Gran Marcha--Gran Backlash!

[Fade the Butcher]

http://www.slate.com/id/2138371/

Mexican flags mobilize voters. Anti-immigrant voters.
By Mickey Kaus

Put Out More Flags--L.A. Times True to Form: That propagandistic LAT story on Saturday's big demonstration, the one that mentioned the presence of Mexican flags only in the tenth paragraph, has now been amended and updated--to eliminate any reference to Mexican flags at all! The story now also contains the following:

In contrast to demonstrations 12 years ago against Proposition 187, Saturday's rally featured more American flags than those from any other country.

From what I saw, this statement is false. There were about as many Mexican as American flags (as reported below). Here's what to me seems a representative LAT photo of the crowd--judge for yourself. Maybe it depends what part of the demo you were at and at what time. But at the very least "more American flags" is a highly deceptive assertion. (If U.S. flags predominated, it would be only by a slim, 51-49-type margin.) It's hard to believe Dean Baquet thinks this is good journalism. ... [Thanks to alert reader V.] 8:10 P.M. link

Rally Report: Reader L.N. suggested I had exaggerated the number of Mexican flags at various immigrant protest rallies--maybe demo organizers had wised up to the lesson that flaunting allegiance to a neighboring country was not a good way to make most Americans want to let in more people who share your attachment!** So I went down to today's Gran Marcha against "anti-immigration legislation" in downtown L.A.:

Crowd size: Big! Bigger than a couple of football games--I'd say 200,000 plus. ***

Demeanor: Pleasant!

Makeup: 99 percent Latino (an oversimplification--I saw one T-shirt saying "I'm Mexican, not Latino")

Most telling placard slogan: "Somos illegales, no criminales!"

Flags: Evenly split between Mexican and U.S., with El Salvadoran running a very distant (1%) third. And there were lots of flags. If you said "Mexican flag" every time you saw a Mexican flag, you never stopped talking.

** Q: Why are Mexican flags troubling in a way Italian flags wouldn't be troubling at, say, a Columbus Day rally? Simplest A: Italy's not right next door! ... For more on this issue, see this discussion with Jim Pinkerton. Pinkerton says flatly, "There will be a wall." He's for it. ...

*** Of course the very size of these rallies, when coupled with the pro-illegal immigrant sentiments and the Mexican flags, might hurt the cause of the ralliers. It seems likely to make many non-PC voters think, "Jeez, next year's rally will be even bigger. We'd better build that wall quick!" ...

Update: The Los Angeles Times, in a break with its recent trend toward improvement, fronts an embarrassing 100% PC rally story that mentions the U.S. flags (which marchers were told to bring) in paragraph one and the equally numerous Mexican flags (which marchers apparently decided to bring on their own) in paragraph #10. I used to write this sort of press-releasey "news" account when my college paper assigned me to "cover" anti-war demonstrations that I'd helped organize! (Typical Kaus lede: "Thousands of marching feet filled Post Office Square to protest ..." etc.) The Times' effort is filled with representative quotes from participants, without a note of dissent. Bill Bradley, in New West Notes, jumps on this especially romantic LAT sentence, which was so prized it got its own graf:

The marchers included both longtime residents and the newly arrived, bound by a desire for a better life and a love for this county.

But even the LAT doesn't pretend these were legal immigrants:

Many of the marchers were immigrants themselves — both legal and illegal -- from Mexico and Central America. Some had just crossed the border ...

Bradley also digs out a good quote from current California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, a rally leader who remembers the last big anti-anti-illegal march, which provoked a memorable backlash:

""I know I come from an advocacy background," says Nuñez. "But I learned a lot about negotiation with Miguel (Contreras, the late Los Angeles labor chieftain) and the labor movement. It wasn't all protest. You know when we had the big march in L.A. against [the anti-illegal immigrant] Proposition 187 in '94, Miguel tried to talk me out of it. 'Are you guys crazy?' he said. But I wanted to march. [Emph. added.]

Bradley asks, pointedly, "Was this rally necessary to defeat a bill that George W. Bush does not support?" But yes, there's certainly a good chance that a bill George W. Bush does not support will pass--and this rally will help it pass. ... More: For a contrary view, see Marc Cooper's post. ... 4:37 P.M. link

[Dan Dare]

It's hard to see how this bill, even if passed unchanged in the Senate, is going to have have any real impact on either the number of illegal aliens already here, or on the numbers that will arrive iin the future.

There have been other equally 'tough' measures enacted in the past, but the vested interests involved have always found a way to work around them. It's unclear why this round should be any different.

Certainly when you see the pictures from LA and Phoenix it does prompt the thought that that is already ocupied teritory and it might be more appropriate to comtemplate a strategic withdrawal to a more defensible position and cede the territory south of a line from the Sacramento delta to El Paso to the Gulf Coast, and fortifying that new line with the latest in lethal high-tech deterrents. There can be little hope in defending territory in which several millions of potential hostile aliens are already encamped.

[Fade the Butcher]

The tens of thousands of illegal aliens protesting all across the country seem to be quite worried about it. This is probably because HR4437 contains Tancredo's self-deportation scheme.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1603007/posts

This is NOT a political slam post, this is NOT going to argue for one side or another. This is a WARNING for those who will be affected by this announcement and a strong urge to either do something about it or prepare for the consequences.

This past week, Congress passed the first of a new slew of immigration laws, law HR4437. While many don't mind them cracking down and appreciate the new temporary worker programs being set up and laws to give many illegal immigrants visas, this new law may ruin the lives of American born citizens who simply LOOK like they may be from another country.

THIS POST ONLY INVOLVES INFORMATION FOR HR4437.

This new law is NATIONWIDE. It requires any immigrants or people with temporary visas to waive any and all rights to due process in case of a criminal charge (no matter how minor, including traffic violations). While this may not seem so bad, this is very bad when you take into consideration that if a police officer pulls you over, he or she has the right to ask any and all passengers for their ID. This law includes that anyone who helps an immigrant or someone who can't prove that they are from the US or have a genuine visa ON THE SPOT can be arrested. This means that if you cannot prove you are legally in the US, EVERYONE in the car can be (and most likely will) arrested and those without proof will be immediately handed over to the office of immigration and be DEPORTED WITHOUT DUE PROCESS OR A TRIAL.

This may not seem all that likely to you guys, but if this law passes, you will have no right to question it AT ALL. If you have no ID or visa on you at that time, you will be denied a lawyer, contact with any family, and immediately deported to whatever country they see fit. Your only available option will be to leave the couontry yourself, and if you do not, you will be put on the wanted list by the police and the next time you suffer a violation, you will pay a higher fine, be arrested, and deported with no options whatsoever, not even to tell your family or get money out of the bank.

Here's the lowdown by each section of the law.

Section 201, 4, iv: Any immigrant or suspected alien who cannot prove legal residence or citizenship can be deported for any criminal activity in the past 15 years regardless of the previous law limiting that date back to Sept. 30'th 1996. (In order to prove citizenship, you must provide a government issues ID a social security card, and a birth certificate. If 2 or all of these are missing or found to be fraudulent, YOU WILL BE DEPORTED, regardless if you legitimately cannot find them or if they were stolen.)

Section 202, Section 274, entirety: If any person (regardless of citizenship) can be confined up to 5 years if he simply DRIVES an illegal immigrant or person who cannot prove citizenship around town, as well as aiding, employing, housing, loaning money to, or helping with financial problems. If the person who is charged can be proven to have financially gained from helping at least 2 such people, then the imprisonment terms can be UP TO TWENTY YEARS IN A STATE PENITENTARY WITH A 3 YEAR MINIMUM, depending on the circumstance. For employers of such people, they can face a prison term of up to 5 years and/or be fined heavily. It continues to say that ANY property that was involved in breaking this law WILL be confiscated to the government, meaning that EMPLOYERS WILL LOSE THEIR BUILDING AND BUSINESS TO THE GOVERNMENT. OTHER PEOPLE CAN LOSE THEIR HOMES, VEHICLES, AND PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT WITH NO POSSIBILITY OR PERMISSION TO ARGUE AGAINST THE MATTER IN ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT.

Section 204, section 274 continued: this section allows the suspect to prove his citizenship only in court, but later DENIES THE RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS. Since the right to due process is later denied, the suspect will not be allowed to present his case and will be considered an illegal alien and be deported, as noted in section 208.

Section 208: This section gives the suspect 120 days to exit the country on their own given that they sign A WAIVER TO ANY RIGHTS TO PROTEST THEIR DEPORTATION, REGARDLESS OF ANY EVIDENCE OF CITIZENSHIP OR NATIONALITY PROVEDED AFTER THE FACT. The ruling judge can also shorten this time to however short he sees fit. If the suspect does not leave the country within the designated time, they will be fined $3,000 dollars, will be deported, and will not be allowed entry into the country for 10 years on any visa.

Section 402: The suspect can be detained in ANY penitentiary that the government sees fit, regardless of any additional crimes committed or not. This not limit the amount of time a suspect can be detained before being deported; the previous limits were for those who simply AIDED the suspect.

Section 407: If the country of the suspect's nationality or ethnicity refuses to accept the immigrant, any and all immigration of citizens of that country may be halted until the country in question accepts the deportees. This will give the government an excuse to stop all immigration from countries that may deny a criminal from re-entering their country.

Section 802: The revocation of a genuine visa regardless of circumstance may not be reviewed in any court in the United states and the immigrant will be deported and not allowed to re-enter for 10 years. This means that ANY LEGAL IMMIGRANT who aided a suspected illegal immigrant will suffer the same consequences.

Section 803: Anyone pending deportation may only object to their deportation and attempt to prove their legal right to be in the US if they are not guilty of aiding an illegal immigrant in any of the aforementioned ways may do so in the DC circuit. HOWEVER, this must be done BEFORE THE DEPORTATION, hence the suspect must sign the contract allowing them to leave on their own. This not only LIMITS THEIR ABILITY TO DO SO WITH A TIME LIMIT OF 120 DAYS OR LESS AND MUST FILE WITHIN 60 DAYS, but the point is NULLIFIED SINCE THEY MUST SIGN A WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO PROTEST THEIR DEPORTATION IN ORDER TO LEAVE THEMSELVES. If they try to protest while still imprisoned pending deportation, and thus have not signed the waiver, they have only a matter of days, and since they cannot claim their right to habeus corpus, the court will refuse to consider the appeal since the suspect cannot be present for their appeal. THUS ANYONE WHO WANTS TO APPEAL THEIR DEPORTATION ON THE GROUND OF BEING A US CITIZEN OR A LEGAL IMMIGRANT AND IS INNOCENT OF HELPING AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT OR OTHER SUSPECT CANNOT LEGALLY DO SO AND WILL BE DEPORTED ANYWAY!

And finally, Section 809: Any alien who obtains a non-immigrant visa automatically waives any rights to appeal or argue their case if they are suspected and arrested for any of the above charges. This means that any person with a non-immigrant visa (meaning a temporary one or a work visa) IS DENIED DUE PROCESS IN THE CASE OF BEING CHARGED WITH ANY CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, NO MATTER HOW MINOR (as shown in the earlier sections showing what criminal charges are grounds for deportation, which is actually ANY criminal activity), AND THUS WILL BE DEPORTED WITHOUT POSSIBILITY OF APPEAL.

This may seem unreal or as though it will not affect you, but here is my personal reason for alarm. If my mother is driving me to work, we get pulled over for whatever reason, and I don't happen to have my ID with me, WE BOTH WILL BE ARRESTED AND DEPORTED WITH NO POSSIBILITY OF APPEAL. We wouldn't be able to re-enter the country for 10 years. My grandmother will lose her business, my mother will lose her house and car, and this will happen REGARDLESS OF THE FACT WE CAN PROVE WE ARE CITIZENS.

This new law strips me of my basic right to live in thsi country given to me because I AM A CITIZEN. IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND HAS NO SAFEGUARDS. EVEN IF THE PERSON THEY CHECK FOR ID IS A CHILD AND WOULD REASONABLY HAVE NO ID ON THEIR PERSON, ANYONE CARING FOR THE CHILD CAN BE DEPORTED, INCLUDING TEACHERS, DAY CARE PROVIDERS, PARENTS, SIBLINGS, DOCTORS, ETC.

All because I am Mexican and can simply be suspected of being an immigrant.

This law can ruin my life, and it can strip me of everything I own and have worked for if I simply don't have my ID when an officer asks it of me FOR ANY REASON, EVEN IF THERE IS NO CRIMINAL CHARGE INVOLVED.

Tomorrow there is a march in LA specifically against this law. I would go were is not for the need for someone to run the business. My mother donated 1,000 dollars and 500 refreshments for marchers tomorrow and will attend herself. If this law is signed, our lives could be changed by a simple slip of not carrying our ID's on our person or being caught with someone who does not have their ID.

There is nothing more I can say, but know this: THIS IS NOT A JOKE, AND THIS LAW HAS ALREADY BEEN PASSED BY CONGRESS. THE LAST STEP IS FOR PRESIDENT BUSH TO SIGN IT. I BEG YOU, SO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO HELP STOP THIS SPECIFIC LAW.

Links for information

[Dan Dare]

Well, I agree that it certainly sounds far tougher than anything previous, but since both federal agencies like the INS as well as local law enforcement agencies have all declined in the past to enforce the existing legislation it's hard to see what practical difference this bill is going to make.

Will the LAPD now be required (by the LA city government) to demand proof of citizenship or lawful permanent residence when making a traffic stop? Or will local governments and 'underfunded' federal agencies continue to cock a snook at the law as they have done with impunity so far?

[Felix the Cat]

(Hat tip: Petr)

Ernesto Cienfuegos: "La Gran Marcha" surpasses all expectations (http://www.aztlan.net/la_gran_marcha.htm)

Los Angeles, Alta California - March 26, 2006 - (ACN) Yesterday's march and rally for immigrant rights in downtown Los Angeles is the largest in the city's history. Never has the "City of Angels" seen so many demonstrators filling the streets of the city's center. The sleeping giant has finally awaken giving rise to a new immigrant civil rights movement of unprecedented proportions.

The leadership of the various participating groups demonstrated extraordinary organizational skills. Much credit goes to the over 700,000 marchers, that included entire families, for their superb orderly behavior. There was not one act of violence even though the vile "Minutemen Vigilantes" had made threats against "La Gran Marcha" on their websites.

The size of the pro-immigrant march and rally surprised the world and the nation. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department made a statement on Thursday, to the local media, that they expected between 10,000 to 15,000 to participate in the march. What a surprise they received on Saturday! The LAPD is now reporting that over 500,000 participated but the true number is actually over 700,000. AnswerLA.org, an organization with a lot of experience in organizing mass marches and rallies, estimate that over 1 million participated. The Aztlan Research Institute, however, utilizing sophisticated crowd counting methodologies, estimates a figure of over 700,000.

What does the immense success of "La Gran Marcha" mean to Mexicanos and other Latinos? It simply means that we now have the numbers, the political will and the organizational skills to direct our own destinies and not be subservient to the White and Jewish power structures. It means that we can now undertake bigger and more significant mass actions to achieve total political and economic liberation like that being proposed by Juan José Gutiérrez, President of Movimiento Latino USA. Juan José Gutiérrez is proposing that the coalition that organized "La Gran Marcha" meet in Arizona or Texas on April 8 to "organize a mass boycott (huelga) against the economy of the USA" to take place on May 1, May 5 or May 19.

A major reason for the great success of "La Gran Marcha" was the strong participation of labor unions and the Catholic Church. This same alliance contributed to the success of Lech Walesa's "Solidarity Movement" in the Republic of Poland. This can be done in Aztlan as well. If the racist "Sensenbrenner Legislation" passes the US Senate, there is no doubt that a massive civil disobedience movement will emerge. Eventually labor union power can merge with the immigrant civil rights and "Immigrant Sanctuary" movements to enable us to either form a new political party or to do heavy duty reforming of the existing Democratic Party. The next and final steps would follow and that is to elect our own governors of all the states within Aztlan.

The great success of "La Gran Marcha" also means that the time has come to organize and politicize our great number of youths that are just festering in many of our school districts. The walkouts in Los Angeles of thousands of Mexican and Latino students from Huntington Park, South Gate, Southeast, Jordan, Montebello, Garfield and Roosevelt High Schools on Friday, one day before "La Gran Marcha", only shows that they are now ready to be mobilized and advised on how they can improve their educations. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villagairosa, a Los Angeles Unified School District victim himself before he turned his life around, is already undertaking a bold moved to wrestle control of the district from a Jewish dominated school board and a White superintendent that are just fleecing the schools of much needed funds. School board Jews like Julie Korenstein, Marlene Canter, David Tokofsky, Jon Lauritzen and Mike Lansing are just enriching themselves and their cronies through crooked deals involving school construction projects, and contracts with so called consultants and vendors. The LAUSD is the second largest in the nation, next to New York, with a multi-billion dollar annual budget. It has an overwhelming Mexican and Latino student population. Jews have their own private schools so why are 5 Jews out of 7 school board members interested in governing the school district? The answer is all too obvious. La Voz de Aztlan has interviewed LAUSD teachers that complained that they have to buy, with their own money, pencils, paper and other school supplies that the district should provide. Something has to be done and Mayor Villaraigosa is on the right track

We thank the many marchers for the sacrifice they made on Saturday. Many came from as far as San Diego and San Francisco. They came in on buses, trains, trucks, RV's , motorcycles and autos. Some came the night before and slept in their vehicles. Entire families arrived from Fresno, San Jose and Coachella. One family of eight included a grandmother, father, mother, daughters, and sons. One section in the march consisted of at least 20 on wheel chairs. They all came to Los Angeles and made history. This great city will never be the same!

[Kodos]

A major reason for the great success of "La Gran Marcha" was the strong participation of labor unions and the Catholic Church. This same alliance contributed to the success of Lech Walesa's "Solidarity Movement" in the Republic of Poland.

Except the involvement of the catholic church here is real, the involvement of the catholic church in the fall of communism was/is bullshit.