I'm going to the protests!

Good on ya, ebrown. Tread safely, now.

Looking forward to your account!

I always have, and will support legal immigration into America; I never have, and never will support illegal immigration into America.

Good luck with your protest!

Cycloptichorn

Yeah well, I support illegal immigration as I think it virtually impossible for poor people to immigrate legally. But perhaps I should drop that bomb in one of the many immigration debate threads.

I agree with that. Also, I think one of the important things in this debate is what we do with them once they're here. Perfect world, nobody immigrates illegally, fine. But the world's not perfect, they DO immigrate illegally, then what?

I just heard on the radio that they are close to signing a bill that allows illegal immigrants here more than 5 years to become legal, those here between 2 and 5 years have to leave first and then become legal and those here under two years just have to leave.

Kennedy and McCain have both initially approved.

They are doing a test vote today.

Please don't turn my protest/mid-life crises/ birthday thread into a political debate on legal vs. illegal immigration.

I am joining the protests because I think we should treat immigrants, both legal and illegal, with decency.

I understand that cyclo and others make a distinction between legal and illegal.

I wouldn't mind a discussion about the protests, or even about their efficacy. But I don't want a rehash of the already spirited immigration debate on other threads.

<claps hand over mouth>

Happy birthday, ebrown!

Hey, can we see some new daughter pics? I bet she's a lot bigger than your avatar by now...

Sure, np there.

I also think that everyone should be treated with equal human decency and respect, regardless of their legal/illegal citizenship status. My only hope is to reform our laws to bring about a situation that is both safe and open, if that is possible.

Cycloptichorn

Good for you ebrown_p!

Sorry ebrown. I had a hunch I shoulda kept my mouth shut.

Happy birthday! Hope you have some good walking shoes.

ebrown_p, Have you ever been to a protest?

Wait till you see the difference of how it is projected on the news as opposed to how it actually is.

Amigo, not since I was a kid (had parents in the civil rights movement). How is it different?

(I suspect the TV version of reality is more important.)

From my experience I'd say mostly a lot more boring. A lot of milling around between organized sections (if there are organized sections, depends on the protest -- this one sounds pretty big and well-organized).

And as Amigo said earlier (somewhere), a lot more normal people doing normal things than you usually see on the news.

You'll see. They might have one to match yours here in L.A.. I'll go to that one and we can both exchange notes here. Coast to coast. I'll have to find out.

My roomates watch T.V. like it's a window into the real word. Very strange and scarry.

Re: I'm going to the protests!

I'd join you if I was currently in the US. Don't forget warm clothing. The weather is cold in Boston, and one major difference between demonstrations on TV and demonstrations in real life is that in real life they're much, much longer. (This is obvious once you think about it, but somehow I missed the point on my first demonstration.) Good luck!

http://www.internationalanswer.org/

April 15: Mass Student March for Immigrant Rights
Amnesty! Full Rights for Immigrants! Down with HR 4437!

Saturday, April 15, 10 am
Olympic & Broadway, Los Angeles
March to City Hall
*****************************
On Sunday, March 25, the largest demonstration took place in the history of California. Over 1 million people came out to denounce the racist Sensenbrenner-King Bill, which criminalizes the immigrant community. Similar mass protests have taken place across the country. The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition mobilized and provided logistical support to the Los Angeles demonstration.

What a night!

We had some 7,000 people at Boston and to be part of such a large, passionate and diverse crowd is a powerful feeling. And the crowd was diverse, it looked about half Latino, with Asians and Hatians and Anglos all together, including a big looking group of guys waving Irish flags wearing tee-shirts which read "Legalize the Irish". (I was glad they were on our side).

For me one highlight was a speech from a Minister from the Boston Ten Point Coalition. They are an African American Evangelical Christian group that does a lot of work stopping violence. This minister said he wanted to make it very clear "The Black church, as far as it is represented by the Ministers of the Ten Point coalition..." is behind the rights of immigrants.

He spoke about the need for African-Americans and new immigrants to work together against the people who oppose the rights of both. This gave me a feeling of hope as people who understand the struggle for human rights, view immigrant rights as human rights.

After a too long time listening to speeches made more difficult by a poor sound system (you all warned me about the dull spots), we were off.

The marchers left the park with a singer singing "America the Beautiful" playing "and crown thy good with Brotherhood from sea to shining sea." This was quite a feeling.

One thing that surprised me (even disappointed me) was the lack of counter-protest. There were a couple of sad looking old guys standing quietly on the side of the street with signs. I tried to cheer one up by saying "God bless America!", but he just muttered something like "America's gonna need it" and didn't look very happy.

Once we got to the end of the march, the whole thing turned into a celebration. I think there were speeches, but it was impossible to tell (I think that any speeches were aimed at TV more than the crowd). There was music powered by latin drums and people mingling and kids playing.

I left feeling hopeful and energized. Social movements take time and not every day will be a celebration but there is real power here. There were both citizens and immigrants legal and "illegal" all together to work to make the US a more compassionate, welcoming and diverse place.