Thread: Immigration marches returning with messages aimed at voters

Immigration marches returning with messages aimed at voters
Events nationwide: Less protest, more focus on big picture


April 30, 2008Recommend

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
CHICAGO -- Immigration activists and civil rights leaders are gearing up for rallies and marches in cities across the nation Thursday, hoping to revive the stagnant immigration debate in time for the presidential election.

Activists predict turnout for the more than 200 events planned Thursday from Seattle to Miami will be far less than in years past. But they say efforts demanding comprehensive immigration legislation -- including pathways to citizenship for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S. -- have extended beyond the streets.

"While the breadth of activities will be significant, most eyes are turned toward the November election," said Rich Stolz, a coordinator with Fair Immigration Reform Movement.

Organizers say this year's efforts are focused less on protests and more on voter registration and setting an agenda for the next president.

In Chicago, up to 50,000 are expected at a downtown march and rally. Representatives from the Rev. Jesse Jackson Jr.'s Rainbow/PUSH Coalition and the Nation of Islam are expected to attend events Thursday.

"In the past, most of the marches you've seen mostly Latino, mostly immigrant or descendants of immigrants," said Emma Lozano, head of the Chicago-based Centro Sin Fronteras. "We want to make an effort (at unity)."

A group of Aurora-area residents is planning to join the Chicago march, said Ernesto Yep, who participated in the 2007 Chicago march and the 2006 march in Aurora.

Yep had no estimate on how many people would participate. But he said they plan to meet at the Aurora Transportation Center between 8 and 9 a.m.

In Chicago, a program and rally are set for 10 a.m. Thursday at Union Park, at West Washington Boulevard and North Ashland Avenue.

Marchers will leave Union Park at noon, marching to Federal Plaza for a 1 p.m. program.

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beac ... 1.article#

Many of the Marches have "Meetings" attatched to them.

Guess they will be passing out voter's registration cards.

Dixie

Reminder to the opposition:

It is ILLEGAL to vote in the US unless you are a citizen. Actually, it is illegal to even REGISTER to vote unless you are a citizen and 18 yrs old. The violation is a felony.

If you vote and aren't legally entitled to, and then later apply for a green card, you're likely to have a very nasty surprise awaiting for you (which, BTW, will exclude you from getting that green card as well, too).