Posted on 04/27/2006 5:47:53 PM PDT by calcowgirl
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Some Democratic state lawmakers are planning to walk off the job Monday - just as millions of others around the country are expected to - in support of immigrants' rights.
The Democratic-controlled Senate, on a party-line vote, approved a resolution supporting the May 1 "Great American Boycott 2006," which supporters say will serve as a warning to Congress to avoid punitive immigration reform.
Organizers believe the boycott, in which large numbers of students also are expected to participate, will show just how vital immigrants are to America's major cities and the nation's economy.
"These immigrants are fighting to embrace this nation," said Sen. Richard Alarcon, D-Van Nuys. "What a good time this is when people can express their anger, their frustration, desires, hopes and dreams, all for the purpose of becoming American. That's a good thing."
Republicans voted unanimously against the resolution, saying it encourages lawlessness.
"The Legislature should not be encouraging students to leave school," said Southern California Sen. Dave Cox. "And, it's irresponsible to recommend to people they leave their jobs, especially when many can lose those jobs, whether they obtained them illegally or not."
Earlier this week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, an immigrant from Austria, implored people to avoid the boycott.
"There are only downsides," he said. "It's bad for workers because some of them will get fired. It's bad for people who they work for because they will not have the workers scheduled to do the job. And it's bad for children if they don't go to school. The way you show that you can become a great contribution to this country and state is by going to school and being responsible."
The resolution to support the boycott isn't supported by all Democrats. Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, called on immigrants to stay on the job unless they get their employers' permission, and for children to stay in school. He refused to take up the Senate resolution, and allowed his chambers' own resolution, which would have called on Congress to support immigrants' rights, to die.
Still, Nunez plans on flying down to Los Angeles to take part in marches, after he checks in at the Assembly Monday morning. Members are supposed to be at the Capitol on session days, which are Mondays and Thursdays.
"When you're with thousands of your constituents and you're talking about the very issues at the forefront of their concerns," said Steve Maviglio, Nunez's deputy chief of staff, "I think you're being an effective legislator."
Dick Ackerman, the Senate Republican minority leader from Tustin, said lawmakers should set an example by showing up to work.
"They should be prepared to do the state's work," he said. "A boycott is not taking care of the state's work."
Sen. Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch, voted in favor of the resolution, but called on parents to urge their children to stay in school.
Teachers should use the boycott as a way to "discuss the value, the history, the conflicts and the enrichment of our society that has come about with the waves of immigration in our time," said Torlakson, a former educator. "But we should also urge students to stay in school to underscore the value of education and use it as an opportunity to learn in a school setting."
But, Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, who authored the resolution, said the boycott will be part of history that will one day be recounted in classrooms across the country.
"It's one day out of 365, out of their lives," she said, "for immigrants to peacefully tell the country that we matter, we want justice."
Rallies are planned for Monday in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, San Jose, Oakland, Concord and other cities.
LOL - at least 3 in THIS episode :)
Oh, good. The more the merrier. I hate it when I have moments of insanity alone!
I don't have much hope that this can be turned around, I'm sorry to say. Already the invaders have infiltrated all levels of government and education - in places like Las Vegas and LA... I'm talking about the La Raza/Mecha racists and their pawns who are planning to overtake us "Europeans."
So, the rage... no good unless enough others wake up in time. :(
FOTFLOL. Nic - Twilight Zone, anyone? Join us here?
Yikes! what she doing now, BQ?? : )
We should at least get neat music and a handsome guy to welcome us.
Huh? : )
wrong is right and right is wrong.
guess where I read that!
LOL! Sorry for the confusion. I was thinking of the Twilight Zone catchy music and Rod Sterling's welcoming introduction.
In the Democrat's policy manual?
In Biblical prophecy?
If they did, they might understand what is happening to California. Here is some history of one of our 'esteemed' Assembly members (Jackie Goldberg), and her brother:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/913438/posts
Thirteenth Report of the Senate Fact-Finding Subcommittee on Un-American Activities--California
(snip)
Jacqueline Goldberg, the sister of Arthur Goldberg, came from Los Angeles to attend the university at Berkeley. She soon became the head of U.C. Women for Peace, a front organization, and was its delegate to a Moscow meeting in 1963. She was also active in the American-Russian Institute at San Francisco, cited by the Attorney General of the United States as a Communist-dominated organization, and is now a member of the Policy Committee for the next World Communist Youth Festival which is scheduled to be held in Algeria. She was a member of both the executive and steering committees of FSM, and was arrested during the invasion of Sproul Hall.
Arthur Goldberg, who was a member of both the executive and steering committees of the FSM, received his early Communist indoctrination as a member of the Youth Action Union in Los Angeles. At Berkeley he identified himself openly with the more militant Peking line of the Communist movement, proclaimed that he was a follower of the Progressive Labor Movement, and was present to hear Mort Scheer, West Coast Representative for the PLM, deliver a lecture at Stiles Hall Y.M.C.A., across the street from the Berkeley campus, in August, 1964. Scheer then resided at 6929 Acton Street, Berkeley, and Goldberg, who had also been chairman of SLATE at Berkeley, lived at 2536 College Avenue. Listed as residing at the same address were Sandor Fuchs, who was also chairman of SLATE; Mario Savio, Jack Weinberg, and Charles Artman, identified with the Filthy Speech Movement, and David L. Goins. All were arrested with Goldberg at the time of the Sproul Hall invasion.
Loved the show, the music, Rod Serling.
I really looked forward to it each week.
But even Twilight Zone couldn't have thought up the pickle we're in now!
Voting is our human right no matter where we live.
And now I really must go rest my tingling fingers, even though I'm having such fun!
I don't want to be like the lady the other day who said she was leaving a thread - but never left! Apparently I already have a reputation ...
Yep...as signs of the "end times"
Heh! Minutechicks will be seeing the Border Patrol guys soon :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.