2006 U.S. immigration reform protests
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In 2006, millions of people were involved in protests over a proposed reform to existing United States immigration laws. The protests began in response to proposed legislation known as H.R. 4437, which would raise penalties for illegal immigration and classify illegal aliens and anyone who helped them enter or remain in the US as felons. As part of the wider immigration debate, most protests not only seek an overhaul of this bill, but also a path to legalization for those who have entered America illegally and fewer Immigration Services delays.
The largest national turnout of protests occurred on April 10, 2006, in 102 cities, and were the largest demonstrations in many years in cities such as Dallas, Texas, (estimated crowd 500,000), Chicago, Illinois, (estimated crowd 100,000), Atlanta, Georgia , (estimated 60,000), Salt Lake City, Utah, (estimated 40,000), Seattle, Washington, (estimated 30,000) and Madison, Wisconsin, (estimate 25,000). Almost all of the protests were peaceful and attracted considerable media attention, although there was also controversy over what many people considered anti-American symbolism at some of the protests. Additional protests took place on May Day and many of the protesters carried portraits of Marxist icon Che Guevara.
Role of Spanish-language media
Spanish-language media outlets, in particular Univision and Telemundo and various Spanish-language radio stations across the country, in large part aided in mobilizing people for the protests. Eduardo Sotelo, a Spanish-language radio personality from Los Angeles and known by the nickname El Piolin, persuaded eleven of his counterparts from Spanish-language radio stations based in Los Angeles to also rally listeners to attend planned protests. [1] [2] [3]
Role of the Internet
Internet community sites containing personal blogs also played a significant role in helping to "get the word out" on the dates and locations for the marches and demonstration protests. Whereas Spanish language radio concentrated on the Spanish speaking audience only, the Internet catered to Mexican-Americans and other Hispanic youths. MySpace.com in particular was seen as a significant source for attracting the youth who speak English. Because of the Internet, the various marches and demonstrations which occurred around the nation attracted more than merely the illegal aliens, immigrant advocate nonprofit organizations and churches. The Internet was directly responsible for attracting a large percentage of the English speaking Hispanic American youth.
Controversy and backlash over flag symbolism and protests
"Stolen: Continent, since 1492": One of the many bold signs used by the Mexica Movement during the Los Angeles March of 2006 (La Gran Marcha), and the subsequent march in Dallas, Texas.
The initial protests caused some controversy after a number of protesters waved Mexican and other Central American flags. The issue of these flags was also repeated by media outlets and columnists.[4] One particular incident referred to involved a protest at Montebello High School in California, where a Mexican flag was raised on a flagpole over an United States flag flying in the distressed (or upside-down) position.[5]
Because of the controversy, organizers of the protests encouraged protesters to leave their Mexican flags at home, with Cardinal Roger Mahony telling Los Angeles protesters to not fly any flag other than the United States flag because, "...they do not help us get the legislation we need."[6] As a result of this controversy later protests featured fewer Mexican flags and more protesters carrying American flags.[7] This fact, though, did not end the controversy over the protests, with some commentators and bloggers also questioning the statements on signs held by certain protesters, which they described as racist and anti-American.[8]
The Mexica Movement was the most notable group promoting controversial messages which were seen in the Los Angeles and Dallas marches. Their organization carried large signs stating "All Europeans Are Illegal On This Continent Since 1492" and "We are the ONLY owners of this continent!." They also carried large posters depicting Wisconsin Congressman James Sensenbrenner as a Nazi and the North American continent displayed under the heading, "Stolen Continent."
As part of the backlash over the protests and the controversy over the flag symbolism issue, a group called Border Guardians burned a Mexican flag in front of the Mexican Consulate in Tucson, Arizona, on April 9, 2006.[9] The following day the group proceeded to burn two Mexican flags during protest in Tucson, Arizona, which was estimated to have had 15,000 participants. After the police seized a student who had thrown a water bottle at the Border Guardians protesters followed the police officers calling for them to let the student go. As the situation escalated violence broke out and 6 were arrested with dozens being pepper-sprayed. The next day the police arrested the leader of the Border Guardians, Roy Warden, for charges including assault and starting a fire in a public park.
In addition, California‘s Oceanside Unified School District "banned flags and signs from its campuses after Mexican flag-wavers clashed with U.S. flag-wavers."[10]
While most of the protests have been peaceful, a May 1 protest in Los Angeles turned violent, with protesters throwing bottles at police. [11]
The Washington Post has reported that one U.S. town has lost its "daylabor" center, two aldermen, its mayor for being pro-illegal immigrant, and that since the U.S. Govt. will not do anything, the States are mobilizing to deal with the illegal aliens. [11],[12]
Timeline
February
El Puente Magazine
March
- March 10: 100,000 marched from Union Park to Federal Plaza in Chicago.[13]
- March 23: 10,000-15,000 marched to Zeidler Park in Milwaukee.[13]
Tens of thousands of workers participate in a work stoppage in Georgia.[citation needed]
- March 25: 750,000 (average estimate) marched from Olympic and Broadway to the City Hall in Los Angeles in what was called by a coalition "La Gran Marcha" (aka "The Grand March"). According to the Los Angeles Police Department, "500,000 plus" marched to City Hall in protest the proposed Congressional legislation HR 4437 which passed the House of Representatives and moved onto the Senate for debate. Organizers and other group participants estimated the crowd at closer to or over one million.[citation needed]
- March 25: 50,000 demonstrated in front of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver.[15]
- March 31: High school students protested in several cities.
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- 3,000 high school and middle school students in Las Vegas walk out of class to protest. Some college and community college students join them on their protest; many were charged with truancy. [18]
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- Approximately 6,000 people met at Chicano Park in San Diego and walked through Downtown to City College. Most of the attendees were from several middle and high schools.[citation needed]
April
- April 6: Hundreds of Aurora, Illinois students left school to march downtown to protest.[20]
- April 8: Several hundred people rally at Chicano Park in San Diego. [21]
- April 9: Demonstrations in several cities across the United States, including:
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- 350,000-500,000 marched to City Hall in Dallas.[22]
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- 50,000 marched in San Diego from Balboa Park, through downtown to the County Administration Building.[23]
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Students Of Jersey City‘s McNair Academic High School gather to protest the proposed H.R. 4437 at Liberty State Park after defying their teachers and staff and walking out of their school at 2:00pm on April 10, 2006.
- April 10: Demonstrations were staged in 102 cities and towns across the United States, including Las Vegas, Boston, Philadelphia, Reno, Washington D.C., Indianapolis, Phoenix, New York City, Lexington, Knoxville, Memphis, Austin[26]
, and Los Angeles.[27] [28] [29]
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- Boston, Massachusetts, several thousand demonstrators march from Boston Common to Copley Square, forcing road closures. Speeches are held from the steps of the McKim building of the Boston Public Library, addressing crowded masses below. Of note were the many Irish flags mixed in with those of Latin America, due to the large number of descendants of Irish immigrants living in Boston.[31]
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- Charleston, South Carolina, at least 4,000 people gathered and protested the inability of lawmakers to agree on legislation that would lead to citizenship. [32]
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- Fort Myers, Florida, an estimated 75,000 people took part in "The Great March" which affected traffic in nearby areas of the march. The stream of protesters was at least a mile long at times. [33]
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- Grand Junction, Colorado 3,000 plus marched between two city parks, delegations were sent from all over Western Colorado.
- Indianapolis, Indiana, anywhere from 10,000 to 20,000 protesters halt traffic Downtown. Speeches took place outside of the City-County Building throughout the afternoon.[34]
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- Las Vegas, Nevada, a well organized march of approximately 3,000 people was held. Protesters marched two miles from Jaycee Park to the Federal Courthouse during the first day of the Clark Country Spring Break, waving Mexican and American flags alike. They protested in favor of amnesty. [35]
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- Pensacola, Florida, over 1,000 people gathered in Martin Luther King, Jr Plaza in downtown Pensacola to protest pending immigration legislation.
- Phoenix, Arizona, at least 100,000 people took to the streets, marching to demonstrate against harsh immigration legislation before the national congress.[36]
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- New York City, between 70,000 and 125,000 people demonstrated in front of City Hall. Senators Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer spoke at the rally. Neither called for amnesty, though many of the crowd‘s signs and chants did.[37]
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- Salt Lake City, Utah, a unity rally was held at the City-County Building; there were an estimated 15,000 protesters.[39]
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- April 11: Several protests occurred in Nevada.
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- In Carson City, Nevada, an estimated 200 students walked out of class, rallying in front of the Governor‘s Mansion. [43]
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- In Reno, Nevada, between 2,000 to 4,000 protesters marched through the downtown area, from the University of Nevada, Reno campus to the Bruce R. Thompson Federal Building, and continued to a designated spot near the Meadowwood Mall. Traffic was held and diverted along South Virginia Street during the march. [44]
- April 19: Students from various Denver High Schools and Middle Schools walked out of class and marched to the capitol.[46]
- April 27: Approximatly 200 volunteers and supporters built a 6 foot high, quater mile section of barbed wire fencing along the Mexico and United States border to send a clear message to Americans and leaders in Washington regarding the lack of security at our borders. [47]
- April 28: Nuestro Himno, a Spanish language rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, is played simultaneously on about 500 Spanish language radio stations across the country. President Bush denounced the effort saying the National Anthem should be sung in English[48]
May
A rally on May 1 in Chicago
- May 1: The "Great American Boycott" takes place across the United States and at a few locations abroad. [14]
- An estimated 75,000 protested in Denver [15] [16] and over half a million in L.A. [17]
- An estimated 400,000 marched in Chicago, according to police, though organizers pegged the total at closer to 700,000 [18]
- The boycott was said to have had "little economic impact" in Arizona [19]
- Chicago area discjockey Mancow expressed his feelings though comedy, stating "I was promised a Day without a Latino" - noting one of the original names for the event - "But as I look out this morning I see Latinos everywhere."
- Modesto, California saw close to 10,000 people marching in the streets, possibly the largest assembly of people in the city‘s history. Major city streets were shut down as a direct result. [20]
- Worcester, Massachusetts had 2000-2500 persons gathered around City Hall and more than 75 businesses closed on and around Main St. in support of the Boycott.
- Boston, Massachusetts had 2000-2500 people rally at Boston Commons, 5000 in Chelsea, East Boston, and Somerville. There were also many university and high school walkouts to a rally at Harvard Square, which then joined the Boston Commons rally.
- Over 15,000 protesters were reported in Santa Barbara, California. [21]
- Some supporters have hailed this as "the most important boycott since the days of the civil rights movement".[citation needed]
- In the Bay Area around 200,000 marched in San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa etc. [22]
- A California newspaper has reported that an altercation has taken place between police and protestors. Link is Violence Reported During The May 1, 2006 Demonstrations
- Local news estimates that 3,000+ people marched from Jaycee Park in Las Vegas, Nevada; the economic impact was noticeable with construction sites completely vacant and various local hotels and casinos struggling. High school and middle school attendance rates were at an all-time low. [23]
- Another newspaper had reported another altercation. This is the link:Police fight Protesters This one resulted in arrests of protesters.
- Around 1000 Protesters in Tijuana Mexico, blocked the international border crossing -the busiest in the world- in support of immigration rights.
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