Only in America - Illegal Immigrants Rallies Planned for May 1
A Los Angeles immigration activist, Javier Rodriguez, spoke to Andrew Murr of "Newsweek" magazine saying he expects "millions" of people to participate and even larger groups to attend this years rallies. The protests are being planned for major cities such as New York, Chicago, San Antonio and Los Angeles. The committee has the backing of the West Coast International Longshore Workers Union and the Hermandad Mexicana Nacional of LA. This year's effort is a bit different than the massive boycott on May 1, 2006 as organizers courted help from the African-American community and anti-war activists. The people are tired of raids on companies that hire illegal immigrants, deportations and unjust imprisonments.
Orange County Register reporter, Amy Taxin, states that last year's march in Santa Ana, California drew about 15,000 protesters. They expect this years rally to draw only 2,000 to 3,000, as the political climate has changed with more Democrats in Congress. The protesters are cautioned against carrying Mexican flags to the rally this year, due to backlash after last year's "Day Without Immigrants" demonstrations. A counter-protest is planned by Sandra Sweet of Mission Viejo. She expects less than 100 people to join her. Like many taxpaying citizens she is tired of illegals demanding equal rights without earning them by following the countries laws.
In recent Long Beach, California news a man that was deported to Mexico 6 times, shot two police officers during a routine traffic stop in December, 2006. On April 26, 2007 13 alleged members of the Mexican Mafia "La Eme" gang were arrested. The Press Telegram does not mention the immigration status of those arrested. Reporter, Andrew Glazer, explains that this group is listed as one of the state's deadliest gangs. They force other gangs to pay "taxes" using gun violence to enforce payment. Often innocent bystanders are shot and killed during that activity. Among those arrested for another large drug bust, were several illegal immigrants. While protesters are demanding human rights, they do not address the issue of drug smuggling which is one of the reasons for stricter border control regulations that they are rallying against.
A banner from last years protest demands "Stop Criminalizing Immigrants". The government does not criminalize immigrants. The immigration laws were made to control the numbers of new citizens for economic reasons. All citizens need jobs, make demands on clean water supplies and other resources. When illegal immigrants take jobs for substandard wages, they not only bring down economic power of legal residents, they take jobs from legal citizens. This may be a contributing factor to the increasing numbers of homelessness in areas where illegal residents form a large part of the population. By breaking laws to enter and work in the United States, illegal immigrants have committed a crime. There are many ways they can obtain legal employment through "Guest Workers" programs. By organizing protests and rallies to support illegal immigration, these people often alienate supportive United States citizens. Perhaps a collective "thank you" to the legal citizens of the Untied States is in order.
Resources:
May 1 Info: http://www.may1.info/
MSNBC Newsweek: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18059553/site/newsweek/from/ET/
Orange County Register: http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_1674639.php
Press Telegram website: http://www.presstelegram.com/
Published by Alyce Rocco
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36 Comments
Post a CommentWhen people pick up Day Laborers at the Home Depot, they favor Mexican/? over blacks. I use ? because, I am not assuming to know status. I do know African/Americans who get turned for jobs because they do not speak Spanish, because the Supervisors prefer to hire Latinos. I also know Indian/? (as from India) who will hire Mexican/Americans but will not hire blacks. I truly get along with people of any ethnicity, until they show signs of bigotry and racism.
I think in terms of today's issues and what I see versus what media reports. I have to wonder how many innocent African/Americans were sent to jail based on false testimony from La Rasas. The jails in L.A. were segreagated to prevent fights between the two groups. A black homeless guy that I know told me how he would not take sides and got beat up in Twin Towers anyway, when he came out of the shower. There are more homeless African/Americans in Long Beach than Mexican/?.
I never ask people their status; some have told me; I never went running to the law to turn those in who crossed the borders without following the law. I have also read Mexico and China's immigration policies and they are tougher than the USA laws, with stiffer penalties. I also never asked to see a Business License when I have made purchases from people peddling at parks or on the beaches. I do not know how much you know about the Catholic Church and it's involvement with governments. I kind of like US's "freedom to worship" policy.
Shamontiel: Oh, I finally figured it out. My family history is not involved with US history whereas, yours obviously was. Being the daughter of an immigrant who was filled with gratitude towards the USA for giving him and his family the opportunity to move up from poverty. The other 1/2 of my family ancesters were immigrants too, but my mother and her siblings were all born in the USA. Because they, like so many other immigrants obeyed US immigration laws, I guess I see that as the reason why others should do likewise.
Basically with US flags being ripped down and replaced with Mexican ones, the country is on the verge of a civil war. Hopefully things have simmered down a bit, with Obama diplomacy reaching across ethnic barriers. For myself? If a new Civil War breaks out, I do not care if I die. I have to reread this article, but it was a bit of shoddy journalism like "OJ Arrested!" with the headline. I was doing my eracism series and stopped publishing them. They were started with the aim of bringing unity and understanding, das all. Peace!
African/Americans that I personally know are feeling double-shafted by the USA government. Many can not get health care, but enforced health care for illegals is a right. So Cal hospitals are going bankrupt, because the Fed government cuts funding and the hospitals and clinics can not turn a profit to pay employees. We are also running out of clean water supplies and importing water from neighboring states. This raises rates for water, which in turn raises apartment rental costs.
When I speak to (illegal) immigrants from El Salvador, they tell me of their terror of passing quickly through Mexico. (An AC CP wrote an article about it.) On May 1, 2006 people around the world held protests in their countries~for citizen's labor rights. Hence the title of my article. We have a big problem in Caliornis due to Mexican-Mafia and MS-13 gangs. They enforce paying of taxes from the Crips and the Bloods by killing family or friends. They do not pay taxes on thier tax money.
My granddaughters are Latinos, btw. If we can put history aside for a moment and consider today. Can you imagine mass immigration into Mexico by Germans who then demand the Mexican government declare German Mexico's Natonal language? I love Long Beach due to diversity of it's citizens. I am pro-peace. Mexican/Americans are also targeted by those who bypass the law for wanting to salute a US flag, not a Mexican one. Yes, many who bypass the law, bring Mexican (and others) into the USA to enforce prostitution.
I'm ashamed I even just typed that, but after three months of dealing with people who could not even spell my name after I'd spelled it like S as in Sam, h as in hat, a as in apple, and so on and so forth, I'd reached super attitude status. It was still wrong of me to say that though. But yeah, I can see why they'd want the opportunity to have success just like the rest of the immigrants (read: Columbus!) who came here. Hell, at least they aren't killing people from diseases and raping the women as they come.
I do see how the employment situation is a problem however because illegal immigrants will come and get paid next to nothing to do a job. The issue with that is there is a language barrier. I spent three months trying to get my Hewlett Packard camera fixed because the people who sent parts sent the wrong shipments to the wrong address. This went on for about a month. They were from somewhere in the Middle East. Then there was the issue (for 3 months) with my DVR with Latinos who were not fluent English speakers. After awhile, I was so frustrated with both companies that I said "Put an American on the damn phone!" I lost my whole cool. The language barrier is my issue, not the money. But I can see how other Americans are being slighted due to people coming over illegally. However, I believe they come here for safety and employment. IF I were in their shoes, I'd want to come too.