Thread: MN: Marchers protest policy on immigrants

Marchers protest policy on immigrants
February 16, 2008

Chanting and jumping up and down in the cold, almost 200 demonstrators marched down Lake Street in Minneapolis Saturday to protest immigration policies that they say are unfair and to urge politicians to stop using immigrants as scapegoats in an election year.

The marchers, mostly Hispanic, moved slowly as they walked about 10 blocks to Walker Methodist Church for a community forum on immigration. Music blasted from speakers as people waved signs proclaiming "We Are Not Political Pawns" and "I Love Minnesota." Several signs directed barbs at Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who recently outlined several initiatives targeting illegal immigration.

"The principal stimulus for our demonstration was the governor's proposals," said Kathryn Sharpe of the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Coalition. "We see them as an attack on immigrants' constitutional rights. We don't want to face a police state. This is a chance for people to speak out."

One of the marchers was Gustavo Hernandez, a Mexican who said he moved to Minnesota eight years ago from California.

"I came to support the marchers," he said. "I think it's very important to support these things and make it better for people."

In January, Pawlenty signed an executive order to allow some Minnesota law-enforcement officers to enforce federal immigration laws for the first time.

He also is requiring new state employees and contractors to prove their citizenship, and is proposing to reverse "sanctuary laws" that prevent local police from asking about residents' immigration status. He has threatened to cut state aid to municipalities that refuse to allow police to do so.

On Saturday, a Pawlenty spokesman said in an e-mail that the proposals "are common sense measures. ... We hope that even those who may not agree with the governor on many issues would not oppose these straightfoward, important steps to stem the tide of criminal acts related to illegal immigration."

MARY JANE SMETANKA

http://www.startribune.com/local/15704277.html

They don't get it do they? It is not immigrants that we don't want here It is illegals and they have no consitutional rights.

They get it - but they don't care - they want what they want - even though they are illegal - shouldn't be here - and have NO rights. Perfect time to round them up and deport them. Why isn't this being done instead of allowing them to protest against American laws?

The way to handle a situation like this is to make a sign for our side


OPPOSE THIS MARCH?
LoG ONTO NUMBERSUSA


and march in front of the protest. There are more voters turned off by illegal alien marchers than recruited by them. The so called "immigrant" marches take money time and effort Most voters do not know where to turn when they see a march. If there is a sign then they can log on and register minutes after seeing a broadcast.

Originally Posted by Richard

The way to handle a situation like this is to make a sign for our side


OPPOSE THIS MARCH?
LoG ONTO NUMBERSUSA


and march in front of the protest. There are more voters turned off by illegal alien marchers than recruited by them. The so called "immigrant" marches take money time and effort Most voters do not know where to turn when they see a march. If there is a sign then they can log on and register minutes after seeing a broadcast.

As much as I wish this to be true, the front runners are proof that there is only a few hundred of us trying to actually do something about it. If the young, uninformed, naive of this country have their way, there is not one single soul in the top tier to vote for in order to stop the next amnesty.

A call to Governor Pawlenty telling him he's on the right track, and thanking him is something we need to do.