Thread: Two Immigration Rallies in Atl

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Two Immigration Rallies in Atlanta
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Denis O'Hayer reports





Thousands attended an immigration rally on Wednesday, June 27, in downtown Atlanta.






Reported By: Denis O'Hayer
Web Editor: Michael King
Last Modified: 6/27/2007 8:18:45 PM




While the US Senate continued debating the revived immigration bill in Washington, Wednesday was a day for rallies on both sides in Atlanta.

On Wednesday in downtown Atlanta, as many as 2,000 people marched to demand more rights for immigrants -- both legal and illegal.

One of the rallies -- on Wednesday evening in Cobb County -- was organized by radio talk show host Chris Kroc. People at that march said they want to stop the comprehensive immigration bill now before the Senate, because, they said, it amounts to amnesty for people who broke the law to get into the country.

The thousands who marched in downtown Atlanta on Wednesday afternoon do not like the bill either, but for completely different reasons. The march was the opening event of a five-day US social forum, aimed at demanding government change on everything from the war in Iraq, to gay rights, to poverty. But immigration was one of the major issues. They said they do not want a new law to exclude family members of illegal immigrants who choose to take the path to legal immigration.

They also said they oppose any requirement that forces heads of households go back to their home countries before applying for legal status.

"The problem that we have with that, is where is the family unity? We talk about all the times in the political system that we're all about the family values, but then we separate these families, and their ability to be together as a family unit," said one protester.

D.A. King of the Dustin Inman Society disagreed with the protester's comments.

"I think people who come into this country illegally understand the consequences of their actions," King said. "We want our government to enforce our laws. Breaking up families is not a decision the government is making -- it's a decision the criminal is making."

The Wednesday evening protesters were rallying about a block away from the local office of Sen. Saxby Chambliss, and also not far from the office of Sen. Johnny Isakson.

Both senators were involved in putting the bill together, but now have said they opposed it as it is currently written. People at the protest near the senators' offices said it appears the senators have gotten the message.

And be sure to watch the video