Posted on 03/25/2006 4:34:12 PM PST by calcowgirl
Joining what some are calling the nation's largest mobilization of immigrants ever, hundreds of thousands of people boisterously marched in downtown Los Angeles Saturday to protest federal legislation that would crack down on undocumented immigrants, penalize those who help them and build a security wall on the U.S. southern border. Spirited crowds representing labor, religious groups, civil-rights advocates and ordinary immigrants stretched over 26 blocks of downtown Los Angeles from Adams Blvd. along Spring Street and Broadway to City Hall, tooting kazoos, waving American flags and chanting "Si se puede!" (Yes we can!). The crowd, estimated by police at more than 500.000, represented one of the largest protest marches in Los Angeles history, surpassing Vietnam War demonstrations and the 70,000 who rallied downtown against Proposition 187, a 1994 state initiative that denied public benefits to undocumented migrants.
(snip)
Many of the marchers were immigrants themselves — both legal and illegal -- from Mexico and Central America. Some had just crossed the border, while others had been here for decades. There were construction workers and business owners; families with young children and people in wheelchairs. Throughout the afternoon, protesters heard speakers demand a path toward legalization and denounce HR 4437, which would tighten border enforcement and crack down on employers who hire undocumented workers.
The rally was organized by numerous unions, religious organizations and immigrant rights groups and publicized through Spanish-language media, which encouraged participants to wear white to symbolize peace and bring American flags. The mostly peaceful march stretched over 26 blocks, shutting down streets and tying up traffic around downtown for hours. Police estimated the crowd at 500,000... Participants said the massive mobilization shows that immigrants' voices must be heard and that they are contributing to the country's economy.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
These "nice people" broke the law to get here and that is a slap in the face to our country, its citizens and to foreigners who are waiting to come here legally.
If these "nice people" are workng here then they are not "otherwise not criminals". They are taking jobs they are not legally entitled to have. In order to work here (illegally) they are either using phony or stolen IDs (which is illegal) or are working for cash (tax evasion).
Justify opposition to a guest worker program that would make these nice workers into taxpayers too.
Turning a blind eye to their illegal behavior and making these "nice workers" into taxpaying guest workers makes a mockery of the law and opens the flood gates to more illegal immigration.
It is my preference that we continue to be a nation of laws. I also expect to see people treated equally under the law and that includes illegal aliens.
If Obrador wins, I'll let you know if my neighbors cheer or boo.
Would you care to define fair and legal ?
Ok, JB - your solution works for me. Except that the Republicans will actually have to run somebody conservative! If Tancredo or Sensenbrenner won the nomination for President, I'd vote for them in a heartbeat. I've contributed to Tancredo's reelection and I'm not even in his district!
I didn't mean I'd go 3rd party if a decent GOP candidate was available. I just assumed it wouldn't happen unless the GOP realized their base was leaving, and that could take a few election cycles. Instead of supporting a 3rd party - I guess I should've said I'm supporting the candidate that represents my values and beliefs instead of supporting a party. How's that?
When I read your post 361, I hear someone who is dodging and avoiding the issue.
In reality, you want laws to reduce or eliminate immigration from mexico and are against bush's guest worker program even though the workers would work, pay taxes and be legal. I think you do not like the mexican illegals because you just don't like them.
You like to think you are a good person and therefore don't have a racist bone in your body.
The fact is, you are probably a good person, but there are a few racist bones in there, but we are all imperfect humans functioning in a very imperfect world.
I am more realistic. I am a good person and yes I am slightly racist. I want a guest worker program because it is useful to the US. I do not want large scale mexican immigrants to become citizens. I do want more h1b's as these are the immigrants we can really use.
This is not an easy issue. One of my best friends from college is a mexican american. I personally like most of the mexican immigrants, legal and illegal that I have met.
I think the volume of illegals is too large and detrimental to the US.
Like it or not, having the dems in control for even a short period of time is possibly the end of the US as a decent country.
Think pelosi, reid, kennedy, byrd, boxer, feingold, dean, etc.
They make hillary look good by comparison.
Continued republican dominance is the only hope for this country.
The Spanish language radio stations have been telling their listeners that Congress has been trying to pass bills making it illegal to hire Hispanics. (As opposed to illegal aliens)
The two people I talked to who have been listening to these stations didnt even know it was already illegal to hire an illegal alien for work. Then got bold and asked them how they happened to come to the US...and they both admitted that they snuck in in the 1970s and 1980s, but both had married citizens, etc.
Protest March
Los Angeles City Hall
Civic Center
Saturday, March 25, 2006
TIME: 9:07 AM
INCIDENT #: 307
On Saturday, March 25, 2006, at 9:07 a.m., thirteen Companies of Los
Angeles Firefighters, twenty LAFD Rescue Ambulances, one Deputy Chief,
four Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, one Assistant Chief Officer
Command Team, four Battalion EMS Captains, a number of Fire Inspectors,
two Helicopters for observation, and other LAFD resources under the
direction of Deputy Chief Mario Rueda were dispatched and operated
under a unified command with the Los Angeles Police Department and other
Local, State and Federal Agencies, to provide assistance to protesters
during a march that started approximately two miles south of downtown
Los Angeles on Olympic Boulevard terminating at Los Angeles City Hall.
The protestors proceeded from various locations to Los Angeles City
Hall's South Lawn and it is estimated that more than "450,000"
individuals participated in the march. Over one hundred and twenty Los
Angeles Firefighters and Paramedics were located along the protest route
to City Hall and at City Hall as a pro-active measure to help facilitate
protester and organizers with any medical emergencies that may arise,
help marchers safely reach their destination and leave the impacted area
without incident. A minor scuffle broke out between opposing groups,
but the situation was quickly brought under control by the Los Angeles
Police Department. As the peaceful event progressed throughout the
afternoon and the impacted area expanded, the Los Angeles Fire
Department assisted five to ten individuals with medical needs ranging
from difficult reparations to minor physical injuries; none of the
injuries were reported to be life threatening. The exact number of
people treated and/or transported is still being tabulated. The event
concluded in approximately seven hours and thirty-six minutes and there
were no Firefighter injuries.
It is galling and appalling that the illegals have the brass not only to invade our country, but to take over our streets and demand more than the blood they are already sucking from us.
I am about 10 miles west of downtown L.A. and the helicopter activity over the city was constant yesterday. I am sure LAPD was on tactical alert. Traffic was clogged well into the night. God forgive us, even the mayor of Los Angeles was part of this anarchy. So count Tony Villaraigosa as one of those disrespecting this country, our flag and our troops.
I can tell you from first hand daily experience of obsrving and interacting with Mexican and Central American illegals, they have no love or respect for this country. It is all about the money, as many U.S. dollars as they can get ahold of and send back to country of origin. They are here only to use us, and they make no secret of it.
They latched on to this commie-organized march, simply as another vehicle for them to use. After one of their revolutions in Mexico, they actually won a socialist state but they never obtained their 'ejidos,' their communal land grants. They once again gave into authoritarian rule.
You are right. The illegals do not have what it takes to pay the cost of freedom and to maintain that freedom.
Those who come here legally, even as a resident alien, at least have the desire to become American. A good example would be those resident aliens who have joined our armed services and fought in OEF and OIF, eventually becoming American citizens.
Maybe it's time to hold the Constitution higher than any elected official or any appointed judge!
"One Happy Hemisphere" LOL.
And the new blended North and South America Union will need a new constitution, eh?
Maybe that is why the one we have is being abrogated anew every day.
There went my oatmeal!
Sorry that you good people have to endure this travesty right in your own city.
Their in-your-face attitudes have got to be unbearable.
I agree to see this in the United States of America is to much to take. With no law enforcement ICE, FBI or whoever not stopping this (and for those who would say they have right of free speech, please don't say that, they have NO rights) makes me ill as ill as watching enemies take over our country on 911.
Exactly what taxes will these newly minted citizens be paying? One of the big problems in our great state of California is that a majority of these workers work for cash, under the table. It has been estimated that 1/3 of the Los Angeles economy is "underground", therefore generating no tax revenue.
If you dig through the data, you can see the majority of students in LA schools are below the proverty line, so in addition to the $9000 in tuition, they are eligible for two meals a day on campus. You can easily see how money is far outstripping tax revenues in these areas.
Now, suppose everyone decided to be honest and report all their wages. Most of these jobs income levels would fall below the minimum tax levels anyway.
And this is before counting in all the teen pregnancies, with more state monies pouring into single mothers....not that they dont want to marry, but it is more financially beneficial to stay single to keep that check coming in.
Absolutely stunning, DD. The first amnesty and the same old BS, word for word.
I think Carter also established refugee status for immigrants from certain Central American countries.
I guess it's up to each successive administration to continue the shamnesty fraud, for which the politicians are so well paid.
The problem is that the President and Congress are in violation of their oaths of office in choosing to not enforce the laws we have.
It goes both ways, my opinion.
the conservatives better get a clue and quit courting third party at the expense of the traditional republican base.
It's all so very PC, isn't it?
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.