Posted on 05/01/2007 4:51:02 AM PDT by VU4G10
LOS ANGELES - Demonstrators demanding a path to citizenship for an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants hope that nationwide marches will spur Congress to act before the looming presidential primaries take over the political landscape.
Marches, meetings and voter registration drives were planned Tuesday from California to New York, a year after 1 million flexed their economic muscle in a nationwide boycott during last year's May 1 activities.
Though this year's turnout will likely be lower, organizers say immigrants feel a sense of urgency to keep immigration reform from getting pushed to the back burner by the 2008 presidential elections.
"If we don't act, then both the Democratic and Republican parties can go back to their comfort zones and do nothing," said Angelica Salas, director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. "They won't have the courage to resolve a major situation for millions of people."
In Miami, Democratic Party Chair Howard Dean was scheduled to speak to a coalition of immigrant groups, while Ricardo Chavez, the brother of famed agricultural labor leader Cesar Chavez, was expected address crowds in Milwaukee.
In Washington, D.C., about 400 members of Asian groups from across the country were set to make a lobbying push with lawmakers. Students planned to march in Chicago.
In New York, groups are planning an "American Family Tree" rally, where immigrants will pin paper leaves on a large painting of a tree to symbolize the separation of families because of strict immigration laws.
The event is a response to a White House immigration reform proposal in March, said Chung-Wha Hong, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition.
The plan would grant illegal immigrants three-year work visas for $3,500 but also require them to return home to apply for U.S. residency and pay a $10,000 fine. It has been roundly criticized by immigrant groups.
Two large demonstrations were planned in Los Angeles County — home to an estimated 1 million illegal immigrants. Some groups in the area have called for an economic boycott and hoped for a repeat of last year, when thousands of immigrants and students stayed away from work and school in a sign of solidarity.
Other groups have rejected the boycott, arguing it puts immigrants' livelihoods at risk and deprives children of valuable classroom time.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Cardinal Roger Mahony, head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, both strong immigrant supporters, urged students to stay in school.
Despite divisions over tactics and other issues, immigration groups and supporters said the diverse events will show the movement is stronger than ever.
"Just because the 12 million people who don't have legal residency don't attend a march doesn't mean they don't want it," said Eduardo "Piolin" Sotelo, a popular Spanish-language disc jockey. "I tell my listeners that no matter what they do, just don't stop doing something."
After last year's protests, reform legislation stalled in Congress and bipartisan proposals for illegal immigrants to gain citizenship have gotten more conservative.
Organizers said Tuesday's turnout will be lower because stepped-up raids in recent months have left many immigrants afraid to speak out in public — a major change over rallies in 2006 when some illegal immigrants wore T-shirts saying "I'm illegal. So what?"
"These raids have torn apart families," said John Crockford, a member of the Central California Coalition for Immigrant Rights.
In Fresno, organizers planned a rally focusing on children whose parents had been deported. The San Joaquin Valley is home to thousands of seasonal workers who work illegally each year in the fields and construction industry.
In Los Angeles, marches were set to include demands for a legalization program, a stop to the raids and an anti- Iraq war message. City and transportation officials were planning for as many as 500,000 people in downtown, believing it could be the largest in the city so far this year.
I am in favor of these protests.....it’s easier to round them up and send them BACK across the border.
Don’t flame me, please. I’m just fatigued with this issue.
May 1 marches and demonstrations by the mexican ILLEGALS isn't that so socialist of them!!
Illegal immigration tears apart families. Send them back to Mexico, where they can be together.
I see the number of 12 million is still being used. I have read that the actual number is closer to 20 million and would believe a even higher number.
Yeah, we saw how the marches worked in their favor last time. They are only adding fuel to the fire by doing this.
My commute to work this morning was better than a Sunday drive. Since Austin is officially a ‘safe haven’ I’m sure the ‘protestors’ will be out in force throughout the day, demanding rights normally afforded to LEGAL immigrants. I wish they’d stay home every day and protest.
Voter registration? What’s with that. Whom do they hope to register? Non english-speaking “citizens? Vote fraud here it comes.
Did anybody read anywhere that last year's boycott affected the economy of any community in any way..."flexed their economic muscle"...more like make it hard for those who were trying to go to their jobs by blocking roadway.
Democrats couldn't win in 2004, even with dead people voting, but in 2008 the illegal immigrant vote will put them over the top.
That's what Liberals see as the key: all Dem illegal voters, where they've been dis-enfranchised by the mean ol' VWRC, just because they are criminals and non-citizens!
Just a small downturn in the new housing market has a bunch of them singing the 'I got no work' blues, but one million have economic muscle.
Seize all their assets, that should make a bunch self-deport. Arrest them, implant an RFID tag, and drop them off at the border with only a pink jumpsuit.
In answer to your question:
Last year, on the day of the protests, there was a McDonald’s that was mysteriously UNDERSTAFFED that day...long lines, incorrect orders, etc.
Gee....I wonder why?
Here's a list of events from one website in MA, the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition:
Exactly. They only give fuel to their opposition. The silent majority in this country sees them on television marching in the streets, waving Mexican flags and demanding nonexistent and undeserved rights for these illegal immigrants and are no-doubt appalled.
MSNBC reporter says Mexican children are crossing the bridge to come to school in Larado.
In fact, Larado is having a crises in their education. The School district is having a Bond Election to try and raise 400 MILLION to build new schools to handle the influx of MEXICAN Nationals crossing over.
Absurd..
sw
Why does our country have to educate Mexican children? Why? Why must our tax dollars pay for kids who don’t even live in this country, legally or not? It’s insanity. This country deserves to decline.
Dirty little secret the MSM won’t tell you about is the number of illegals already voting thanks to these drives and the motor-voter laws.
Webb beat Allen in Virginia (9000 votes) because of the number of illegals who voted for Webb, thanks to LaRaza and other voter drives. We watched them roll ‘em up at Hispanic festivals and at card tables in front of the supermarkets catering to hispanics.
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