Some of the people behind the "Immigration" protests. Domestic Enemies. (Get ready to get mad)
Posted on 04/07/2006 1:59:15 PM PDT by Borax Queen
As U.S. senators scrambled to reach an accord this week on how best to handle illegal immigration, the call for action boomed over the radio airwaves day and night, stirring Spanish-speakers to further the cause of immigrants.
While the volatile debate continues at the nation's Capitol, hundreds of thousands of people living in the country illegally, and their supporters, plan to march and hold rallies Monday across the nation calling for changes in immigration laws.
Buoyed by radio, which has proved pivotal in mobilizing immigrants coast-to-coast, as many as 10,000 people are expected to gather on the South Side and march to Downtown.
"We have to show that we are part of this country," DJ Luis Córdova of KEVT, La Raza 1030-AM, said Thursday as he exhorted morning listeners to hoist the U.S. flag in next week's march. Throngs of immigrants have waved the Mexican flag in recent demonstrations, prompting criticism and questions of loyalty.
In Tucson, organizers said radio has injected fresh urgency into a growing immigrant movement.
"Radio is incredibly effective in the Spanish-speaking community," said Jennifer Allen, director of Border Action Network, an immigrant-advocacy group. "It's definitely been an impetus."
Critics downplayed the significance of the massive marches. Ira Mehlman, a national spokesman with the Federation for American Immigration Reform, said the protests have served only to infuriate Americans who favor reduced levels of immigration. Such people, he predicted, will express their views at the polls.
Rosa Fuentes, who crossed the border illegally two decades ago, is ineligible to vote. But Fuentes said she was moved to act after hearing on the radio that some politicians want to crack down on people like her. She plans to be at the next march, she said, because DJs' calls for a strong show to help keep immigrant families together have hit close to home.
Fuentes, 31, said she was just 10 when her mother and five siblings crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally in a freight train and settled in Tucson. Now the mother of two Tucson-born children, Fuentes said she wants to legalize her status and secure her family's future here. "We will stay active until we can achieve something," the homemaker said, alluding to her family's involvement in demonstrations.
Her mother, Cristina Morales, also plans to attend the march. She obtained her legal residency seven years ago after marrying a U.S. citizen, she said, but her efforts to help legalize her sons and daughters have proved fruitless. "I will march for my children," said Morales, 56, who cleans houses for a living.
Whether or not radio influenced them, demonstrators say the threat to family and the overall negative tone of the immigration debate — particularly toward Mexicans — was key to spurring them into action.
Like Morales, many Tucson residents say their families are a mix of U.S. citizens, permanent residents and illegal border-crossers. Many U.S.-born students who walked out of schools last week said they wanted their voices heard on behalf of parents, grandparents, siblings and cousins who live here illegally.
"A lot of my family right now they're in the U.S., they're immigrants," said Jonathan Torres, 14. "They're just trying to have a better life."
Pueblo Jiménez, 52, is a legal U.S. resident who will take the day off from his carpentry job to walk in support of immigration reform that might reunite his family. Four of his seven children remain in Mexico, where they have waited 12 years for U.S. immigration authorities to grant them authorization to come here legally.
Selina Machado, 35, no longer lives here illegally. But the Mexican native said she will march Monday for her younger brother and all the other people who have been unable to secure legal status.
"Most immigrants come here to work, and to get a better education," said Machado, who also is taking the day off her job at a factory for a day. "We're not hurting anybody."
Maria Eugenia Carrasco, 45, said she will march for immigrant rights, carrying a placard with the American and the Mexican flags intertwined. "I'm a U.S. citizen, but that doesn't erase my Mexican roots," she said. "That is my identity."
But retiree Paul Volpe, 61, said displays of the Mexican flag and demands from marchers who are in the country illegally only breed resentment. "I think the silent majority is against illegals because their grandparents came legally," he said.
Immigration rally - Thousands of demonstrators are expected to gather at 9 a.m. Monday outside St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church on South 12th Avenue and West Ajo Way.
They plan a march to Downtown's Armory Park for a rally that will feature speeches and music.
Wonder what would happen?..
A day without Americans - April 17, 2006!
In response to the recent mass national rallies fearlessly staged by the illegal alien lobby, The Dustin Inman Society is suggesting that Americans nationwide stay home from work and not spend any money on April 17. 2006 - income tax day.
The country and its government needs to witness a day without Americans.It is not an overstatement to observe that the federal government has abandoned the American people and we teeter on the brink of national suicide.
The well-funded illegal alien lobby has been successful in galvanizing the millions of illegal aliens in the nation to march in American streets demanding no less than open borders, continued selective law enforcement and amnesty for people who should be in fear of apprehension and deportation.
It has also galvanized many Americans who are seeing for the first time the true nature and result of our intentionally unsecured borders.Enough!
The message to the U. S. government and the world is that another amnesty for illegals is tantamount to erasing any pretense of a nation of secure borders, rule of law and a common language. Amnesty - by any name - does not stop illegal immigration.
We have reached the point in our national history at which we as a nation must choose whether to resist …or to wave the white flag of surrender.
We are suggesting that Americans who do not work in medical, law enforcement or emergency capacities stay home from work on April 17 and that we, as a united people, reply to the government that has refused to protect us by refraining from spending any money.
Those who have nothing to fear from violating any law that is not beneficial to them are not the only group with power in these United States.We are demanding that the American government offer the same protection in the United States that the Mexican government provides its people.
This is our country. We dishonor our grandfathers if we do not try to protect the republic that was lovingly passed on to us.A national day of public opposition to illegal immigration April 17, 2006 !
Note: I am trying to find out if we have a Flag protest going on this day WE take off!
Some of the people behind the "Immigration" protests. Domestic Enemies. (Get ready to get mad)
"Yeah!" his friend says. "So are you."
"What do you mean?"
"We'll march, because there'll be nothing better to do when we lose our jobs [for leaving work for the march]. Plus, how else are we going to get our tamales?"
BTW, this guy also things this is stupid and has better things to do -- like work -- that day.
go to protestwarrior.com, e-mail Kfir and Alan. I'm sure they'd be interested in protesting any left-wing march.
Just keeps getting better, doesn't it...
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