2006 U.S. immigration reform protests - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2006 U.S. immigration reform protests
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This article documents acurrent event.
Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.

Thousands gather for illegal immigrant rights rally inNashville, Tennessee onMarch 29,2006.
In2006, millions of people were involved in protests over a proposed reform to existingUnited Statesimmigration laws. The protests began in response to proposed legislation known asH.R. 4437, which would raise penalties forillegal immigration and classifyillegal aliens andanyone who helped them enter or remain in the US asfelons. As part of the widerimmigration debate, most protests not only seek an overhaul of this bill, but also a path tolegalization for those who have entered America illegally and fewerImmigration Services delays.
The largest national turnout of protests occurred onApril 10,2006, in 102 cities, and were the largestdemonstrations in many years in cities such asDallas, Texas, (estimated crowd 500,000),Chicago, Illinois, (estimated crowd 100,000),Atlanta, Georgia , (estimated 60,000),Salt Lake City, Utah, (estimated 40,000),Seattle, Washington, (estimated 30,000) andMadison, Wisconsin, (estimate 25,000). Almost all of the protests were peaceful and attracted considerable media attention, although there was also controversy over what many people consideredanti-American symbolism at some of the protests. Additional protests took place onMay Day and many of the protesters carried portraits ofMarxist iconChe Guevara.
Contents
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1 Role of Spanish-language media2 Role of the Internet3 Controversy and backlash over flag symbolism and protests4 Timeline4.1 February4.2 March4.3 April4.4 May
5 Legislation6 See also7 References8 Organizations9 External links
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Role of Spanish-language media
Spanish-language media outlets, in particularUnivision andTelemundo and various Spanish-language radio stations across the country, in large part aided in mobilizing people for the protests.Eduardo Sotelo, a Spanish-language radio personality from Los Angeles and known by the nickname El Piolin, persuaded eleven of his counterparts from Spanish-language radio stations based in Los Angeles to also rally listeners to attend planned protests.[1][2][3]
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Role of the Internet
Internet community sites containing personal blogs also played a significant role in helping to "get the word out" on the dates and locations for the marches and demonstration protests. Whereas Spanish language radio concentrated on the Spanish speaking audience only, the Internet catered to Mexican-Americans and other Hispanic youths.MySpace.com in particular was seen as a significant source for attracting the youth who speak English. Because of the Internet, the various marches and demonstrations which occurred around the nation attracted more than merely the illegal aliens, immigrant advocate nonprofit organizations and churches. The Internet was directly responsible for attracting a large percentage of the English speaking Hispanic American youth.
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Controversy and backlash over flag symbolism and protests

"Stolen: Continent, since 1492": One of the many bold signs used by theMexica Movement during theLos Angeles March of 2006 (La Gran Marcha), and the subsequent march inDallas, Texas.
The initial protests caused some controversy after a number of protesters wavedMexican and otherCentral American flags. The issue of these flags was also repeated by media outlets and columnists.[4] One particular incident referred to involved a protest at Montebello High School in California, where a Mexican flag was raised on a flagpole over an United States flag flying in the distressed (or upside-down) position.[5]
Because of the controversy, organizers of the protests encouraged protesters to leave their Mexican flags at home, withCardinal Roger Mahony telling Los Angeles protesters to not fly any flag other than the United States flag because, "...they do not help us get the legislation we need."[6] As a result of this controversy later protests featured fewer Mexican flags and more protesters carrying American flags.[7] This fact, though, did not end the controversy over the protests, with some commentators and bloggers also questioning the statements on signs held by certain protesters, which they described asracist andanti-American.[8]
TheMexica Movement was the most notable group promoting controversial messages which were seen in the Los Angeles and Dallas marches. Their organization carried large signs stating "All Europeans Are Illegal On This Continent Since 1492" and "We are the ONLY owners of this continent!." They also carried large posters depicting Wisconsin CongressmanJames Sensenbrenner as a Nazi and the North American continent displayed under the heading, "Stolen Continent."
As part of the backlash over the protests and the controversy over the flag symbolism issue, a group called Border Guardians burned a Mexican flag in front of the Mexican Consulate inTucson, Arizona, on April 9, 2006.[9] The following day the group proceeded to burn two Mexican flags during protest in Tucson, Arizona, which was estimated to have had 15,000 participants. After the police seized a student who had thrown a water bottle at the Border Guardians protesters followed the police officers calling for them to let the student go. As the situation escalated violence broke out and 6 were arrested with dozens being pepper-sprayed. The next day the police arrested the leader of the Border Guardians, Roy Warden, for charges including assault and starting a fire in a public park.
In addition, California‘s Oceanside Unified School District "banned flags and signs from its campuses after Mexican flag-wavers clashed with U.S. flag-wavers."[10]
While most of the protests have been peaceful, a May 1 protest in Los Angeles turned violent, with protesters throwing bottles at police.[11]
The Washington Post has reported that one U.S. town has lost its "daylabor" center, two aldermen, its mayor for being pro-illegal immigrant, and that since the U.S. Govt. will not do anything, the States are mobilizing to deal with the illegal aliens.[11],[12]
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Timeline
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February
February 14: 2,000 demonstrators rally onIndependence Mall inPhiladelphia for the "Day Without an Immigrant" protest.[12]
El Puente Magazine
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March
March 10: 100,000 marched from Union Park to Federal Plaza inChicago.[13] March 23: 10,000-15,000 marched to Zeidler Park inMilwaukee.[13]
March 24: 20,000 marched to SenatorJon Kyl‘s office inPhoenix.[14]
Tens of thousands of workers participate in a work stoppage inGeorgia.[citation needed]
March 25: 750,000 (average estimate) marched from Olympic and Broadway to the City Hall inLos Angeles in what was called by a coalition "LaGran Marcha" (aka "The Grand March"). According to theLos Angeles Police Department, "500,000 plus" marched toCity Hall in protest the proposed Congressional legislation HR 4437 which passed the House of Representatives and moved onto the Senate for debate. Organizers and other group participants estimated the crowd at closer to or over one million.[citation needed] March 25: 50,000 demonstrated in front of theColorado State Capitol inDenver.[15]
March 26: 7,000 people rallied at the Statehouse inColumbus, Ohio.[citation needed] March 27: 50,000 marched to the McNamara Federal Building inDetroit.[16]
March 29: 8,000-9,000 marched fromThe Coliseum to Legislative Plaza inNashville.[17]
March 31: High school students protested in several cities.
3,000 high school and middle school students inLas Vegas walk out of class to protest. Some college and community college students join them on their protest; many were charged with truancy.[18]
Approximately 6,000 people met atChicano Park inSan Diego and walked through Downtown to City College. Most of the attendees were from several middle and high schools.[citation needed]
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April
April 1: Thousands rallied at theOklahoma state capital inOklahoma City. April 1: 10,000 marched across theBrooklyn Bridge toFoley Square inNew York City.[19]
April 6: Hundreds of Aurora, Illinois students left school to march downtown to protest.[20]
April 8: Several hundred people rally at Chicano Park inSan Diego.[21]
April 9: Demonstrations in several cities across the United States, including:
350,000-500,000 marched to City Hall inDallas.[22]
50,000 marched in San Diego from Balboa Park, through downtown to the County Administration Building.[23]
40,000 marched from theCathedral of St. Paul to theMinnesota State Capitol inSt. Paul.[24]
6,000 rally inDes Moines.[25]

Students Of Jersey City‘s McNair Academic High School gather to protest the proposed H.R. 4437 at Liberty State Park after defying their teachers and staff and walking out of their school at 2:00pm on April 10, 2006.
April 10: Demonstrations were staged in 102 cities and towns across the United States, includingLas Vegas,Boston,Philadelphia,Reno,Washington D.C.,Indianapolis,Phoenix,New York City,Lexington,Knoxville,Memphis,Austin[26]
, andLos Angeles.[27][28][29]
Atlanta, Georgia, at least 50,000 people rallied for both pro-amnesty and anti-amnesty.[30]
Boston, Massachusetts, several thousand demonstrators march fromBoston Common toCopley Square, forcing road closures. Speeches are held from the steps of the McKim building of theBoston Public Library, addressing crowded masses below. Of note were the many Irish flags mixed in with those of Latin America, due to the large number of descendants of Irish immigrants living in Boston.[31]
Charleston, South Carolina, at least 4,000 people gathered and protested the inability of lawmakers to agree on legislation that would lead to citizenship.[32]
Fort Myers, Florida, an estimated 75,000 people took part in "The Great March" which affected traffic in nearby areas of the march. The stream of protesters was at least a mile long at times.[33]
Grand Junction, Colorado 3,000 plus marched between two city parks, delegations were sent from all over Western Colorado.Indianapolis, Indiana, anywhere from 10,000 to 20,000 protesters halt traffic Downtown. Speeches took place outside of the City-County Building throughout the afternoon.[34]
Las Vegas, Nevada, a well organized march of approximately 3,000 people was held. Protesters marched two miles from Jaycee Park to the Federal Courthouse during the first day of the Clark Country Spring Break, waving Mexican and American flags alike. They protested in favor of amnesty.[35]
Pensacola, Florida, over 1,000 people gathered in Martin Luther King, Jr Plaza in downtown Pensacola to protest pending immigration legislation.Phoenix, Arizona, at least 100,000 people took to the streets, marching to demonstrate against harsh immigration legislation before the national congress.[36]
New York City, between 70,000 and 125,000 people demonstrated in front of City Hall. SenatorsHillary Clinton andChuck Schumer spoke at the rally. Neither called for amnesty, though many of the crowd‘s signs and chants did.[37]
Oakland, California, an estimated 10,000 people took part in the demonstration.[38]
Salt Lake City, Utah, a unity rally was held at the City-County Building; there were an estimated 15,000 protesters.[39]
San Antonio, Texas, an estimated 18,000 people marched from Milam Park to the Federal Building in downtown.San Jose, California, an estimated 25,000 demonstrators marched several miles fromKing and Story to city hall. Highway access toUS-101 andI-680 was closed, causing significant traffic backups.[40]
Seattle, Washington, between 15,000 and 25,000 marched to a rally at the federal building where speakers in support of the demonstrators, such asMayor Greg Nickels andCounty Executive Ron Sims spoke. Just five thousand were expected.[41]
April 11: Several protests occurred in Nevada.
InLas Vegas, Nevada, a rally with an estimated minimum of 300+ was held at the Cashman Center; several important opposition figures showed up, such asJim Gilchrist, theNevada Secretary of State, local radio hostMark Edwards, and numerous stateMinuteman Project branches to protest againstamnesty.[42]
InCarson City, Nevada, an estimated 200 students walked out of class, rallying in front of the Governor‘s Mansion.[43]
InReno, Nevada, between 2,000 to 4,000 protesters marched through the downtown area, from the University of Nevada, Reno campus to the Bruce R. Thompson Federal Building, and continued to a designated spot near the Meadowwood Mall. Traffic was held and diverted along South Virginia Street during the march.[44]
April 13: Students from severalWoodburn, OR (a town with a largeHispanic community) schools marched out of class.[45]
April 19: Students from various Denver High Schools and Middle Schools walked out of class and marched to the capitol.[46]
April 27: Approximatly 200 volunteers and supporters built a 6 foot high, quater mile section of barbed wire fencing along the Mexico and United States border to send a clear message to Americans and leaders in Washington regarding the lack of security at our borders.[47]
April 28:Nuestro Himno, a Spanish language rendition of theStar Spangled Banner, is played simultaneously on about 500 Spanish languageradio stations across the country. President Bush denounced the effort saying the National Anthem should be sung in English[48]
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May

A rally on May 1 in Chicago
May 1: The "Great American Boycott" takes place across the United States and at a few locations abroad.[14] An estimated 75,000 protested in Denver[15][16] and over half a million in L.A.[17] An estimated 400,000 marched in Chicago, according to police, though organizers pegged the total at closer to 700,000[18] The boycott was said to have had "little economic impact" in Arizona[19] Chicago areadiscjockeyMancow expressed his feelings though comedy, stating "I was promised a Day without a Latino" - noting one of the original names for the event - "But as I look out this morning I see Latinos everywhere."Modesto, California saw close to 10,000 people marching in the streets, possibly the largest assembly of people in the city‘s history. Major city streets were shut down as a direct result.[20]Worcester, Massachusetts had 2000-2500 persons gathered around City Hall and more than 75 businesses closed on and around Main St. in support of the Boycott.Boston, Massachusetts had 2000-2500 people rally at Boston Commons, 5000 in Chelsea, East Boston, and Somerville. There were also many university and high school walkouts to a rally at Harvard Square, which then joined the Boston Commons rally. Over 15,000 protesters were reported inSanta Barbara, California.[21] Some supporters have hailed this as "the most important boycott since the days of the civil rights movement".[citation needed] In the Bay Area around 200,000 marched in San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa etc.[22] A California newspaper has reported that an altercation has taken place between police and protestors. Link isViolence Reported During The May 1, 2006 Demonstrations Local news estimates that 3,000+ people marched from Jaycee Park inLas Vegas, Nevada; the economic impact was noticeable with construction sites completely vacant and various local hotels and casinos struggling. High school and middle school attendance rates were at an all-time low.[23] Another newspaper had reported another altercation. This is the link:Police fight Protesters This one resulted in arrests of protesters. Around 1000 Protesters in Tijuana Mexico, blocked the international border crossing -the busiest in the world- in support of immigration rights.