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 ...
I love it! Great idea.
Invasion? Yup. We gonna do anything about it? Nope.
The "Reconquista" has officially been declared, folks!
the people who favor illegal immigration are more intense about their position than those who oppose illegal immigration...when a few hundred thousand people show up to protest illegal immigration, Ill change my view.
If one were to bother to search my posts on this topic, one would learn quickly that I am in defense of immigration. For starters, I am descended from immigrants that were disdained upon their arrival here. And yet, some of the most patriotic and hard working Americans of any generation have been immigrants who came here seeking liberty and only the opportunity to work and get paid and live and be free.
I usually point out that I have hired Mexican immigrants with good results in a landscaping business that I owned; during a building boom and labor shortage, there was simply no other way for any labor intensive business to function -- to meet the demands of their customers.
But it does disturb me that the immigrants in LA are doing this -- that picture is worth a thousand words. I would be very surprised if the diligent, hardworking Mexican men -- who wanted nothing but more and more work -- would bother themselves doing this sort of thing.
It's apparent that immigration policy in America has been a shambles since way before the Bush presidency, but that he is the first I've heard to propose any sort of workable solution.
It is no surprise that the attempt, even the discussion, to correct immigration lapses of the past generation are going to be met with resistance by second-generation, and other entitlement-seeking illegal immigrants who flooded this country under the watch of previous administrations, particularly left-leaning ones.
I'd also be willing to bet that this group is being propagandized and mobilized by the left, whose fingerprints are on the gathering of any radical, discontented mob.
There seem to be two waves of immigrants -- those who want to earn the right to be Americans and those who do not care to -- that a successful immigration policy must acknowledge.
You got the brunt of a very long, confessional post when all you did was post a one-liner...
They will at the ballot box where it does the most good.
should read, "diligent, hardworking Mexican men that I had hired --"
The problem is that Baby Bush wants to legalize 10-15 million illegals and he will take the Republican Party down with him. So what are all those yuppie "conservatives" driving up and down the highways with "W" stickers going to do....vote for Hillary. I think not. But if you mention one of the few true patriots who want to maintain our way of life (e.g. Pat Buchanan) on this forum you will be pilloried. We need a third party that stands up for the values of Western Civiliztion that founded and made this country what it once was. The folks with their "W" stickers will still go out and vote for the "conservative" Repulican party next time even after they have given away the country to an invading force. The Senators you mention realize that blacks will vote for their own interests, and hispanics will do the same, but white "conservatives" will not...they'll just go put another "W" sticker on their car and then bitch and moan about the fact that they have to "press one to speak English"...
I have to agree with you there. Anarchy. Non-recognition of the law. In this case, the US immigration law.
They are bloc voting now. Can you imagine who will control our country in 10 years or less?
and cover-crowded schools...
send'm back across the border.
I grew up here. What we are seeing has really developed in size and scope the last 30 years or so...
My husband (spectre), asks whoever is in charge of who is coming to our home to do any job, if they "hire illegals"? They usually say "no" and he tells them "good, cause if you do, don't bother to come over."
sw
why not allow an attempt to comply with a sound immigration policy first, and send home if unwilling?
This article forgot to mention the chants of "brown power."
Ditto that!
Fantastic!!
Glad to hear it. At first the salesperson from the foundation company looked at us shocked but wanting our business and money he guaranteed that there would be no illegals.
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