Illegal immigration marches: May 1, 2008
This year's marches for "immigrant rights" - i.e., to give rights to illegal aliens to which they aren't entitled - were much less attended and made much less of an impact than those in 2006. There's a round-up of reports here and a round-up of the marches in various cities here. Barack Obama threw his support behind the marches; as discussed at that link one of the key organizers of several Chicago marches is an official with the PRD, a Mexican political party.
In Los Angeles, Teresa Watanabe, Anna Gorman and Ari B. Bloomekatz of the LAT spin, spin, and spin again (link):
Thousands of workers waved American flags, marched to mariachi music and rallied for labor and immigrant rights in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday, as May Day gatherings drew light but peaceful crowds.
Not all were workers, the rights they want are those they aren't entitled to, and many were no doubt waving flags from other countries. What matters accuracy? Per them, a whopping 8500 showed up for three marches total. Gil Cedillo was one of the few politicians to speak at the rally, and supposedly Fabian Nunez was there as well. Per this, there were somewhere between 7000 and 30,000 and the organizers were the MIWON, March 25 Coalition, and the April 7th Coalition for Full Immigrants Rights with support from Hermanidad Mexicana, Latino Movement USA, ANSWER-LA, the Filipino American For Immigration Reform (FAIR), Pilipino Workers Center, Association of Filipino Workers (AFW), Youth UNITE, KMB Pro People Youth, JFAV, Samahang Pilipino at UCLA , People’s CORE, PWC and Gabriela-Network-LA, Bus Rider's Union, and the Filipino Immigrant Network for Empowerment (FINE).
Meanwhile, in Georgia, 200 people turned out for a march organized by the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights (link). Unlike in a previous report, Mary Lou Pickel fails to point out that a co-founder and advisor (link) to that group is Teodoro Maus, a former Mexican consul general.
In Seattle, the low turnout is blamed on: a change of organizers, fear of enforcement, high gas prices, and more. "Hundreds, perhaps thousands" were expected (link).
In Portland, around 500 showed up. Credulous Joseph Rose says:
Many were shouting "workers of the world, unite!" and following that up by yelling "we have nothing to lose but our chains!"
Those are Shriner slogans, right?
UPDATE: Per this, those attending the L.A. rally included Fabian Nunez, Assemblyman Kevin de Leon, and Cedillo, who said "No one is illegal, no one is a criminal". Somewhat unexpectedly, Mexican congressman Jose Jacques Medina of the PRD was booed, with one person in the crowd saying, "I know there are a lot of communists out here... We're against the communists. They're always putting rocks in the path of Mexican democracy."
UPDATE 2: Jonesing for a Mexican flag waving video? Here's one.
UPDATE 3: There are pictures here, via this. Note: one of the signs is misspelled, and the carwash girl is interesting.
Comments
H. Nelson Goodson (not verified)
Fri, 05/02/2008 - 17:46
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HS 14421 hngwi@yahoo.com 2008-05-02T19:46:45-05:00
Thousands Marched Through Downtown Milwaukee Protesters want a fair and just immigration reform bill passed within the first 100 days of the next President’s term By El Conquistador Newspaper staff 3206 W. National Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53215 414-383-1000 conquistador@bizwi.rr.com May 1, 2008 Milwaukee (ELCNN) - They came by the thousands, the young, the children, the senior citizens, and middle age protesters chanting “Si Se Puede”, and “Today We March, Tomorrow We Vote” along the 6th Viaduct route to Veteran Parks on the lakefront. This year, the Immigration Reform protesters were predominately young that included teenagers, and children outnumbering their parents, grandparents, and adults. Their sheer numbers has sent a strong message to public and elected officials that indeed they are part of this nation and tomorrow they will change the face of America through their vote. The future is in their hands, and most likely a stream of new leaders marching for their rights will follow. The massive march is one of the 200 marches taking place in about 200 cities throughout the nation. Organizers are focusing on voter registration and setting an agenda for the next president. The march began from the front offices of Voces de la Fronteras, 1027 S. 5th St. and was led by teenagers wearing white t-shirts with red letters saying “Just Immigration Reform first 100 days” hoping to ensure the next President elected and the U.S. Congress can finally enact an immigration bill that would legalize and pave the way for the more than 13 million undocumented immigrants to stay in this country. Voces de las Fronteras in Milwaukee organized the May 1st National Day of Action march “A Day Without Latinos” with labor groups in support of comprehensive immigration reform legislation. A press release on Thursday from the organization stated, “in figure backed by ACLU legal observers, Voces de la Frontera organizers put the number marching in Milwaukee today at 30,000, with the city's march expected to be one of the largest in the nation once again.” "Support for the day's 'First 100 Days' message was a massive expression of the urgent need for change from the next presidency. Today's march was also the city's most diverse yet in making a call for fundamental and just immigration reform. In this crucial election year, the march will call on the next President to make comprehensive immigration reform a priority for his/her first hundred days – and on the current administration to stop tearing families apart through immigration raids and the criminalization of workers and employers through ‘No Match’ attacks,” Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Voces de la Frontera Executive Director said. In Wisconsin, the Hispanic population increased by more than 4%, greater than the national hispanic growth rate, and more than 271,000 Hispanics lived in Wisconsin in 2007. The population of Hispanics has grown by 40% since 2000, according to the U.S. Census report.
Anonymous (not verified)
Fri, 05/02/2008 - 18:14
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HS 14422 2008-05-02T20:14:58-05:00
"The population of Hispanics has grown by 40% since 2000, according to the U.S. Census report"? We are in big big trouble here folks. Our government is allowing unassimilated hordes and masses with ideals not like our own into this Country. They just dont care about what this means to our Country Culture or Language. Let alone our childrens "right" to a future that WE THE PEOPLE deciede they have, not WE THE PROFITEERS. Unreal.......its not going to get better, it can only get worse.