Thread: NBC5 news in Chicago/Illegal Immigrant Rally

http://www.dailyherald.com/story.asp?id=209290

Protesters keep the pressure on, saying make illegal immigrants legal
BY TARA MALONE
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Thursday, July 20, 2006

Thousands of protesters gathered in Chicago Wednesday for the third time in four months, retracing steps that kindled a national push for immigration reform this spring. Their goals, like their route, remain unchanged: urge lawmakers for more lenient treatment of illegal immigrants.

Yet this time around, marchers also pushed to legalize the estimated 12 million people living in this country illegally, and end deportations until immigration reform muscles its way through Congress.

"Those already here deserve a chance," said Jose Rodriguez of Cary, who came waving flags from the United States, Mexico and Bulgaria, his wife's home country.

"Let them show they will give something to this country and let them go step by step. But the first step is to give them a chance to prove they belong here," the 26-year-old added before hurrying to his evening shift at an Arlington Heights restaurant.

Rodriguez, his wife and two daughters were among an estimated 10,000 people marching from Chicago's Union Park to a two-hour rally in Grant Park, far fewer than the 400,000 people who turned out for the May 1 protest downtown. Chicago police officials reported no arrests.

And, with the protesters this time making pointed demands, their opponents say they expect more people to join calls for strict enforcement for existing immigration laws, tighter border enforcement and deportation of those who come to this country illegally.

"We want to see these marches 24-7," said Dave Gorak, executive director of the Midwest Coalition to Reduce Immigration. "Let them turn out and shut down our streets and our highways, because then they can just continue to remind law-abiding American citizens that these are law-breakers who have no respect for the rule of law and American sovereignty."

The rally came on a day of stifling heat that saw temperatures exceed 90 degrees.

Seven marchers were treated for heat exhaustion, four of whom were taken to area hospitals, Chicago Fire Department spokeswoman Eve Rodriguez said. All were in stable condition.

First aid stations, water stations and cooling buses were scattered along the three-mile march and rally in Grant Park.

The parade of American flags, banners and signs that read "no human being is illegal" or "please give us a chance to be part of this country," drew a crowd of passers-by and lunch-goers.

The scrutiny did not deter Mahira Selimbegovic.

The 44-year-old Morton Grove woman fled her native Bosnia in 1996 and became a U.S. citizen four years later. Selimbegovic said she wants the same security for her co-workers and immigrant friends.

"Everybody has to see why they broke the law. They came to survive. It's as simple as that," she said.

A rotation of speakers including everyone from U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, a Chicago Democrat, to religious leaders and Asian, Arab and Polish community advocates joined calls for immigration reform.

Earlier in the day, members of the Illinois Minuteman Project urged local and federal government officials to aggressively identify illegal immigrants who live and work in this country using fraudulent documentation.

During a news conference outside a Chicago cemetery, the group honored four Illinois residents recently killed by illegal immigrants who drove without a license or, in some cases, who drove drunk.

"They're saying 'stop deporting and separating our families.' Well, you know what, these American families have been separated from their loved ones forever," group director Rosanna Pulido said. "What other country would you go to where illegals demand you don't enforce the law?"

Local immigration officials deported 6,343 illegal aliens to 150 countries last year, according to a spokeswoman with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Chicago office that serves Illinois and five surrounding states. An additional 4,159 illegal immigrants have been deported so far this fiscal year.

The U.S. House last year backed a bill that would make it a felony for illegal immigrants to live in the United States and called for greater border security.

Lawmakers in the Senate approved a measure that would heighten border enforcement, but also allow for many of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants - 400,000 of whom live in Illinois - to become citizens. Differences between the two proposals have not yet been ironed out.

Until they are, advocates on both sides of the immigration debate pledged to continue their efforts.

For its part, the Illinois Minuteman Project plans to press city and county governments to crack down on illegal residents.

Immigration advocates plan another march next month, this one extending three days from Chicago's Union Park to U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert's office in Batavia.

"If we don't do anything, who's going to do it?" said 19-year-old Yesenia Ariza of Chicago, who skipped work to march with her family. "We need to speak up."

Kara Spak contributed to this report.

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From the frontlines

Excerpts of comments from those entrenched in the immigration debate follow:

• “This may not be so many people like the first two marches, but every march is significant. It reminds politicians we are here.”

Silvina Atanassova, 27, of Cary

• “Our response is simple: They want legalization for all illegals and an end to deportations. Well, people in hell want ice water.”

Dave Gorak, Midwest Coalition to Reduce Migration

• “We're trying to balance border enforcement with humanitarian treatment of people who we do not see as criminals, people who we believe are here trying to better their lives.”

Zach Wichmann, Catholic Conference of Ilinois

• “While they're having these marches, it doesn't affect us. Our mission is to educate and mobilize and it remains the same in the face of whatever they do.”

Rosanna Pulido, Illinois Minuteman Project

• “We are not asking for automatic citizenship. We are asking for the right to live and work in this country.”

Jorge Mujica, Diez de Marzo committee

• “Marching in the streets when they are lawbreakers is literally a mob action, and it shouldn't be tolerated … What this tells me is illegal aliens and immigrants believe they are above the law, and they are laughing at all American law-abiding citizens.”

Yvonne Dinwiddie, Aurora-based Citizens Protecting Your Rights

• “Marching in the streets when they are lawbreakers is literally a mob action, and it shouldn't be tolerated … What this tells me is illegal aliens and immigrants believe they are above the law, and they are laughing at all American law-abiding citizens.”

Yvonne Dinwiddie, Aurora-based Citizens Protecting Your Rights

Sums it up for me.
I'm so tired of hearing about illegal people in this country marching and demanding. This country looks like it is run by a bunch of whimps. How many countries would tolerate this? Are there any strong elected officials anymore in this country who are willing to stop this? If we grant amnesty to all of these people it will only get worse.

AMERICAN PROTEST RALLY! AUGUST 12TH, SATURDAY, 10:00 A.M. Americans will protest against illegal aliens!)
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GET ON BOARD, GET IN GEAR AND BE THERE!!!

Wear your Hawaii Shirt or whatever you want. Bring bottled water, snacks, sunscreen, shade i.e. hats, umbrellas, cameras, megaphones, American Flags & Banners, no pets...

Support Group:
http://www.argumentsake.com/illegalimmi ... opic=854.0


WHO: All American Citizens, "LEGAL" Immigrants and Patriots!!! (No illegal aliens please!)

WHAT: Rally, Protest, Gather, Support, Display, Demand No Amnesty!

WHEN: Saturday, August 12, 2006 at 10:00 AM

WHERE: Capitol, Washington D.C.. We will meet at the corner of First Street and Independence Avenue at 10:00 AM to Organize and then we will greet the 21st Century Paul Revere riders as they arrive at the Capitol steps to wind up their cross-country motorcycle ride (planned arrival 11:00 A.M., Paul Revere rally scheduled for 11:00-12:00) http://www.21stcenturypaulrevereride.us/

WHY: To voice our opinions, “NO Amnesty of any kind” and “Deport illegal aliens NOW!”, “ Enforce the LAWS!”, "Secure our Ports and Secure and Close our Boarders", Punish employers for hiring illegal aliens, "NO Anchor Babies!" and "Build a Fence NOW!".

HOW: Everyone is responsible for their own transportation and lodging and food, no pets. Unless you find a Buddy to share...

Contact all your FRIENDS and tell everyone! We can do this! Go to the link provided:

For a support group and information, help, rides etc...

Post Rallies / Caravans Here:
http://www.argumentsake.com/illegalimmi ... /index.php?

remember a camera and megaphone can be weapons...

If you can't make it to D.C. Rally in your own town. Fly your flag high for support, August 12th! March at your own Court House, T.V. stations or your State Capital! Carry pictures of your family

Anyone who supports Illegal Aliens in any shape or form should be arrested on Felony Charges, it's called "Aiding and Betting". This includes all political incumbents up to and including the President. This "wait & see" is just a time wasting tactic just to let in more Illegals. For what??? Is there some grand plan we Americans don't know about? "We The People" did not vote Bush to office to run down our "American Way of Life". MY "Life, Liberty & Pursuit of Happiness" is being abridged every moment our politicians do not enforce our laws. Do not ignore the fact that our fore-fathers died for our way of life. Bush as well as all politicians were voted into office to support & enforce all our American laws. When they want to change any immigration laws to support these Illegals to work in the USA, they NEED to be put behind bars for TREASON.

Why aren't our laws on Illegal Assembly being ignored? Most, if not all, States have Permit Requirements of 25 people or more when assembling. These Mexicans rallying with 400,000+ all should have been arrested yet our Mayors & Governors all looked the other way.

What we need here in America is a President for the people... where is he/she? It's definitely not any Bush's and neither Clintons, or anyone who is affiliated with big business for that matter. We need a hometown, homegrown purist who wants to fight for America & what we stood for ever since before 1776.

(quote)"Illegal Mothers beget Illegal Babies. You can not right with a wrong"(end quote)

Remember the old tried & true proverb: "A fence makes for good neighbors." They seen that the grass is greener on our side, they jumped that fence, again & again. Time to add high voltage to that fence.

Middle America, get off your azz's and Protest!

Ok let’s get real here. It this simple. If you like Mexico so much then go back. No one ever brags about something that they do not support or dislike. Example: If you have a bad family you don’t go to marches and so one to support them and stand up for them. So if the Illegals like and support Mexico so much then they should go back. Have you ever heard of the old saying when in Rome do as the Romans do? You are not in Rome but you are in the United States so do as we do here and support the American flag and not any other. My great great grandfather and great grandfather did not die for you to carry around and support any other flag. This is not about race. This is about what is right. You are illegal. If you are not a citizen of the place where you are then you are illegal. You should not be aloud to work if you are not a citizen. Just because you are only here to work and cause no harm does not mean anything or make it right. Burger King has food, but I can’t just walk in and take it illegally even though I need it. I must order and pay for it. If I do not do these steps it is illegal for me to have it. You should have to pay to work here as well. How do you pay to work here? Well that’s simple. Learn English. Learn our history and get your citizenship and pay taxes like we do. If you will do all of this then you will be considered an American and can have the same rights and will be treated with respect. God has blessed America!

Why aren't our laws on Illegal Assembly being ignored? Most, if not all, States have Permit Requirements of 25 people or more when assembling. These Mexicans rallying with 400,000+ all should have been arrested yet our Mayors & Governors all looked the other way.

FM,

Welcome to Alipac!

Did you also hear that not one arrest was made on the day w/o an immigrant worker either?

We had a perfect chance to get rid of 2/3 of the problem that day, and we did nothing.

Pathetic, Pathetic...