Thread: ‘We are workers, not terrorists’

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?news ... 4551&rfi=6

03/21/2006
‘We are workers, not terrorists’


Staff and Wire Report
TRENTON--Railing against a congressional proposal to make illegal immigration a felony, more than 1,200 immigrant-rights advocates gathered outside the New Jersey State House yesterday to push for easing the path to U.S. citizenship.

Amid a sea of flags from Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and the U.S., the protesters lobbied against the measure they said would punish those who contribute to the U.S. economy by working low-wage jobs while still paying sales and other taxes.

"This is the voice of the voiceless," said Mahonrry Hidalgo, head of the immigration committee of the Latino Leadership Alliance. "We are part of the work force of this country."

Dina Ochoa, another organizer of the rally, said the "American public has very deceiving myths of immigrants. They say we do not pay taxes, that we are terrorists and that we are a burden to social services. But the truth is that immigrants pay billions of dollars in social security taxes that are not claimed and perform all the jobs that American citizens do not want to do."

"We are workers, not terrorists," read one of the hand-lettered placards carried by a marcher. "We do work that gringos will never do" said another.

Organizers specifically sought to draw attention to what they called the punitive nature of a bill by Rep. James Sensenbrenner , R-Wis.

Approved in the House in December, the measure would make unlawful presence in the United States a felony. It’s now a civil offense.

J. Carlos Avila, a young organizer from Trenton, said the proposed law also makes it illegal for even clergymen to help illegal immigrants. He urged immigrants to create a new American civil rights movement.

"Living Jewish was once illegal." Avila said. "Being a free black man was once illegal. Going to an all-white school was also once legal. And now Congress has agreed that ministering, helping, and aiding others should become illegal", said Avila

The bill is up for a March 27 vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., has offered revisions that some immigrant supporters say would create a permanent tier of "second-class" residents without a path to citizenship.

Those in on yesterday’s protest said they favor a proposal by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., permitting illegal immigrants already in the United States to remain for six years if they stay employed and pay a $1,000 fine.

They would then become eligible for permanent residency.

An alternative proposal by Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., would permit employed illegal immigrants to stay for five years--but they would then have to leave, pay fines and then apply to re-enter the country.

New Jersey Citizens for Immigration Control, which supports the Sensenbrenner bill, called the protesters lawbreakers and tax-evaders who threaten domestic security.

"We’ve been invaded, and the administration is looking the other way," the group said in a written statement.

Rafael Leon, an undocumented immigrant who came to the United States from the Mexican state of Oaxaca, said he thinks the McCain proposal is the more just approach. With his wife and three young daughters in tow, Leon said he hoped to show legislators that most immigrants are hard workers trying to build better lives for their families.

"We want the legislators to see that we are not criminals. Maybe then, they will feel a bit more humanely toward us," said Leon, 32, who has worked for five years in landscaping and construction around Vineland. "We contribute to the economy of this country."

Trenton, which was represented at the rally by Mayor Doug Palmer, is one of several cities around the state and U.S. that have passed resolutions promising to watch out for the civil liberties of immigrants, who fear being grabbed by federal agents and deported for no reason.

Similar protests have been staged around the country in the past several weeks, including one in Chicago on March 10 that drew about 100,000 people.

The Pew Hispanic Center estimates there are about 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States, with about 360,000 in New Jersey. They account for nearly 5 percent of the national civilian work force, or 7.2 million workers, with about 850,000 undocumented immigrants arriving each year.

Trenton, which was represented at the rally by Mayor Doug Palmer, is one of several cities around the state and U.S. that have passed resolutions promising to watch out for the civil liberties of immigrants, who fear being grabbed by federal agents and deported for no reason

Deported for "no reason?"

What kind of a jack donkey would make such a moronic statement?????

Being in this country illegally is a good enough reason for me.

And now Congress has agreed that ministering, helping, and aiding others should become illegal", said Avila

I really don't think these people have a clue what they're talking about. It's already illegal to aid and abet.

Rafael Leon, an undocumented immigrant who came to the United States from the Mexican state of Oaxaca, said he thinks the McCain proposal is the more just approach. With his wife and three young daughters in tow, Leon said he hoped to show legislators that most immigrants are hard workers trying to build better lives for their families.

So we've got a whole illegal family of five there just begging to be deported. Where the hell is ICE?

How can 1200 advocates show up on a Monday when us grunts are working 9-5? I guess they must be paid advocates.

Quote:
Amid a sea of flags from Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and the U.S., the protesters lobbied against the measure they said would punish those who contribute to the U.S. economy by working low-wage jobs while still paying sales and other taxes.
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Does anyone really think that waving flags from Latin American countries is helping their cause?
Do they think they are at the United Nations or the Olympics?
Why cant our lawmakers realize that this is an invasion?

Why cant our lawmakers realize that this is an invasion?

Because our lawmakers are a bunch of idiots bought and paid for. I heard this weekend it's now called Capital Hill. The new name certainly fits.

Does anyone really think that waving flags from Latin American countries is helping their cause?

It sure is helping ours. Do you think they were put in order according to numbers? I wonder what they did with our flag once they got done using it? I have a pretty good idea. They are really good at "using" things, down right profressionals if you asked me!

Those in on yesterday’s protest said they favor a proposal by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz.,

Speaking of this nerd, I heard on the radio that he's all but blown ANY chance for 2008. Oh thank God ! Can you imagine having him near the Button each night when you go to sleep. Geesh.
I know we've already discussed that, but it's such a great conversation piece. John McCain near the button and with the Patriot Act.

YIIIIKES !! Get him out of here !
He might change his mind one night while we're asleep and that could be the end of everything.

"We are workers, not terrorists," read one of the hand-lettered placards carried by a marcher. "We do work that gringos will never do" said another.

Go back and work in your own country you racist POS job thief.

"This is the voice of the voiceless," said Mahonrry Hidalgo, head of the immigration committee of the Latino Leadership Alliance.

They don't seem so voiceless to me. Out on a weekday waving their foreign flags around on our streets. GRRR!!!!!

I ran across a picture and see very few American flags. Found and added a few more pictures. Looks like someone handed out some small flags for window dressing for the protest.