Thread: Louisville protesters: "Show your papers!"

Welcome to Louisville where they run ads to tell folks they'll be safe downtown. Yeah, come on down and be accosted on our streets by all manner of idiots while liberal government turns the blind eye.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB Fox 41)--Arizona's immigration law sparked protests Thursday from Phoenix to right here in Louisville. The protesters say legislation so far away can still have a big impact here.

The protesters Thursday said if the law gets by in Arizona, then Kentucky could see something like it, and that is something they do not ever want to see.

They protesters chanted, "Si se puede,"Spanish for "Yes we can."

"I was going to wear my 'Do I look undocumented to you?' T-shirt, but I think that I might get arrested," joked Karina Barillas, who is from Guatemala.

All joking aside, Barillas says what is going on in Arizona is devastating to women and children. Controversial legislation there would require police check the immigration status of people they believe might be illegal. "Can you imagine if they are victims of domestic violence? If they can call the police? how about if they are pregnant and about to go to labor? Can they go to the hospital?" she asked protesters.

She is a legal immigrant from Guatemala, and says it was not an easy process. "I have the privilege of being documented of having my papers. But it was a very expensive process, and very painful. It's not as easy as people think it is."

And that is exactly why the group marched to Fourth Street Live. They are trying to get a positive response, and it seemed to work with two people across the street.

Dressed in shirts saying "immigration," they acted as officials, demanding that people show their papers. "We're profiling white people," said Shelton McElroy, a protester participating in the exercise, "and the reason we're profiling white people is because they will not be bothered by this bill in Arizona."

Some people were hostile, but with others, the protesters feel they made progress. "If it's just based on what you look like, would that be fair?" McElroy asked a Caucasian man, "No," the man responded. "No that wouldn't be fair, thank you sir," said McElroy to the man.

Parts of the Arizona immigration law went into effect Thursday, but a federal judge took some of the most controversial provisions out.

There is no doubt Arizona has an illegal immigration problem, 400,000 undocumented residents, and that the state is constantly battling drugs smuggled in from Mexico.

Here in Louisville, protesters are making their voices heard. "This is the land of the free the home of the brave isn't it?" Barillas asked the crowd.

Many protesters are happy some of the provisions have been taken out, especially the ones they say caused racial profiling. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer says she will take it to the Supreme Court if she has to.

I think I will get a T shirt that says "No more emotional blackmail"

Dressed in shirts saying "immigration," they acted as officials, demanding that people show their papers. "We're profiling white people," said Shelton McElroy, a protester participating in the exercise, "and the reason we're profiling white people is because they will not be bothered by this bill in Arizona."

Some people were hostile, but with others, the protesters feel they made progress. "If it's just based on what you look like, would that be fair?" McElroy asked a Caucasian man, "No," the man responded. "No that wouldn't be fair, thank you sir," said McElroy to the man.

What would be fair is if everyone showed their papers. That would be the end of the argument, wouldn't it?



I'll show police/ICE my ID, should I be asked for them. What's the big deal?

Also, isn't everyone in Arizona, where it's sunny all year round, a shade of brown anyway? Unless they're albinos, there are no people who are "white". So what's with the profiling bs?