How Are the Immigrant Groups Doing It?

[rucky]

Seems that within days, without any type of visible escalation, millions of immigrants take to the streets in a massive display. And this May 1st is going to be HUGE (I hope everybody participates).

No organizations behind this to speak of. No massive fundraising drives. No petitions. No internet.

HOW did they get so organized/mobilized/energized? It's awesome, but man, here we are on the DU and it's like pulling teeth to get a movement like that going - and saving the world from the Neocons is about as worthy of a cause as anything.

[magellan]

1. Spanish language radio

...and fear.

[Horse with no Name]

2. Craigslist, Myspace, local Spanish disc jockeys

Pure grassroots.:thumbsup:

[Whoa_Nelly]

3. We have to get people motivated on one issue

Unfortunately, there are so many issues. One issue that affects all would have thousands in the streets in no time.

[leftstreet]

4. The Catholic Church, La Raza, Spanish language radio

Tons of nonprofit immigration reform groups. Donations from corporations.

Of course, all of these groups will simply disappear when 20 million more workers cross the borders to compete with these marchers for even lower wages.

[Erika]

5. Face it, W has turned us into a 3rd world country

Where we'll be competing against illegals for a $9.00 an hour job.

[leftstreet]

7. True enough

I guess the only silver lining is the rising tide of leftist populism in Central and Latin America. We can only hope it will get here soon.

[stevietheman]

6. Perhaps progressives should unite behind one *egregious*

scandal and have nationwide protests based just on that.

Now *that* would be a feat--a single-issue protest by progressives.

[rucky]

17. Ask 4 progressives a question, and you get 10 different opinions. nt

[Robbie Michaels]

8. Think Back to 1987

Remember when Metallica sold a million copies of Master of Puppets without radio or MTV airplay? Word of mouth.

It also helps that many people are pissed off. :grr:

[RoyGBiv]

9. Mentioned previously, radio ...

A lot of it is being organized on Spanish-language radio stations, and it seems invisible to English speakers who don't understand Spanish for obvious reasons.

As for being energized, it's because they give a shit and have not become so wrapped up in comfortable lives that they fear upsetting the status quo.

[low_phreaq]

10. A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition

I read somewhere that the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition is helping them organize.
It does appear to be the main focus of their website at the moment:
http://www.internationalanswer.org/

I think they may have raised a few hackles around here a while back, not sure what the current thinking is on them.

[lostexpectation]

11. credit grabbers

coattailers what more do you want to say about them claiming to have something to with this surge...

[rman]

12. Not very likely, since these protests focused on one issue

ANSWER is notorious for including all kinds of relatively 'fringe' issues such as the Israel-Palestine conflict.

[low_phreaq]

14. Well, I did find this article

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3806040.html

The boycott idea emerged in early April from activists of Latino Movement USA, and the anti-war ANSWER Coalition.

Immigration leaders at Thursday's briefing and elsewhere said those organizations were no longer part of the national immigration reform movement.

ANSWER spokesman Carlos Alvarez said no group or coalition owns the issue of immigration reform.

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

15. Oh please, ANSWER has absolutely nothing to do with this.

Here in Chicago the Spanish radio stations have played the major role along with word of mouth.

I can guarantee that 95% of the protestors here in Chicago on March 10th and the people that will march on Monday don't even have a clue who or what ANSWER represents.

They're a non-entity...

:mad: :mad:

[low_phreaq]

27. Agreed

I just think either that article or a similar one was how I got the impression that ANSWER was involved. Sorry I wasn't more clear.

[low_phreaq]

13. Just hope it's not a new Cointelpro

Hopefully Bushco is not secretly helping to encourage the boycott to create a backlash, or worse, a justification for martial law? :tinfoilhat:

[rucky]

19. there will be arrests on Monday.

if there's violence, it'll come from the Police end of the barricades.

[KittyWampus]

31. Who Owns Spanish Radio & TV? I Personally Think This Might Be

a set up.

[Jamison]

16. The Latinos just have an amazing work ethic.

I hate to say it, but they are accomplishing things that DU could only dream of. Not to say that we don't work hard for our causes, but they're organizing a full-out nationwide boycott.

[rucky]

18. On May 1st, I'm a Latino. n/t

[rucky]

20. I also think it's the one issue that the GOP can't get their talking point

s together on. So they can't stink up the media by framing the issue in a certain hateful way.

Sad to say, but those talking points effectively keep people in their living rooms - when presented with a "viable" difference of opinion that the mighty wurlitzer amplifies tenfold.

[leftchick]

21. Church

it is as simple as that. We have a HUGE Hispanic Mass at my Catholic Church every Sunday. They come from all over NC and it is more than mass, they socialize for several hours as well.

[rucky]

23. That's how the civil rights movement mobilized, as well. n/t

[1932]

22. I thought I read that unions are helping to organize this too.

[notadmblnd]

24. I think they have corporate America behind them on this one

nt

[elehhhhna]

25. Threatening to criminalize poeples parents motivates them bigtime

[AlphaCentauri]

26. It takes courage and hope

courage with out hate

[Poll_Blind]

28. Kick & Recommended....this is such an important, telling and useful post..

This is exactly we need to be asking ourselves right about now.

PB

[Lars39]

29. Their communities aren't as fractured as our society is as a whole.

Extended families living closer together perhaps. :shrug:

[Terran1212]

30. Older cultures and poorer people are better organizers

Than white, individualist America.

[rucky]

32. Richer, whiter people are better "deciders."

sorry. couldn't resist.

[Terran1212]

33. : P