10,000 Assemble At Capitol For Immigrants' Rights (Madison, WI)

[rodeodance]

great pics at website.

http://www.channel3000.com/news/8596030/detail.html?rss=c3k&psp=news

10,000 Assemble At Capitol For Immigrants' Rights

Marchers Walked Up W. Washington Ave.
UPDATED: 7:10 pm CDT April 10, 2006

MADISON, Wis. -- About 10,000 people marched on the state Capitol on Monday as part of a nationwide effort to raise support for changes in immigration laws.VIDEO: Protesters March On Capitol | VIDEO:Protesters Speak At Capitol | SLIDESHOW: Photos Of MarchPolice estimated that about 10,000 people were marching through downtown Madison. The march began at Brittingham Park at 10:30 a.m. on the shores of Lake Monona. The marchers later moved down West Washington Avenue toward the Capitol at about noon where Latino activists, religious leaders and public officials, including Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, state Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager and Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, spoke."This is such an important event because we need to stand up to those in Washington who would move us back to a place we don't want to go," Falk said.Labor union organizers also spoke and Roman Catholic Bishop Robert Morlino led many in the crowd with a prayer in Spanish.

Hundreds of people hoisted American and Mexican flags and various signs as they marched. The river of humanity stretched from the Capitol square back to Brittigham, WISC-TV reported. Some marchers chanted in Spanish and English, "What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now!" Some wore shirts that read, "No to Racism" and "We are not criminals."Many of those rallying brought babies and young children with them and said that they were pursuing the "American dream," WISC-TV reported.Ramona Villarrea, a Madison teacher and one of the event's organizers, said that she and her migrant family arrived in Madison 44 years ago. She called Monday a "historical day.""We're here to be a family, like you guys," Villarrea said. "We also respect. We also get educated. We live and eat the same. We do the same. We're human beings. Yeah, we have a different color, but we are all the same and we can all get along."We are all just asking for justice, and we want you to hear us," she said.
Guadalupe Rodriguez, a 45-year-old truck driver from Lake Mills who moved to the United States from Mexico 24 years ago, said that the country should give amnesty to illegal aliens. He said that they're not asking for a handout, they're working hard.There was little opposition to those marching, apart from a handful of men who held racist signs. The men wouldn't identify themselves or say what organization, if any, they were affiliated with, WISC-TV reported.Madison police said that there were no problems at all despite the massive size of the demonstration, WISC-TV reported.Madison's march was one of many being held in cities across the country.

[IndianaGreen]

1. 15,000 marched in Indianapolis today

:27 PM April 10, 2006

Immigration rally draws 15,000

By Tania E. Lopez

The city's largest march and rally in a decade jammed Downtown streets today in a local observation of the national “Day of Action for Immigrant Justice.”

The march began about 5 p.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church, a largely Hispanic congregation just northeast of the city center. It ended two hours later after a rally at the City-County Building.

Police estimated the crowd at 15,000, said Sgt. Judy Phillips. The march swelled as it filled Downtown streets on the way to the county building, which let employees leave half an hour early to avoid a traffic jam.

“Twenty thousand people are here," said march organizer Tedd Cain of Indianapolis from a podium on the building's expansive south plaza.

"Why? We want justice," he said.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060410/LOCAL/60410053

more local stories with photos:

http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4752112

[joemurphy]

2. It was very difficult to witness the Indy march and not be moved.

There were an amazing number of kids. And so many people still in work uniforms and boots. As Salin I think pointed out to see something like this happen in staid old Indianapolis was awesome to behold.

And these people are all going to be Democrats. They know it was the Republicans that want to turn them into felons.

[IndianaGreen]

3. All the Latino stores were closed this afternoon

to let the people go to the rally. Quite impressive!

[rodeodance]

5. yes.

[rodeodance]

4. state law in WI says kids can be excused for events such as this.

[struggle4progress]

6. Bloomington

Love that minimum wage sign!

[struggle4progress]

7. Pro-immigration supporters rally across U.S.

A crowd estimated by Salt Lake City Police to be around 25,000 people participate in the 'Marcha por la dignidad' (March for Dignity) rally and march up State Street in Salt Lake City. (AP / KSLTV / Desert Morning News)

... "People of the world, we have come to say this is our moment," Rev. James Orange of the Georgia Coalition for the People's Agenda said Monday in Atlanta, where protests began in the early morning and drew at least 50,000 people, according to police estimates ...
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060410/us_immigration_rallies_060410/20060410?hub=CTVNewsAt11