500,000 Protest Immigration Reform in Los Angeles

[kerrygoddess]

500,000 Protest Immigration Reform in Los Angeles
March 25th, 2006 @ 4:07 pm



{snip}
Hundreds of thousands marched the streets of downtown Los Angeles today in protest of the proposed immigration reform. MSNBC reports that LAPD “told NBC News that an estimated 500,000 protesters clogged the streets in front of Los Angeles city hall to protest a proposed law they see as punitive to undocumented workers.” There were no reported arrests or injuries. The WaPo and other sources at this time are reporting smaller crowds of up to 100,000.



{snip}
L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa stood on a wall outside of city hall to address the crowd during the pro-immigrant march. The protesters, marched with their families and many were wearing “white shirts symbolizing peace.” They came from all over Los Angeles County and as far away as Riverside County.

MORE & LINKS - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=2422

[spindrifter]

1. The Corporate Press should get a clue:

this is HUGE! It is very telling that this was a peaceful march. These are people who are part of our communities. They are people we see every day.

[kerrygoddess]

4. It is a huge issue

and the outcry is growing daily. Students walked out of school yesterday in L.A. Some schools were locked down after the walk outs started to prevent more from walking out.

[Left Below]

2. Let's hope the GOP tackles this issue before it becomes 2008

election controversy. No one looks good here - you either alienate blue-collar union workers or Hispanics.

Bad either way.

[rocktivity]

3. "Oh, all right--I'll institute a guest worker program instead

...which is what I really wanted to do in the first place, because that opens the door to their becoming citizens, which in turn gives the Repubs the lock on the Spanish-speaking votes. No more having to worry about having to please Christian fanatics and blacks!"

But seriously, folks, if the Bush monarchy was serious about preventing illegal immigration, they would do a better job of sealing the borders and of punishing businesses who hire them. And I'm certain that there are Americans who'd be happy to pick fruit if they were paid a living wage.

:eyes:
rocknation

[GRLMGC]

5. Let's be clear

that the protest is aimed at the Republican bill which would make being here illegally a felony, which would not allow children born to illegal immigrants to become citizens (nevermind that its in the Constitution), and that would get rid of lottery to get a visa to get into the US

[FloridaPat]

15. Real Scrooges wrote that bill, that's for sure. Do we not have enough

people in jail? Between "3 strikes & you're out" and drug busts being life term sentences, we have the biggest percentage of people in jails than anyone else. To make it a felony is rediculous. And then another slap at the Constitution. The repubs just don't like the Constitution do they.

As for the making them citizens, they did that decades ago. Just made people more interested in getting here. And why are they not enforcing the law that says businesses must make sure their employees have the right to work? I have to prove I'm a US citizen because the repubs felts that would stop illegal immagration. Just enforce the laws! Someting our gov't doesn't seem to like to do if it's a gov't offical or a corporation.

[kerrygoddess]

20. At this point it's a lot deeper than just the Republican bill

Initially the protesting started over H.R. 4437, but it's snowballed full bore over the upcoming Senate debate and Bush's push for a guest worker program that is less than desirable.

The Kennedy - McCain Secure America Act is the only alternative to a host of Republican sponsored bills at this point.

Honestly, from my point of view, this has been brewing for since 1994 when CA passed Proposition 187. The passing of H.R. 4437 and the upcoming Senate debate were the tip of the ice berg.

People come here for the American Dream. There's a lot of undertones to this whole debate and it could split the republicans apart and they could lose their latino support.

[kevinmc]

6. Waving Mexican Flags .....

and Chanting "Mexico" doesn't help them.

[TrueAmerican]

7. Agree

I'm for immigration, but why should illegals be able to jump ahead of the line? They should all wait their fair turn. That includes Asians, Europeans, Hispanics, etc.. If you are here illegally, you are keeping others who are following the law out.

[Der Blaue Engel]

8. Because the immigration quotas are completely unbiased and fair?

Exactly how are undocumented workers keeping anybody out anyway?

[Zynx]

9. Indeed. Quotas make the situation much much worse. n/t

[treestar]

16. That is not so

Illegals have NO WAY to become legal, and that is why they are here illegally. Our immigration laws are old, ancient, stupid, illogical, and do not let the right people get visas, while they make visas available to people who are not the least interested in coming to America or becoming Americans.

Learn about it first, before you let the media yank your chain.

[TrueAmerican]

19. Who are the "right" people?

You sound racists.

[APPLE314]

11. 100% CORRECT

WE GOT DUMPED ON FOR SAYING THE SAME THING TWO DAYS AGO.

[flyarm]

12. i saw many many many american flags..when they covered this early in the

day all i saw were american flags..of course the american media doesn't want you to see that..but the whole front of the people ..there were only american flags..and to say that the protestors should not have mexican flags does that mean...
no one should party with irish flags ..that i saw all over san diego last week on st pats day??

or how about NY ..should there be no irish flags or green worn on st pats day..or how about italian week in baltimore in the summer, should they not fly all the italian flags they fly?>? or in little italy in ny should they not fly the italian flag ??

please this is not about flags..

my grandma died at age 99 and still had her heavy irish accent..she never lost it..and lived here from the time she was 17

we all better think about our roots..i had many italian neighbors growing up in nj that spoke no english ..only italian! and they always flew their italian flags..

and my grandma always flew her irish flag..

so why should mexicans be different??

we just had the BASEBALL CLASSIC in calif where people were encouraged to bring their flags and be proud of their roots..yes in ariz and calif!!

but today as i watched the protest .. i saw prodominant american flags from early today till afternoon in the protest people in la on my television...

i don't know what others saw..but i looked specifically at that..and saw a spattering of mexican flags..but mostly american flags!

fly

[kevinmc]

13. I have been watching it on Spanish Language TV......

they have been covering it all day long here .... in LA .... and chanting "Mexico" isn't gonna do them any good. And I see more Mexican Flags than American.

[kerrygoddess]

22. They want to be American

These people will never lose their roots, but right now they want to be legalized Americans. What happened in LA today was a testament to the desire to be part of the American Dream. There was no violence, no problems - it was a peaceful massive rally for the American Dream.

[kerrygoddess]

21. I see Stars and Stripes

[sandnsea]

23. oh nonsense

They've been waving Mexican flags in California all my life. And what was that green day we just had a week ago, weren't those Irish flags I saw waving? Why does every group have a right to their heritage except the black and brown groups?

[mdmc]

10. thanks for the pics, links

:patriot:

[BigYawn]

14. So now we get to pick and choose which laws can be broken?

Is'nt that the definition of Anarchy? IOW its OK
to break any law which is deemed unjust? Heck in
that case I will plan on holding up a bank since my
finances need help and the rich bank has excess $$$
anyway! They stole it from me in the first place.
So it is all justifiable!!!

[flyarm]

17. i don't know i don't see anyone protesting all the laws * has broken

nor the shredding of our constitution or bill of rights..what laws are you speaking of??
the nsa or some other laws..seems if the pres thinks he can break any dang law he wants ...the people will just follow that example!
doesn't that seem reasonable ??

hell this white house has shit on the constitution, the geneva conventions, all international laws..and now we expect the people to follow the laws??

we can't have it both ways..no one is above the law..no one..but the example this white house has provided ..seems to make all our laws moot..

fly

[Capn Sunshine]

18. well, oral sex is illegal in Alabama, and so are sex toys

I'm just sayin'........

[sandnsea]

24. They're objecting to NEW laws

That are oppressive, expensive and unenforceable. Nobody is objecting to fair and sensible immigration laws.