Madison's anti-anti-illegal-immigration rally
Forgot my camera. Dang.
I spent a little time today walking around the pro-immigrant (for lack of a better term) rally at the Capitol. Quite a large crowd of people - pretty impressive watching them all march down West Washington Avenue to the Capitol Square. All very peaceful, from what I saw. Lots of flags - mostly American and Mexican. I'd guesstimate about a 50/50 split between those two, with a few other South American flags mixed in.
A few of the signs and t-shirt slogans I saw:
More:
This is a common disconnect in the immigration debate - the other side won't admit that there is any such thing as illegal immigration, or that those who cross our borders without adhering to our laws are, in fact, breaking the law.
As Jenna pointed out, most of the speeches were in Spanish (as were a lot of the signs and banners), which made it a little tough for a non-Spanish speaker like myself. I understand that Governor Doyle and Peg Lautenschlager also spoke - in English, I assume. I didn't hear them.
Boy, it's a good thing this wasn't a pro-cranberry rally. Peg would really have brought the hammer down then!
I wondered whether it wasn't a little ill-advised on their part to have the speeches in Spanish. The crowd seemed to be mostly hispanic, but not all. Plus, surely, just because you look hispanic or are of hispanic descent, that doesn't mean you speak Spanish.
For example, I wondered if the guy carrying the Brazilian flag felt a little left out. They speak Portuguese in Brazil.
But I guess it's all about demagoguery now. They want it to be a race isue. It's the powerful whites against the oppressed Mexicans. Thus, they speak Spanish.
There was a very small counter-protest. Maybe 6 or 10 young men, holding signs that said:
I spent a little time today walking around the pro-immigrant (for lack of a better term) rally at the Capitol. Quite a large crowd of people - pretty impressive watching them all march down West Washington Avenue to the Capitol Square. All very peaceful, from what I saw. Lots of flags - mostly American and Mexican. I'd guesstimate about a 50/50 split between those two, with a few other South American flags mixed in.
A few of the signs and t-shirt slogans I saw:
We are workers not criminals
We are all AmericansWhich kinda makes you wonder what they're complaining about - after all, if they're already Americans, legislation on illegal immigration won't affect them.
More:
Immigration is an American experienceWhich would seem to conflict with the earlier slogan about us all being Americans.
We are Immigrants, not Ignorants: No HR 4437 - We Want Justice!
Amnesty Now!
This country was built by immigrants.This was a common thread - the issue, to those attending the rally, is race and racism - not a sensible immigration policy and enforcing the law.
Give us some respect - we also pay taxes.
Why do you want to separate our families? (with a picture of the Virgin Mary)
Walls don't make good neighbors.
HR 4437 would make you racist, not look better
No to racism (t-shirt)
This is a common disconnect in the immigration debate - the other side won't admit that there is any such thing as illegal immigration, or that those who cross our borders without adhering to our laws are, in fact, breaking the law.
As Jenna pointed out, most of the speeches were in Spanish (as were a lot of the signs and banners), which made it a little tough for a non-Spanish speaker like myself. I understand that Governor Doyle and Peg Lautenschlager also spoke - in English, I assume. I didn't hear them.
Boy, it's a good thing this wasn't a pro-cranberry rally. Peg would really have brought the hammer down then!
I wondered whether it wasn't a little ill-advised on their part to have the speeches in Spanish. The crowd seemed to be mostly hispanic, but not all. Plus, surely, just because you look hispanic or are of hispanic descent, that doesn't mean you speak Spanish.
For example, I wondered if the guy carrying the Brazilian flag felt a little left out. They speak Portuguese in Brazil.
But I guess it's all about demagoguery now. They want it to be a race isue. It's the powerful whites against the oppressed Mexicans. Thus, they speak Spanish.
There was a very small counter-protest. Maybe 6 or 10 young men, holding signs that said:
Illegal 12 Million - Against the LawThey were pretty much surrounded by pro-immigration people. A few chants, things like that - I was only there a few minutes, but didn't see any overt attempts at intimidation. Still, it couldn't have been too comfortable being one of those guys.
Ellis Island: Good Enough for our Ancestors
Respect our laws and border
posted by Lance Burri @ 7:23 PM
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