 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Little Village Lawndale High School Campus, 3120 S. Kostner. For more information contact Johnathon Pierce at jpierce@latinosunited.org
March 10 Chicago, IL: March for Immigrant Rights! -- March Against Anti-Immigrant Legislation! Departure: 12 PM Union Park @ Ashland & Lake; Rally Point: 2 PM - 5 PM Federal Plaza, 230 S. Dearborn St.
March 20, Trenton, NJ: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. NJ State House 125 W. State Street. For More Information: carlosavila21@yahoo.com unidosporinmigrantes@yahoo.com Tel: 609-516-4119
March 25-26 Los Angeles, CA: Weekend of Actions. 3/25 - March and rally. Info: Jesse Diaz: (951)756-5712; 3/26 - Religious Mass, 3:30 PM Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 West Temple St. Info: (213)637-7690
March 26-28 Washington DC: Conference & lobbying day organized by Rights Working Group. URL: http://www.rightsworkinggroup.org
Where do you live? Fantasyland?
Amnesty is Amnesty. The folks who snuck in from the South get a fast pass in front of all the legal applicants who have been waiting years to become legalized.
Today in downtown Los Angeles, over 1 million people demonstrated in support of immigrant rights. This was the largest demonstration in the history of California. March organizers announced from the stage that the crowd was over 1 million. Univision and other Spanish-language television reported that up to 2 million people marched. The Los Angeles Times, reflecting police estimates, gave the march 500,000 - police estimates have been trying to minimize pro-immigrant rights demonstration for the last few weeks.
Today's demonstration was the largest of many immigrant rights demonstrations that have taken place this month. It is an uprising from the people against the reactionary Sensenbrenner Bill that passed in the House of Representatives. The bill criminalizes immigrants and those who support them. The demonstrations began with 50,000 in Washington DC on March 7, 500,000 in Chicago on March 10 (the largest demonstration ever in Chicago history), and tens of thousands more in the last week in Milwaukee, Phoenix, Atlanta and other cities. In build up for today's demonstrations, thousands of high school students walked out of class and marched yesterday in Los Angeles. Yesterday in Georgia, tens of thousands of immigrant workers refused to show up at their jobs in a work stoppage protesting regressive legislation passed by the Georgia State Legislature. These demonstrations reflect a tremendous upsurge in the immigrant community.
The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition provided logistical support and mobilized for today's demonstration in Los Angeles. Thousands of A.N.S.W.E.R.'s yellow and black placards reading "Amnistía, Full Rights for All Immigrants" were held throughout the march. A.N.S.W.E.R. also distributed tens of thousands of leaflets, gathered thousands of signatures on a petition demanding "Full Rights for All Immigrants" and organized a major contingent in the march.
The rally was co-chaired by Juan José Gutiérrez, Director of Latino Movement USA, a member of the A.N.S.W.E.R. LA Steering Committee; Javier Rodríguez, a noted immigrant rights activist; and Jesse Díaz, a UC-Riverside professor who helped initiate the march. Speakers included Raúl Murillo and Gloria Saucedo of Hermandad Mexicana Nacional; Arturo Rodríguez, President of the United Farm Workers; Korean and Haitian community leaders; and Gloria La Riva and Preston Wood of the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition.
A.N.S.W.E.R. distributed thousands of these signs.
At the rally, Juan José Gutiérrez, Director of Latino Movement USA, said, "We are people of dignity and we demand respect. This is the beginning of a movement that is going to call for a national work stoppage."
Gloria La Riva of the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition said, "The racist politicians thought they could step on us with their racist legislation but they have awakened the immigrant giant and they will feel our strength when we stop work."
Preston Wood of A.N.S.W.E.R. LA said, "U.S. corporations are robbing Mexico of its resources and forcing people to come as immigrants for their survival. U.S. Out of Iraq! Justice for all workers!"
Critical to the turnout was the mobilization night and day for over a week of famous Latino radio announcers from every Spanish-language station, including Piolín el Cucuy. The organizers announced a national meeting on April 8 in Dallas, Texas of all the Latino immigrant rights leaders in the country to strategize for a national work stoppage in late May under the banner "A Day Without An Immigrant."
The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition believes that the struggle for immigrant rights, workers' rights and the fight against racism at home must be part and parcel of the struggle against war and imperialism. In the coming days and weeks, A.N.S.W.E.R. organizers, volunteers and activists will continue to participate in all levels of the mass movement in defense of immigrant rights and the defeat of the Sensenbrenner Bill. To learn how you can join with other A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition organizers and volunteers, call 323-464-1636 or email us at answerla@answerla.org.
Maybe you ought to pick a new screen name.
What was over the line about my post? The passion incited by hat several hundred thousand criminals demanding public handouts from Americans? Excuse the passion, and go tuck your head back under the sheets.
Obviously, you don't understand the term hypocrisy. So let me explain it to you.
Many of the signs the illegals were carrying were overtly racist, talking about "whites" as invaders and promoting throwing "whites" off the continent. Many other signs made statements about Mexican and Hispanic superiority. Not only is it completely fallacious that they left the country THEY established and ruined and illegally came into a country with a culture they despise so much they demand the right to speak their own language in the public forum, but now they are trying to shove that failed culture onto our backs.
THAT is hypocrisy. They are racist and they are condemning us of racism because we don't want to hand our paychecks over to them. Apparently, they are having some difficulty in "staying true" to basic logic and seeing the fallacy of their argument.
If you want to support their social services, no one is stopping you from writing a check. Just don't ask the rest of us to.
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