Tens of Thousands Protest Arizona Immigration Law Nationwide

by Susan Marie Kovalinsky | May 1, 2010 at 02:47 pm

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Phoenix Arizona protest on may 1st 2010 regarding Arizona Sb1070 | Photo 02

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In cities across the nation on Saturday, tens of thousands rallied, angered by a new controversial immigration law passed in Arizona. 50,000 were reported in Los Angeles. The protesters are demanding that President Obama take some action against the law now.

"Sleeping giant awakened"

"I want to thank the governor of Arizona because she's awakened a sleeping giant," said labor organizer John Delgado who attended a rally in New York where authorities estimated 6,500 gathered.

In cities nationwide, including Washington, DC and LA, activists, families, students and even politicians marched, practiced civil disobedience and "came out" about their citizenship status in the name of rights for immigrants.

An estimated 12 million undocumented aliens live in the US, according to estimates.

Gloria Estefan, politicians, join rallies ;

Huffington Post reports students withdraw from Arizona universities

Singer Gloria Estefan kicked off a massive downtown march in LA, speaking to the throngs in Spanish and English, and reminding her fans that the US is a nation of immigrants. She is Cuban born, and professed her love for America.

Among immigrant rights activists, public outcry over Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's signed legislation of last week has been huge. Many call the law racist, unconstitutional, and say that it will increase punitive racial profiling, diverting Law Enforcement from true criminal activity.

At a park on Chicago's West Side, nearly 8,000 gathered and marched. Political activists mingled with students and food vendors.

Obama had promised to take on immigration reform within the first hundred days, but Obama and Congress became bogged down with healthcare and economic reform, and have yet to address this matter.

"Obama promised legalization in the first 100 days and lied" said one protester with a pinnochio Obama mask.

U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, an Illinois Democrat, was arrested with several others in a demonstration of civil disobedience against the Arizona law at the White House.

In Dallas, police estimated at least 20,000 attended a Saturday rally.

May 1 is International Workers Day, and was picked to highlight the issue, because of the timing and the urgency. Counter protesters were also seen with signs at many of the rallies.

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Rory Cripps

at 15:26 on May 1st, 2010

If Obama and the Democrats get on board with the protesters I'd be surprised. There are vastly more American voters out there that have had it up to here with illegal immigration than there are those that support the protesters. If the Democratic party attempts to interfere with Arizona on this issue, they are going to lose even more House and Senate seats in November.

t k kidwai

at 17:01 on May 1st, 2010

Every issue must not be weighed in terms of gaining seats or losing seats.There are concerns which are of vital importance and must be addressed with a spirit of resolution.We are here all over the world,especially in so-called democratic countries where election carnivals are held every four or five years,because of politicians dirty and filthy mentality of calculation in terms of seats.Retaining or gaining seats is more important than resolving a crises to power hungry politicians,in either case winners are politicians;losers the common man.

Immigiration issues must be deliberated upon in a wider forum,comprising of itellectuals,academics,scholars and human right activists.

Where devils fear to tread,politicians tread.

Rory Cripps

at 18:14 on May 1st, 2010

t k: Yes! Virtually every issue is viewed in terms of winning elections. American politicians have a real cushy gig with all sorts of perks and they don't want to give that up. What kind of job can you get where you can vote yourself pay raises and big bonuses other than in the U.S. House and Senate.

The immigration issue is cut and dried. Either you don't care if illegal immigrants flood into America or you do. The American voters will ultimately decide this issue--in spite of the recent protests. And I'll make a prediction here: The Dems are going to lose big time if they side with the protesters and push the amnesty issue.

Americans are fed up with illegal immigration and non-documented workers. There is not one country in the world that allows it's borders to be violated like America does. There is nothing immoral about the citizens of a nation wanting their borders maintained. The shit is going to hit the fan with this issue in the near future and the Democratic party is going to be left holding the shit end of the stick if they continue to push for the dismantling of America's borders.

And the last thing that America needs is immigration issues deliberated upon in a wider forum, comprising intellectuals, academics,scholars and human right activists. That would F things up more than they already are. What American's want are the laws regarding immigration that are already on the books to be enforced and America's borders to be patrolled in earnest. They just want a return to common sense. Indeed, any politician that sides with the protesters and pushes for amnesty in light of America's current economic climate is skating on very thin ice.

New Verbage (not verified)

at 19:43 on May 1st, 2010

Honestly.. there is a viable solution to this.. but then there is no money in it for the government.. Immigrants who come into the country need to be assigned a number so they can pay taxes.. there is no guarantee on not having US citizens hire them for slave labor so if you have them pay out of their income then they will have the same pay (as they should) as someone who is a citizen.. They contribute to the American economy and have the ability to achieve the American dream. In reality we are all immigrants or really our ancestors are immigrants... With all of this drama in this sector could you imagine what the American people would think about student Visa's. Most don't know but a student with a Visa is assigned a social security number during their stay in America... they can use that social security number for student loans, credit cards, cars and anything else that can be purchased.. The only thing they can't use their assigned social security number for is getting a job? Really? Come on now.. I think that has more of an impact on the American economy than 10 times the immigrants we have now... Look at the who picture and the entire spectrum and we can find a viable solution which doesn't discriminate or violate human rights...

Rory Cripps

at 04:19 on May 2nd, 2010

New Verbage (not verified): This is the worst possible time for any immigrant's rights groups to take to the streets if they're hoping to win Americans over to their cause.

There are a number of reasons for that: Number one, the American economy is a train wreck and there are 15 million Americans out of work (that's the official figures but there are lot more than that). Americans for the most part are fed up with the government's wishy washy approach to illegal immigration and border control. They see the American government as the enemy in that the government is more concerned with protecting the rights of illegal immigrants than it is in protecting the rights of the American citizen. This is especially true in the southern border states like Arizona and Texas.

With the exception of a hand full of Republicans that are beholden to businesses that rely on the cheap labor that illegal immigrants provide, the only friends in government that illegals have are Obama and the Democrats in the House and Senate. And the American voters know this. If those groups that are taking to the streets and who are pushing for amnesty and wide open borders manage to get the Democrats behind them and the Democrats come out in support of these groups prior to the November 2010 elections, then the Dems will lose even more House and Senate seats in 2010.

I don't think some people realize the extent to which Americans have had it up to here with illegal immigrants and what they see as the government's utter failure to enforce the immigration laws.

t k kidwai

at 21:03 on May 1st, 2010

Rory,I agree with you that illegal immigiration is a problem,but its solution shouldn't be left to the politicians,if we really want its solution,that is my point.Didn't Republicans grant amnesty?Don't you have laws dealing with illegal immigirants,and those who hire them?Would more stringent laws be helpful?

I think that severest punishment to those who hire illegal immigirants offers a better solution.But politicians won't make such laws because elected representatives hire illegal immigirants.Let Arizona be a litmus test for the illegal immigirants and the rest of the USA.

New and diffrent

at 13:00 on May 3rd, 2010

I agre with you THE ONLY WAY to curb this is to go after the employers hard.If there is no demnd for cheep ( not just cheep also one's who will not complane about sub-standard working conditions) we stop that then the problem becomes moot.

Rory Cripps

at 04:41 on May 2nd, 2010

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer last week signed a new law into effect that authorizes local police to stop and verify the immigration status of anyone they suspect of being an illegal immigrant. A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that 60% of voters nationwide favor such a law, while 31% are opposed.

Seventy-seven percent (77%) of Republicans support the law along with 62% of voters not affiliated with either major party. Democratic voters are evenly divided on the measure.

Not surprisingly, support for the law authorizing local police to arrest illegal immigrants is a bit higher in Arizona than it is nationwide. As one of the states most impacted by illegal immigration, 70% of voters statewide favor the new law.

Democratic strategist Susan Estrich notes that “the federal government is supposed to secure the border. Its failure to do so effectively … invites measures like Arizona's. … In the final analysis, the greatest threat to the rule of law is the lawlessness that leaves both desperate immigrants and desperate citizens vulnerable and afraid.”

The new survey results are consistent with findings conducted over many years. Three-out-of-four voters believe that the federal government is not doing enough to secure the nation’s borders. In fact, 56% believe that the policies of the federal government encourage illegal immigration. Among voters who are angry about immigration, 83% are angry at the federal government. Only 12% direct their anger at the immigrants

Other surveys have found that 73% of voters want cops to check the immigration status of all offenders during traffic stops. Sixty-seven percent (67%) also say that if law enforcement officers know of places where immigrants gather to find work, they should sometimes conduct surprise raids to identify and deport those who are here illegally.

Sixty-eight percent (68%) of voters nationwide say that those who knowingly hire illegal immigrants should be punished. By a 48% to 36% margin, voters say the same about landlords who rent to illegal immigrants. Additionally, 77% of voters nationwide oppose drivers’ licenses for undocumented immigrants. That topic tripped up Hillary Clinton in a debate during the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

YankeeJim

at 14:09 on May 2nd, 2010

I think that history and day-to-evidence illustrate that the USA and Mexico, the people are tightly linked. Mi casa su casa, so long as you come legally.