Posted on 05/02/2006 7:09:29 AM PDT by LouAvul
LOS ANGELES - Illegal immigrants and their supporters vowed to keep up the pressure on Congress for reforms after more than 1 million people stepped out of the shadows and poured into the streets in a nationwide show of economic clout.
From Los Angeles to Chicago, Houston to Miami, a "Day Without Immigrants" Monday meant a day boycotting work and school in favor of rallies and marches with waves of red, white and blue filling streets for miles.
"We have far exceeded our expectations," said Mahonrry Hidalgo, chairman of the Immigration Committee of the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey. "The events are intended to show solidarity and, at the same time, send a message that injustice against the immigrant community is unacceptable. This is not the end of our struggle. It is the beginning."
The boycott was organized by immigrant activists angered by federal legislation that would criminalize an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants and fortify the U.S-Mexico border.
While some businesses suffered, the marches were festive — despite divisions among activists who argued a boycott would alienate federal lawmakers.
In all, police departments and local officials in more than two dozen U.S. cities contacted by The Associated Press gave crowd estimates that totaled about 1.1 million marchers.
Two major rallies in Los Angeles attracted an estimated 400,000, according to the mayor's office. Another 400,000 marched through Chicago's downtown business district, police estimated. The list was long: As many as 30,000 in Houston, 50,000 in San Jose, 30,000 more across Florida. From New Mexico to Tennessee to Massachusetts, smaller rallies attracted hundreds more.
Marchers standing shoulder-to-shoulder sang and chanted and danced in the streets wearing American flags as capes and bandanas. In most cities, those who rallied wore white to signify peace and solidarity and waved signs reading "We are America" and "Today we march, tomorrow we vote."
In Los Angeles, marchers held U.S. flags aloft and sang the national anthem in English as traditional Mexican dancers and Korean drummers wove through the crowd. In Philadelphia, about a thousand people from different marches converged in the historic area near the Liberty Bell.
In Washington, D.C., rallies were scattered but the White House took note — spokesman Scott McClellan said President Bush disapproved of the boycott.
While most demonstrations were peaceful, a Santa Ana rally of 5,000 in California was marred by people hurling rocks and plastic bottles at officers. Police made several arrests, but it was unclear if they were protesters.
Two people were arrested in Los Angeles on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. Both men had been throwing rocks and bottles at police, Officer Jason Lee said.
And a march in Seattle was disrupted when a car struck a group of marchers, though injuries were minor: The driver was arrested, five other people were arrested for possible weapons violations and one person was arrested for obstructing.
Industries that rely on immigrant workers were clearly affected, though the impact was not uniform. There was low attendance at hotels in Indianapolis, construction sites in Miami and plant nurseries and landscapers across a wide area.
Tyson Foods Inc., the world's largest meat producer, shuttered about a dozen of its more than 100 plants. Eight of 14 Perdue Farms chicken plants also closed for the day.
The rallies shut down 29 branches of Chipotle Mexican Grill, a Denver-based fast-casual dining chain. Goya Foods, which bills itself as the nation's largest Hispanic-owned food chain, suspended delivery everywhere except Florida in what the company called a gesture of solidarity.
In the Los Angeles area, many restaurants and markets were dark and truck traffic at the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach — the nation's busiest — was off 90 percent, said spokeswoman Theresa Adams Lopez.
The construction industry was hard hit in Florida. More than half the workers at construction sites in Miami-Dade County did not show up, according to Bill Spann, executive vice president of the Associated General Contractors of Greater Florida.
"If I lose my job, it's worth it," said Jose Cruz, an immigrant from El Salvador who rather than working his construction job protested with several thousand others in the rural city of Homestead outside Miami. "It's worth losing several jobs to get my papers."
About 35 to 40 anti-immigration demonstrators got into shouting matches with pro-immigration marchers as they were leaving a Denver park. Among them were Ron and Marge Mason of Thornton, a Denver suburb.
"We're tired of seeing the illegals coming in," Ron Mason said.
College Republicans at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte staged a rally of their own Monday, demanding tougher enforcement of existing immigration laws. The GOP group sold $5 bricks symbolic of a wall it said was needed to secure U.S. borders.
The impact on some school systems was significant. In the sprawling Los Angeles Unified School District, which is 73 percent Hispanic, about 72,000 middle and high school students were absent — roughly one in every four.
In San Francisco, Benita Olmedo pulled her 11-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son from school.
"I want my children to know their mother is not a criminal," said Olmedo, a nanny who came here illegally in 1986 from Mexico. "I want them to be as strong I am. This shows our strength."
Believe me..this was a hard sell for me because I know many Christian Mexicans.
waves of red, white and blue filling streets for miles. vomit vomit vomit.
While some businesses suffered, the marches were festive — vomit vomit vomit.
In all, police departments and local officials in more than two dozen U.S. cities contacted by The Associated Press gave crowd estimates that totaled about 1.1 million marchers.
Los Angeles attracted an estimated 400,000, Another 400,000 marched through Chicago... 30,000 in Houston, 50,000 in San Jose, 30,000 more in Florida. (odd, there were only 4,000 in the entire DFW area and we are up to our eyeballs in illegals.)
waved signs reading "We are America" and "Today we march, tomorrow we vote." vomit vomit vomit.
In Los Angeles, marchers held U.S. flags aloft and sang the national anthem in English (?) ...and Korean (?) drummers wove through the crowd.
Industries that rely on immigrant 9illegal alien) workers were clearly affected, though the impact was not uniform. There was low attendance at hotels in Indianapolis, construction sites in Miami and plant nurseries and landscapers across a wide area.
Tyson Foods Inc., the world's largest meat producer, shuttered about a dozen of its more than 100 plants. Eight of 14 Perdue Farms chicken plants also closed for the day. (if there are THAT many illegal aliens being worked by Tyson and Perdue the CEO's of both companyies should be jailed)
The construction industry was hard hit in Florida. More than half the workers at construction sites in Miami-Dade County did not show up, according to Bill Spann, executive vice president of the Associated General Contractors of Greater Florida. (Still odd, none of this is occuring here, DFW, I could find no indication of any lack of services or work at all, anywhere)
In the Los Angeles Unified School District, which is 73 percent Hispanic, about 72,000 middle and high school students were absent — roughly one in every four. (toss `em)
"I want my children to know their mother is not a criminal," said Olmedo, a nanny who came here illegally in 1986 from Mexico. Apparently without the ability to add 2 + 2 or have as single logical thought. She comes here illegally and wants to "prove" to her kids she is not a criminal. Ooooooook...
You are so right...I detest the stereotype. I have thought this out for a time now. I fact, since I actually know some Christian Mexicans, up until yesterday,I was a Mexican "immigrant" advocate.
I have joined sides with the anti-illegals after seeing the pictures of the marches but I will not join in on the vicious bashing. These same people always forget to condemn the business owners who hire them. Interesting isn't it?
Gotta love the pic of Che Guevara. (Yuck!) This is an insurrection, not a demonstration.
Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.
The law doesn't necessarily say armed rebellion. We need a gutsy U.S. Attorney willing to bring indictments against the ring leaders for attempting to start an insurrection.
These same people always forget to condemn the business owners who hire them. Interesting isn't it?
"These same people?" Kinda like "you people"? You CAN read because it appears as if you posted somthing you wrote. Did you read my comments? Problem with S.T.M.L.?
Almost all of "those people" want business owners that are cheating the system to be in jail. Just so you know what all these "same people" are not vicious(ly) bashing, they are trying to prevent a hostile takeover of this nation. What "those people" are trying to do is their Constitutional duty and nothing less.
I was not talking to you or about you. Get a grip.
Actually, it's gone on for longer than we care to remember.
But one can establish a date where concern for the wealth of few was greater than the desire to protect this nation.
I say it was on 9-12-01 that it became obvious to everyone.
"We have far exceeded our expectations," said Mahonrry Hidalgo, chairman of the Immigration Committee of the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey. "The events are intended to show solidarity and, at the same time, send a message that injustice against the immigrant community is unacceptable. This is not the end of our struggle. It is the beginning."
Dear Mahonrry Hidalgo,
Please do NJ a favor and go to Mexico and make things better for your people. If you go to the very root of the problem maybe we wouldnt have the problems your people are bringing with them to our country. I am sure you could do alot of good there. It is unacceptable to me that we have to suffer the injustice of having illegals in this country. People who bring gangs, drugs and commit many crimes. If your people want to come in legally fine, let them get in line. Until then please go to Mexico and fix things there. Or dont you have the as you put it the conjones? Yours truly,
Pandoraou812 ( sarcasm)
"Consider Bush's polls in latest Gallup."
This should drop it a few more points.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1625800/posts
Geez, what's so hard about staying out of Mexican restaurants?
You should know.
I should know what?
I'm done patronizing Mexican restaurants. They all hire illegals.""
Anything Mexican---Period.
I would love to see absolutely NO WHITE PERSON go celebrate Cinco de Mayo and let those restaurants sit empty all night. I won't eat so much as a taco ever again.
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