Thread: Turnout is slim for May Day immigration rallies

Turnout is slim for May Day immigration rallies

NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE and UNION-TRIBUNE

2:00 a.m. May 2, 2009

Immigrants turned out for May Day demonstrations across the country in much smaller numbers than last year, with marchers pointing to uneasiness about the flu scare and job worries in the recession to explain why many people stayed home.

Organizers had called for marches and rallies as a show of support for immigration overhaul legislation that President Barack Obama has said he will offer before the end of the year. But in Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami and New York, among other cities, turnout was sharply lower than expected as immigrants, many of them from Mexico, said they did not feel the time was right for marching in the street.

Mexican immigrants and businesses in the nation have not seen major negative effects from the rapidly spreading flu, despite wide publicity that the illness first erupted in Mexico and has spread from there.

Mexican immigrants around the country said the fallout from the swine flu had arrived in more subtle ways, from remarks that struck them as prejudicial, to friends who declined dinner invitations without giving a reason.

In Boston, Jay Severin, a conservative radio talk show host on WTKK-FM who is known for outrageous banter, was suspended indefinitely from his afternoon show after he referred to Mexican immigrants in insulting terms, executives at the station said yesterday. In comments about the flu epidemic in recent days, Severin had called Mexicans “primitives,â€

But in Chicago, only about 5,000 people came out, a far cry from the estimated 65,000 who turned out a year ago. Some immigrants said that because of the flu, they did not feel it was safe to bring their families to a crowded rally.

But American Citizens have to be among these 65,000 illegals in Chicago

I wonder if President Obama knew of these marches or protest? Will he talk about this as he has "Tea Party Protest?" Or will he tell us how they deserve everything and we need to adjust our life styles to help those less fortunate?

Did I miss coverage on MSM or did they intentionally not report?

He will not draw any attention unless the reporters go there.