Thousands March for Reform at Immigration Rights Rally

[Flaneur]

Source: Southern California Public Radio

Thousands of people poured into downtown Los Angeles for Saturday’s annual May Day rally. The turnout was less than expected with about 50,000 attending - but the energy of the demonstration was strong. Much of the march focused on Arizona’s stringent new immigration law. Organizers arrived at dawn, armed with clipboards, forms and information they were eager to share with undocumented immigrants about how they can become U.S. citizens.

Yaquelin Barrera, 16 years-old and one of the youngest working with the immigrant rights group Vamos Unidos, didn’t mind giving up her Saturday. “I feel I have a need to tell my people they have rights and they shouldn’t be mistreated just because they don’t know English.”

By mid morning, Yaquelin could barely hear herself. The intersection at Olympic and Broadway was packed. A diverse crowd of thousands filled the intersection and several more blocks for a pre-rally event. Activists and politicians addressed the crowd from a platform. Speakers included Cardinal Roger Mahony and Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

“We are a nation of laws,” the mayor exclaimed. “Laws that are tough yet fair minded, not heavy handed and unenforceable.”

And with that, there was a chant from the crowd, in Spanish. They shouted: “Obama, listen! We’re in the fight.” Lots of signs were raised high as they marched on Broadway, through the fashion district, imploring President Obama to follow through on a promise for comprehensive immigration reform.

Read more: http://www.scpr.org/news/2010/05/02/thousands-march-reform-immigration-rights-rally/

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"No reform, no re-election," said one activist.

There were marches like this all across the country. I attended the one in San Francisco yesterday, with maybe 5,000 people. Very impressive.

[EFerrari]

1. Thousands in San Jose, presente!

:kick:

[msedano]

2. fotos from may day broadway l.a.

http://readraza.com/maydaysmall.htm


A grandly peaceful, lively gathering.

mvs

[EFerrari]

4. "Son las Adelitas"!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TgYB--TN1M

[skepticscott]

3. So what exactly

are "immigration rights", as opposed to already guaranteed due process rights?

[EFerrari]

5. You mean, aside from that whole racial profiling part?

:puke:

[skepticscott]

6. So someone has to be an immigrant

to be subject to racial profiling? Please.

Now, see if you can actually think rationally and answer a direct question-give us a list of "immigration rights"

[Flaneur]

8. It's about comprehensive immigration law reform.

But you already knew that.

[skepticscott]

delete dupe

[skepticscott]

11. Why don't you answer the question

if you can? List for us some "immigration rights".

And apparently you didn'tknow that immigration law is fundamentally about granting privileges, not about recognizing fundamental rights.

[leeloo]

13. I don't think the march was about 'immigration rights" i believe it was more

a "illegal immigration rights march" but you cannot say that because most people would go illegals have immigration rights?

Posted by a legal immigrant who always had rights.....

[skepticscott]

16. Well, the OP title says that it was

And as I said in my initial response, the concept of "immigration rights" as distinct from already granted civil and due process rights has no foundation.

[AlphaCentauri]

14. Human rights + Civil Rights + Labor Rights = Immigrants Rights

[skepticscott]

17. I did not ask about the rights of immigrants

I asked about "immigration rights" as distinct from already granted civil and due process rights.

Try again.

[AlphaCentauri]

18. Immigrants constitute immigration

hard to digest that simple formula

[DissedByBush]

7. Damn hijacking of May Day

It's not supposed to be political.

I say we go back to celebrating May Day in the original form -- Beltane, or a little more recent, Walpurgisnacht.


"“We are a nation of laws,” the mayor exclaimed. “Laws that are tough yet fair minded, not heavy handed and unenforceable.” "

And, please, someone tell that to the Mexicans.

[Flaneur]

9. May Day is not supposed to be political? Are you joking?

Everywhere else in the world, it is the day to honor labor. Here in the US, it's officially designated "Law Day."

[Igel]

12. The problem word is "supposed."

May Day far precedes workers' rights or any related political movement.

Just as Xmas is a pagan holiday (or several, by geographical area) that was taken over and given new meaning by the Catholic Church, so May Day is a pagan holiday taken over and given new meaning by an international socialist/trade-union/labor organization. It also apparently has been given a Xian meaning in some areas.

If things' original meanings are the meanings they're "supposed" to have, then May Day isn't supposed to be political. For some groups of quasi-pagan revivalists, it's again given a religious meaning.

[DissedByBush]

15. And December 25th isn't supposed to be about Jesus

Also hijacked, another new meaning given to an ancient holiday.

Besides, Jesus was born mostly likely in late September.

[AlphaCentauri]

10. A good day to remember the Haymarket massacre

and labor rights