The Wit And Wisdom of Illegal Immigration Marchers

No, the pages aren't blank, but something else is. In all these reports, the listed quotes and all the rest are presented completely unopposed. No one is around to point out to them some extremely basic facts: a) they weren't kidnapped and brought here against their will, b) they're already citizens, just not of this country, c) they're welcome to leave at any time, and d) U.S. citizenship is a privilege, not a right.

* "Us not being in school is showing the government they're going to lose money if they send us all back to Mexico." [1]

* "They should help them get their papers, they're out here working and they're giving them a hard time about it." [1]

* "You break the law out of necessity, and then you have years here of contributing to the government, and if they don't help people, the country does not progress." [2]

* [chanted:] "Bush, listen, the people are in a struggle." [3]

* "We're like a gadfly. We're going to spray Congress into action." [4]

* "This used to be our land, anyway. This used to be our country... At least let us work in it." [4]

* [Known airhead L.A. City Councilwoman Janice Hahn:] "We're going to elect a new president of the United States next year and 'she' may be the person to bring us together around the issue of immigration." [5]

* "I think it is not right to send all the immigrants back. I believe they should have rights just like everyone here. They work and pay taxes like everyone. I think they should be treated the same." [6]

* "After working 22 years here, paying taxes and being a good citizen, I think it's fair they give me residency... It's not fair we don't have documents." [7]

* [chanting:] "Zapata Vive!" [8]

* "We put food on Bush's plate, but he doesn't like us anymore." [8]

* [sign on a pet Chihuahua] "No work, no taco. Yo quiero taco." [8]

* "This is a country based on immigrants - it isn't right to see people not treated equally. No human is illegal." [9]

* "They need the same opportunities and are asking for the same rights to work and live in this country... And they're very proud to be in America." [10]

* "We serve this society, so it must give us opportunities... We're all citizens of the world; there is nothing called an illegal citizen. No one is illegal before God." [11]

* "We ask for the government to be open to understanding the immigrants... The immigrants are a strong work force." [12]

* "Not having your residency makes things very difficult... The fact that people work, and later do not get paid and do not get a legal status, that has to end." [13]

* "I have a lot of family who don't have their papers... I think we need to give working people a chance because the United States is made up of immigrants." [14]

* "We gave Nixon amnesty. We might as well give people who are working hard and honestly amnesty and compassion rather than prejudice."[15]

[1] ksby.com/Global/story.asp?S=6455864
[2] origin.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_5792927
[3] kdhnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=15665
[4] origin.insidebayarea.com/sanmateocountytimes/ci_5793002
[5] presstelegram.com/news/ci_5797248
[6] wsws.org/articles/2007/may2007/immi-m02.shtml
[7] cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_121214138.html
[8] origin.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_5797122
[9] dailybulletin.com/news/ci_5796995
[10] southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070501/News01/70502001
[11] sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/05/02/IMMIGRATION.TMP
[12] citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770502001
[13] preview.tinyurl.com/yqdx9r (palmbeachpost.com)
[14] ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/santaana/article_1677536.php
[15] rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0%2C1299%2CDRMN_15_5515865%2C00.html

#4 also has this:

One group of young, African-American bystanders gathered along International Boulevard [in Oakland] this morning had mixed feelings about the immigrant marchers. They supported them, they said. But they felt they should get the same attention for the issues they share. "I think we need to be looked out for, too," said one young woman who only gave her first name, Lavon. "We've asked for the same thing for centuries. And we never got it." Earl Bennett said African-Americans might also like to march for their rights in Oakland. But he said he doesn't think they would have police blocking roads and directing traffic for them, as they did for today's march. "If it was a bunch of black folks, they would be taking us to jail (and asking), 'Where's your I.D.?"'

#14 also mentions that one of the Santa Ana rally organizers is Mike Gonzalez, "president" of the Institute for Mexicans Abroad. He's actually president of the Orange County delegation to that Mexican government advisory council.

Immigration2007a · Tue, 05/01/2007 - 21:49 · · Importance: 1