A May Day preview and review
Tomorrow Thursday is May Day, which, depending on your leanings, is a pagan pole-dancing holiday, a day of labor solidarity against The Man, a day off for immigrants and their supporters, or some combination of all three, a grab-bag of un-American activity. (To the latter group, Happy Law Day!)
The last two May Days have been major events in Los Angeles. May 1, 2006 was the Great American Boycott, when legal and illegal immigrants were encouraged to stay away from businesses and schools. The editorial board raised some eyebrows by leaving blank the space where a third editorial would usually run on the page, printing only the words "Pass comprehensive immigration reform now." One million people were said to have participated, and almost all marches were peaceful and law-abiding.
Fast-forward to 2007: no immigration reform, and quite a bit of violence from the Los Angeles Police Department against protesters at MacArthur Park, some of whom threw sticks and water bottles at officers. The boards praised most marchers for a May Day well spent...
Across the sea of shouting and bullhorns and chants rang a plaintive note, a request for recognition, an admission that even illegal immigrants are part of this city and country. To their great credit, those who marched sounded that call joyously, not bitterly. The immigrants and their supporters filed by food stands -- the hot dog wrapped in bacon with onions and chiles appears to have become the official meal of the Los Angeles immigration march; the mango slice dipped in chili pepper its new dessert. Marchers streamed down Broadway and into the Civic Center, some chanting "Si se puede" (Yes, we can), others "USA, USA, USA."
But the board also called out the LAPD:
The images Tuesday of police firing projectiles at people trying to flee a mostly peaceful rally at MacArthur Park are glaringly out of place in the Los Angeles of 2007. At least, they were supposed to be out of place. The city has too much experience with police clashes and too painstaking a process of outrage, investigation, reform and trust-building to excuse this week's scenes of officers assaulting people -- including families with young children -- who had gathered in the park pursuant to a lawfully issued permit.
Three probes are underway, as they should be, and there are still plenty of facts to gather, statements to investigate and video images to sift until it's clear exactly who gave what orders and whether they were properly followed. But it's not too early for outrage.
This year, police have been preparing for the march -- expected to attract tens of thousands of people. With the training, the year-long scrutinizing of police practices, and the monitors who plan to be on the streets, the day should go smoothly. Too bad it's an election year, and even the biggest, most peaceful march doesn't have much of a chance of getting its ultimate goal -- immigration reform.
*Updated with correct day -- apologies from your confused blogger.
What a smug portrait of a giant poke in the eye to US citizens. "a day of labor solidarity against The Man" What is that supposed to mean? You mean the citizens that are working and not partying down in the streets today eating hot dogs etc.
Nearly any Angelino could spend 30 minutes with an outsider and point out dozens of illegal (fraud) workers in nearly any part of town, they work for the COUNTY at good jobs....here we have an LAT smug portrait of an ingrateful, narcisstic "entry level" workforce....all on your dime, my friend! And they have a host of needs that they expect of you, baby. Sickening.
Posted by: dudeabides | May 01, 2008 at 12:28 PM
VETERANS LAUNCH NATIONAL EDUCATION EFFORT ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
INDIANAPOLIS (April 28, 2008) – Crime, terrorism and dependency on scarce government dollars are some of the major reasons why the nation’s largest veterans organization is concerned about illegal immigration. So concerned, in fact, that The American Legion today began a nationwide outreach to alert Americans to the dangers posed by illegal aliens and the government’s reluctance to seriously address the issue.
“American Legion members have served in the U.S. Armed Forces throughout the world so that Americans can feel safe at home,” said Marty Conatser, national commander. “We have seen Third World countries. We have seen poverty, political instability, disease and war. Today we see the threat that open borders present to our homeland.
“With more than 14,000 posts and 2.7 million members, I am asking Legionnaires everywhere to start the national dialogue that needs to happen now,” Conatser said. “As a nation at war with operatives sworn to kill Americans, our government must shut down our open borders and take decisive action to address a crippling national problem.”
Unlike the "A" in ACLU, the "A" in American Legion actually stands for American!
Read the full story:
http://www.legion.org/vision/currentevents/2008/04/veterans_launch_national_educa.html
RON PAUL IN '08!
*Physically secure our borders and coastlines.
*Track visa holders and deport anyone who overstays.
*End birthright citizenship.
*No Amnesty.
*End "Catch & Release"
*No welfare for illegal aliens.
and......BUILD THE FENCE!
Posted by: DinTN | May 01, 2008 at 04:36 AM
The US needs us if the Mexicans and Central Americans go the US goes poor because most Americans are lazy.
Posted by: Luis | April 30, 2008 at 11:57 PM
"Mostly peaceful rally." Yes, the police over-reacted last year, but I challenge those of you who blame them for all that went wrong not to over-react when being attacked by rocks and bottles. Hindsight is so easy.
Call me crazy, but I wish ICE would attend these peaceful rallies and bring along a lot of buses. Of course, the upside to these stupid rallies is the possibility that the freeways will be less crowded.
Posted by: franks | April 30, 2008 at 11:52 PM
"USA USA..."
odd you didn't mention the signs that said 'we didn't cross the border, the border crossed us'.
the reconquista mentality of the pro-amnesty crowd is why americans don't trust the govt or civil groups to hold their end of a comprehensive bargain.
Posted by: MB | April 30, 2008 at 04:01 PM
If what Pagans do on May Day is pole dancing, then what Christians do at the Stations of the Cross is also pole dancing. Not funny. Not at all.
Posted by: anne johnson | April 30, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Oh jeez, there is so much wrong with this post, but life is short, so let's take this one.
Too bad it's an election year, and even the biggest, most peaceful march doesn't have much of a chance of getting its ultimate goal -- immigration reform.
That is, Democracy is bad, the people who are citizens of a country and legitimate voters shouldn't influence immigration policy, much less actually decide it. Or, put another way, amnesty (not reform, reform implies actually changing our immigration system, which none of the amnesty proposals actually do) can only be gotten through when the America voter has least effect on his employees and agents -- the elected officials. Maybe this would make sense in the perfect libertarian state, where everything is privatized -- roads, schools, etc -- but that is not what we have now. We all pay for things in common, and therefore we get to decide how many people will be admitted to this giant planned community we call the US of A.
Posted by: Mitchell Young | April 30, 2008 at 04:02 AM
It's becoming a way of life everyday to hear, read that some illegal national has committed a crime. Always telling us illegal aliens are doing jobs that Americans won't do, is a downright lie. A case in point is this foreign national, working as a correction officer. Then 12 illegal workers earning $28.00 an hour in the shipyard, in Newport news Virginia.
This just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. How many more are working in jobs designated for citizens. Only now in (ICE) sweeps and scrutiny of documents in every workplace, is the truth coming out.
When America has become bloated with illegal aliens, with thousands of violent gang members terrorizing our streets. California is occupied by an abomination of street gangs without, any conscious of destroying human life. Immigrants are the epitome of what America great!Not illegal aliens who ignored the law of our sovereignty. Strong minded spirits that will fight for what they believe is right. The law is all the separates innocent citizens from the imported criminal element from other countries. Only enforcement of our immigration laws will rid us of the child violators, women rapists, gang bangers, robbers and murderers.
People who think their votes doesn't count, when it comes to the illegal immigration politics is wrong! When timid Governors, Mayors or boards of city supervisors should be carefully watched for how they vote. Then do not sit on your hands, explode in their mousy faces. You as a legal voter can bombard these cringing worms with your wrath and frustration. You have the most powerful tool available; access to the Internet. Most Departments of local government, even up to the federal level is available to you. Corner their secretaries, aides or any person who represents these morons and give them your heated opinion.
Illegal immigration all encompassing your Jobs and economic growth, energy independence, health care access, education and an overcrowded prison system. All these issues are impacted by the 12 to 30 million illegal immigration invasion. Predator employers would rather hire an illegal worker, than YOU? No workers compensation to pay, no health care and a miserable low wage. Without any compunction, pariah employers will dump their hired charges on hospital steps; then you the taxpayer covers th cost.
Find out the unsuppressed truth at these websites: GRASSFIRE, NUMBERSUSA, JUDICIAL WATCH, LIBERTY POST, IMMIGRATION NEWS INDEXER, UNIPAC and VDARE.
Please copy and paste and distribute freely where you can!
This is the only source you need to contact your representative at http://www.outsourcecongress.org/outsource/congress/schstaffers.html
Posted by: Brittanicus | April 29, 2008 at 06:09 PM