Protesters march over state immigration law
Source: Agencies |
May 3, 2010, Monday
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PROTESTERS across the United States vented their anger over a new Arizona law to crack down on illegal immigrants, calling on President Barack Obama to immediately take up their cause for federal immigration reform.
From Los Angeles to Washington DC, activists, families, students and even politicians marched, practiced civil disobedience and "came out" about their citizenship status in the name of rights for immigrants, including the estimated 12 million living illegally in the country.
Obama once promised to tackle immigration reform in his first 100 days, but has pushed back that timetable several times. He said last week that Congress may lack the appetite to take on immigration after going through a tough legislative year. However, Obama and Congress could address related issues, like boosting personnel and resources for border security, in spending bills this year.
A congressman was among 35 people arrested during a protest on Saturday at the White House. US Rep Luis Gutierrez, a Democrat from Illinois, was taking part in a civil disobedience demonstration.
Protests elsewhere were largely peaceful. Two were arrested near the march route in Los Angeles, but police said neither suspect appeared to be connected to the rally.
Police said 50,000 rallied in Los Angeles, where singer Gloria Estefan kicked off a massive downtown march. Estefan said the United States is a nation of immigrants.
"We're good people," the Cuban-born singer said atop a flatbed truck. "We've given a lot to this country. This country has given a lot to us."
Anger, particularly among immigrant rights activists, has been building since last week when Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed the legislation.
The law requires local and state law officers to question people about their immigration status if there's reason to suspect they're in the country illegally. It also makes it a state crime to be in the United States illegally.
The law's supporters say it's necessary because of the federal government's failure to secure the border, but critics contend it encourages racial profiling and is unconstitutional.
Organizers estimated about 20,000 marched in Chicago's West Side, but police said about 8,000 turned out.
From Los Angeles to Washington DC, activists, families, students and even politicians marched, practiced civil disobedience and "came out" about their citizenship status in the name of rights for immigrants, including the estimated 12 million living illegally in the country.
Obama once promised to tackle immigration reform in his first 100 days, but has pushed back that timetable several times. He said last week that Congress may lack the appetite to take on immigration after going through a tough legislative year. However, Obama and Congress could address related issues, like boosting personnel and resources for border security, in spending bills this year.
A congressman was among 35 people arrested during a protest on Saturday at the White House. US Rep Luis Gutierrez, a Democrat from Illinois, was taking part in a civil disobedience demonstration.
Protests elsewhere were largely peaceful. Two were arrested near the march route in Los Angeles, but police said neither suspect appeared to be connected to the rally.
Police said 50,000 rallied in Los Angeles, where singer Gloria Estefan kicked off a massive downtown march. Estefan said the United States is a nation of immigrants.
"We're good people," the Cuban-born singer said atop a flatbed truck. "We've given a lot to this country. This country has given a lot to us."
Anger, particularly among immigrant rights activists, has been building since last week when Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed the legislation.
The law requires local and state law officers to question people about their immigration status if there's reason to suspect they're in the country illegally. It also makes it a state crime to be in the United States illegally.
The law's supporters say it's necessary because of the federal government's failure to secure the border, but critics contend it encourages racial profiling and is unconstitutional.
Organizers estimated about 20,000 marched in Chicago's West Side, but police said about 8,000 turned out.
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