Posted on 03/26/2006 10:18:42 AM PST by Brian_Baldwin
Immigration March Draws 500,000 in L.A.
By PETER PRENGAMAN
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Thousands of immigration advocates marched though downtown Los Angeles in one of the largest demonstrations for any cause in recent U.S. history.
More than 500,000 protesters - demanding that Congress abandon attempts to make illegal immigration a felony and to build more walls along the border - surprised police who estimated the crowd size using aerial photographs and other techniques, police Cmdr. Louis Gray Jr. said.
Wearing white T-shirts to symbolize peace, the demonstrators chanted ``Mexico!'' ``USA!'' and ``Si se puede,'' an old Mexican-American civil rights shout that means ``Yes, we can.''
In Denver, more than 50,000 people protested downtown Saturday, according to police who had expected only a few thousand. Phoenix was similarly surprised Friday when an estimated 20,000 people gathered for one of the biggest demonstrations in city history, and more than 10,000 marched in Milwaukee on Thursday.
``We construct your schools. We cook your food,'' rapper Jorge Ruiz said after performing at a Dallas rally that drew 1,500. ``We are the motor of this nation, but people don't see us. Blacks and whites, they had their revolution. They had their Martin Luther King. Now it is time for us.''
Many protesters said lawmakers were unfairly targeting immigrants who provide a major labor pool for America's economy.
``Enough is enough of the xenophobic movement,'' said Norman Martinez, 63, who immigrated from Honduras as a child and marched in Los Angeles. ``They are picking on the weakest link in society, which has built this country.''
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation that would make it a felony to be in the U.S. illegally, impose new penalties on employers who hire illegal immigrants, require churches to check the legal status of people they help, and erect fences along one-third of the U.S.-Mexican border.
The Senate is to begin debating the proposals on Tuesday.
President Bush on Saturday called for legislation that does not force America to choose between being a welcoming society and a lawful one.
``America is a nation of immigrants, and we're also a nation of laws,'' Bush said in his weekly radio address, discussing an issue that had driven a wedge into his own party.
Bush sides with business leaders who want to let some of the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants stay in the country and work for a set period of time. Others, including Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, say national security concerns should drive immigration reform.
But many protesters rejected claims the national security claim, noting that the legislation would hurt Hispanics the most.
``When did you ever see a Mexican blow up the World Trade Center? Who do you think built the World Trade Center?'' said David Gonzalez, 22, who marched in Los Angeles with a sign that read, ``I'm in my homeland.'''
Between 5,000 and 7,000 people gathered Saturday in Charlotte, carrying signs with slogans such as ``Am I Not a Human Being?'' In Sacramento, more than 4,000 people protested immigration legislation at an annual march honoring the late farm labor leader Cesar Chavez. Associated Press writers Bob Jablon and Kim Nguyen contributed to this report.
03/26/06 06:47
© Copyright The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained In this news report may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
Yeah, chanting "Mexico" really make me want to let you stay.
/sarcasm
I live in costal Orange County and think of LA as our Gaza strip.
....unbelievable. Worst still, they'll get more traction in their cause than American voters....
A national ID swipe card into a national database would make much more sense. No one will enforce the felony and it will hurt the reps politically and do nothing about the terrorists already here.
Hundreds of thousands of illegal alien criminals marching and DHS-ICE was nowhere to be seen or heard. Un-fricking believeable.
My eyes are squirting blood, and I need some duct tape to keep my head from exploding.
Any other country would call that,
AN INVASION !
I have watched this state (CA) turn into a ghetto of illegals over the past twenty years, and it just continues to get worse with corrupt, elitist government pretending we don't have laws and borders or soverignty, to suit their personal political agendas.
They are destroying this country.
They should have arrested the whole group while they had the chance.
Makes you wonder how many of those 500,000 marchers are here legally. These people don't get it. We don't care if you come here, just come here legally. My father came here as an immigrant, but he did it legally. That's all we ask.
No, Whore-hey. You ruin our schools.
And I can cook my own meals, thank you.
Donde esta la Migra?
Let Cardinal Mahoney and his pro abortion democrats support all of the illegals. Don't forget to withhold your weekly contributions to the Catholic Church! This action will kept the attention of the Bishops and their outlook will change.
What does the word illegal mean? Illegal means to the Catholic Church a future source of revenue! I am a praticing Catholic but I feel that the churches actions in dealing with illegals is the most reprehensible course ever taken!
Well, considering Mexicans in NYC in the early 70s were virtually non-existent, I'm pretty sure it wasn't them.
Shouldn't they be having this march in Mexico?
500,000 more reasons to make it a felony.
If they're such big fans of "Meh-hee-co", then what are they....
....ah, forget it.
Mexican gold is what these pseudo socialists are smoking!
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