On March 25, 2006, Los Angeles immigrants and their supporters came out in mass to protest the recent anti-immigrant legislation being discussed by the US Congress. An estimated 500,000 to 1 million people were out in the streets, in a peaceful protest. News reported 500,000 but organizers estimate over a 1 million came out on Saturday. They came out to protest HR 4437, a bill that is being discussed this month in the US Congress.
The Sensenbrenner Bill is a 247 page bill that is an outrageous law because it makes local law enforcement immigration officers, makes being undocumented a felony (now just a civil case and will be deported), makes anyone who assists undocumented workers a smuggler (also felony and can seize property that was used - office, car, home, etc.), and makes it harder for employers to hire undocumented workers.
Immigration reform has been on Bush's agenda but he has not moved anything because he does not have enough support from Congress. Bush has been pushing for a guest worker program- that would allow workers to have a temporary status here but no right to citizenship. He wants to use workers for their labor but not offer any support or long term plan. Other proposals being discusses have some provisions for workers to become citizens but under an extremely limited basis. All proposals include more border security and would make more restrictions on employers' hiring processes.
These anti-immigrant bills have caused massive protests across the United States. We have seen hundreds of thousands march in major cities in the US. In Los Angeles, the protests are the largest we have ever seen. After the huge march over the weekend, students have been walking out of class and taking over streets and highways. Over 36,000 students walked out on March 27th and continue to walk out today.
We are hopeful that this energy and spirit will continue. Thousands of people were in the streets until the late evening and even though the march was over, people continued to march and hang banners off the bridges over the streets. Our next big action is May 1st- we hope to connect this larger immigrant rights movement to have a stronger message that includes all workers. Our main theme for May 1st this year is : Workers Move the World!
Click here for photos: flickr photos
