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In 2006, millions of people were involved in protests over a proposed reform to existing United States immigration laws. The protests began in response to proposed legislation known as H.R. 4437, which would raise penalties for illegal immigration and classify unauthorized immigrants and anyone who helped them enter or remain in the US as felons. As part of the wider immigration debate, most of the protests not only sought an overhaul of this bill, but also a path to legalization for those who had entered America illegally and fewer Immigration Services delays.

The largest national turnout of protests occurred on April 10, 2006, in 102 cities across the country. Crowds in several cities were estimated to be between 100,000 to over 500,000 people. Almost all of the protests were peaceful and attracted considerable media attention, although there was also controversy over what many people considered anti-American symbolism at some of the protests. Additional protests took place on May Day and many a protesters that day carried portraits of revolutionary icon Che Guevara alongside American flags. Socialists and other left-wing organizations joined the protesters as well as many right-wing organizations that depend on immigrant's labor availability and religious groups who believe it is unjust to mistreat and/or discriminiate against immigrants.

Contents 1 Role of Spanish-language media 2 Role of the Internet 3 Controversy and backlash over flag symbolism and protests 4 Timeline 4.1 February 4.2 March 4.3 April 4.4 May 5 Legislation 6 See also 7 References 8 Organizations 9 External links

[edit] Role of Spanish-language media

Spanish-language media outlets, in particular Univision, Telemundo, Azteca America 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. <ref>Gillian Flaccus, The Boston Globe: "Spanish-language media credited on pro-immigrant rallies" March 29, 2006</ref> <ref>Melissa Block, NPR-All Things Considered: "Spanish D.J. Organizes Immigration-Reform Protests" March 28, 2006</ref> <ref>NPR-Day to Day: "Immigration Protests, Part 1: Spanish-Language Media" April 7, 2006</ref>

[edit] 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 in particular was seen as a significant source for attracting youth who speak English. Because of the Internet, the various marches and demonstrations which occurred around the nation attracted more than merely 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.

[edit] Controversy and backlash over flag symbolism and protests

The initial protests caused some controversy after a number of protesters waved Mexican and Central American flags. The issue of these flags was also repeated by media outlets and columnists.<ref>"The foreign flag rule" by Clarence Page, The Baltimore Sun, April 14, 2006, accessed April 14, 2006.</ref> 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.<ref>Student punished for American flag incident by Tracy Garcia, Whittier Daily News, April 1, 2006, and "The American Flag Comes Second" by Michelle Malkin, posted March 29, 2006 01:15 AM. Both accessed April 14, 2006.</ref>

Because of the controversy, organizers of the protests encouraged protesters to leave their Mexican flags at home, with Cardinal 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."<ref>"Protesters work to change image" by Peter Prengaman, Associated Press, Long Beach Press-Telegram, April 11, 2006, accessed April 14, 2006.</ref> As a result of this controversy later protests featured fewer Mexican flags and more protesters carrying American flags.<ref>"Immigrants Must Choose" by Charles Krauthammer, The Washington Post, April 14, 2006, accessed April 14, 2006.</ref> 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 as racist and anti-American.<ref>"The Signs You Don't See..." by Michelle Malkin, posted April 11, 2006 12:14 PM, accessed April 14, 2006.</ref>

The Mexica Movement was one of the most notable groups 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 Congressman James Sensenbrenner as a Nazi and the North American continent displayed under the heading, "Stolen Continent." Other controversial groups that countered the immigrant marches included many organizations that the Southern Poverty Law Center classifies as hate groups such as neo-Nazi organizations and others who manipulate their classifications as "Grassroots" organizations.

As part of the backlash over the protests and the controversy over the flag symbolism issue, a group who call themselves "Border Guardians" burned a Mexican flag in front of the Mexican Consulate in Tucson, Arizona, on April 9, 2006.<ref>"Mexico says U.S. group burning Mexican flag is unacceptable" KVOA TV, Tucson, AZ, April 11, 2006, accessed April 14, 2006.</ref> 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" 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."<ref>"The foreign flag rule" by Clarence Page, The Baltimore Sun, April 14, 2006, accessed April 14, 2006.</ref>

Citizens opposed to illegal immigration have also been active. The Washington Post recently reported that, in one U.S. town, a day labor center at which suspected illegal immigrants congregated was closed and its mayor and two aldermen were voted out of office as a result of immigration concerns. [1],[2]

Membership in the Minuteman Project increased due in part to backlash from the protests. [3] On May 3, responding to the May 1 boycotts, the Minutemen embarked on a caravan across the United States in an effort to bring attention to the need for border enforcement. The caravan was expected to reach Washington D.C. on May 12. But as the group continues to expand on their agenda, their internal cohesion is disassembling due to the federal investigations of embezzlement of donated monies.

[edit] Timeline

[edit] February

• February 14: 2,000 demonstrators rally on Independence Mall in Philadelphia for the "Day Without an Immigrant" protest.<ref>Bahadur, Gaiutra, "Workers step from shadows", Philadelphia Inquirer, February 15, 2006, p. A1.</ref>

El Puente Magazine

[edit] March

• March 10: 100,000 marched from Union Park to Federal Plaza in Chicago.[4]
• March 23: 10,000-15,000 marched to Zeidler Park in Milwaukee.<ref>Mark Johnson and Linda Spice, Thousands marched for immigrants, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, March 23, 2006</ref>
• March 24: 20,000 marched to Senator Jon Kyl's office in Phoenix.<ref>Yvonne Wingett and Daniel González, Immigrants protested in Valley, cities across U.S., The Arizona Republic, March 28, 2006</ref> Tens of thousands of workers participate in a work stoppage in Georgia [5].
• March 25: 750,000 (average estimate) marched from Olympic and Broadway to the City Hall in Los Angeles in what was called by a coalition "La Gran Marcha" (aka "The Grand March"). According to the Los Angeles Police Department, "500,000 plus" marched to City 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.<ref name="watanabebecerra">Teresa Watanabe and Hector Becerra. "How DJs Put 500,000 Marchers in Motion", LA Times, 2006-03-28.</ref> The participants consisted primarily of undocumented Mexican immigrants, Mexican-Americans, other Central American immigrants and Latino groups. The Asian community was primarily represented by Korean immigrants, Korean-Americans, and Chinese-Americans. Notably, not one arrest for disorderly behavior or rowdiness was recorded.<ref name="watanabebecerra"/>
• March 25: 50,000 demonstrated in front of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver.<ref>Kirk Mitchell and Annette Espinoza, Tens of thousands protest bill, The Denver Post, March 25, 2006</ref>
• March 25: In downtown Cleveland, Ohio at the Public Square near Tower City and the heart of downtown Cleveland, a few hundred people of Mexican, Central American, Chilean, Dominican, Argentina, and Puerto Rican descent gathered to protest bill HR 4437. Chicahua Necahual, an Immigration Rights Avticist, was quoted as saying "It was a day to be seen and heard. To boycott those whom have become rich off of our labor and buying their products!"^{[citation needed]}
• March 26: 7,000 people rallied at the Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio.[6]
• March 27: 50,000 marched to the McNamara Federal Building in Detroit.<ref name="warikoo"/>
• March 29: 8,000-9,000 marched from The Coliseum to Legislative Plaza in Nashville.<ref name="torreshoward"/>
• March 30: Robert Pambello, the principal of Reagan High School in Houston, was ordered to remove a Mexican flag he placed on the school flagpole [7]. In April he announced he would resign from his position.
• March 31: High school students protested in several cities.

• 3,000 high school and middle school students in Las Vegas walk out of class to protest. Some college and community college students join them on their protest; many were charged with truancy. <ref>"Roughly 1,000 Las Vegas high schoolers protest immigration reform", KVBC (TV), 2006-03-29.</ref>

• Approximately 6,000 people met at Chicano Park in San Diego and walked through Downtown to City College. Most of the attendees were from several middle and high schools.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] April

• April 1: Thousands rallied at the Oklahoma state capital in Oklahoma City.
• April 1: 10,000 marched across the Brooklyn Bridge to Foley Square in New York City.<ref>Herbert Lowe, Rally in NYC, Newsday, April 2, 2006</ref>
• April 6: Hundreds of Aurora, Illinois students left school to march downtown to protest.<ref>[8]</ref>
• April 8: Several hundred people rally at Chicano Park in San Diego. <ref> http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2006/04/115129.shtml </ref>
• April 9: Demonstrations in several cities across the United States, including:

• 350,000-500,000 marched to City Hall in Dallas.<ref>Dallas Hosts Record-Setting Rally, NBC5i, April 9, 2006</ref>
• 50,000 marched in San Diego from Balboa Park, through downtown to the County Administration Building.<ref>50,000 throng downtown in immigrant-rights march, San Diego Union-Tribune, April 10, 2006</ref>
• 40,000 marched from the Cathedral of St. Paul to the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul.<ref>Thousands of immigrants march for rights in St. Paul, KARE11, April 10, 2006</ref>
• 6,000 rally in Des Moines.<ref>Abby Simons and Megan Hawkins, Immigrants: 'No Human Being is Illegal', Des Moines Register, April 9, 2006</ref>

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• April 10: Demonstrations were staged in 102 cities and towns across the United States, including Las Vegas, Boston, Philadelphia, Reno, Washington D.C., Indianapolis, Phoenix, New York City, Lexington, Knoxville, Memphis, Austin<ref>KXAN, [9]</ref>, and Los Angeles.<ref>Karen Jacobs, Immigration rallies sweep through U.S. cities, Reuters, April 10, 2006</ref><ref>Maria Newman, Immigration Advocates Rally Around U.S., The New York Times, April 10, 2006</ref><ref>[10]</ref>

• Atlanta, Georgia, at least 50,000 people rallied for both pro-amnesty and anti-amnesty. <ref>[11]</ref>
• Boston, Massachusetts, several thousand demonstrators march from Boston Common to Copley Square, forcing road closures. Speeches are held from the steps of the McKim building of the Boston 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.<ref>http://www.thebostonchannel.com/newsarchive/8603503/detail.html</ref>
• Charleston, South Carolina, at least 4,000 people gathered and protested the inability of lawmakers to agree on legislation that would lead to citizenship. <ref>[12]</ref>
• 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. <ref>NBC2.com, "Over 75,000 take part in protest march", April 12, 2006</ref>
• 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.<ref>[13]</ref>
• 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. <ref>[14]</ref>
• Pensacola, Florida, over 1,000 people gathered in Martin Luther King, Jr Plaza in downtown Pensacola to protest pending legislation that would enact penalties on illegal aliens and those that hire them.
• Phoenix, Arizona, at least 100,000 people took to the streets.<ref>[15]</ref>
• New York City, between 70,000 and 125,000 people demonstrated in front of City Hall. Senators Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer spoke at the rally. Neither called for amnesty, though many of the crowd's signs and chants did.<ref>[16]</ref>
• Oakland, California, an estimated 10,000 people took part in the demonstration.<ref>Staff writer, "Oakland Adds Voice to Growing National Debate", Oakland Tribune, April 11, 2006.</ref>
• Salt Lake City, Utah, a unity rally was held at the City-County Building; there were an estimated 15,000 protesters.<ref>Jennifer W. Sanchez, "Latinos set demonstrations dates", Salt Lake Tribune</ref>
• 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 from King and Story to city hall. Highway access to US-101 and I-680 was closed, causing significant traffic backups. <ref>Jessie Mangaliman, Joe Rodriguez and Sandra Gonzales, 25,000 march downtown, San Jose Mercury News</ref>
• Seattle, Washington, between 15,000 and 25,000 marched to a rally at the federal building where speakers in support of the demonstrators, such as Mayor Greg Nickels and County Executive Ron Sims spoke. Just five thousand were expected. <ref>http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/266257_rally11.html</ref>

• April 11: Several protests occurred in Nevada.

• In Las Vegas, Nevada, a rally with an estimated minimum of 300+ was held at the Cashman Center; several important opposition figures showed up, such as Jim Gilchrist, the Nevada Secretary of State, local radio host Mark Edwards, and numerous state Minuteman Project branches to protest against amnesty. <ref> http://www.thewakeupamericafoundation.com/000waf-events.shtml </ref>
• In Carson City, Nevada, an estimated 200 students walked out of class, rallying in front of the Governor's Mansion. <ref>http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20060328/NEWS/103280055&SearchID=73241356192303</ref>
• In Reno, 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. <ref> http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060410/NEWS18/604100343</ref>

• April 13: Students from several Woodburn, OR (a town with a large Hispanic community) schools marched out of class.<ref>Derek Sciba. "Woodburn students march over immigration", KATU, April 13, 2006.</ref>
• April 19: Students from various Denver high schools and middle schools walked out of class and marched to the capitol.<ref>"Views from the Capitol rally", Rocky Mountain News, April 20, 2006.</ref>
• April 27: Approximately 200 volunteers and supporters built a 6 foot high, quarter 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. <ref>http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/04/30/state/n072238D91.DTL</ref>
• April 28: Nuestro Himno, a Spanish language rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, is played simultaneously on about 500 Spanish language radio stations across the country. President Bush denounced the effort saying the National Anthem should be sung in English<ref>[17]</ref>

[edit] May

Image:May 1 2006 Rally in Chicago.jpg

• May 1: The "Great American Boycott" takes place across the United States and at a few locations abroad. [18]
  • An estimated 75,000 protested in Denver [19] [20] and over a million in L.A. [21]
  • The El Paso, Texas area saw close to 2,000 marchers that walked miles from the neighboring suburb of Sunland Park, New Mexico to the San Jacinto Plaza in downtown; another segment of marchers walked from the Chamizal Memorial National Park to the same downtown plaza. Numerous college students from local universities, New Mexico State and the University of Texas at El Paso also participated.
  • Austin, Texas, witnessed a gathering of thousands of residents. Nationally known for it's progressive stances and demonstrations, the Anglo and Hispanic residents of Austin demanded 'Justice for the voiceless!"
  • An estimated 400,000 marched in Chicago, according to police, though organizers pegged the total at closer to 700,000 [22]
  • The boycott was said to have had "little economic impact" in Arizona [23]
  • Chicago area discjockey Mancow 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. [24]
  • 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 in Santa Barbara, California. [25]
  • Some supporters have hailed this as "the most important boycott since the days of the civil rights movement" [26].
  • In the Bay Area around 200,000 marched in San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa etc. [27]
  • A California newspaper has reported that an altercation has taken place between police and protesters. [28]
  • Local news estimates that 3,000+ people marched from Jaycee Park in Las 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. [29]
  • According to the L.A. Observed, an altercation occurred between protestors and police at McArthur Park in Los Angeles. [30]
  • Around 1000 Protesters in Tijuana Mexico, blocked the international border crossing -the busiest in the world- in support of rights for illegal immigrants.

Image:Protests.jpg

• May 2: The Minuteman Project says that 400 new members joined in April in response to the protests. [31]
• May 3: In response to the pro-immigration reform boycott, the Minutemen started a two-vehicle caravan across the United States which is expected to reach Washington DC on May 12th.[32][33]
• May 25: The United States Senate passes S. 2611 which includes a path to citizenship for up to 8.5 million illegal immigrants.

[edit] Legislation

Main article: H.R. 4437

H.R. 4437 (The Border Protection, Anti terrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005) was passed by the United States House of Representatives on December 16, 2005 by a vote of 239 to 182. It is also known as the "Sensenbrenner Bill," for its sponsor in the House of Representatives, Jim Sensenbrenner. H.R. 4437 was seen by many as the catalyst for the 2006 U.S. immigration reform protests.

Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 previously amnestied 2.7 million illegal aliens.

The companion bill passed by the United States Senate is S. 2611, currently waiting to go into conference committee. The House Republican leadership, however, stated that it rejects S. 2611 wholly and will pass legislation that only addresses border security.

[edit] See also

• United States immigration debate
• H.R. 4437
• S. 2611
• Great American Boycott

[edit] References

<references />

[edit] Organizations

The following organizations mobilized from hundreds (FAIR) to millions of people (Great American Boycott) around immigration reform in the United States during 2006.

• May 1st 2006 'A Day Without Immigrant' National Mobilization Endorsers - national coalition of 215 organizations that mobilized 1 million protesters across the U.S. on May 1, 2006 for the Great American Boycott.
• We Are America Alliance - national network of hundreds of regional coalitions that mobilized 2 million protesters across the U.S. on April 10, 2006 and coordinated protests in the May 1st national protests.
• El Paro and the Day Without and Immigrant Coalition (Philadelphia Region) Philadelphia regional coalition of dozens o organizations invited and mobilized thousands of protesters in 7 marches from February 14th to April 10, 2006.
• March 25 Coalition - Southern California based coalition that mobilized 750,000 protesters in Los Angeles in March 25, 2006
• We Are America Coalition (California) - Southern California based coalition of 47 organizations that mobilized 400,000 protesters in Los Angeles along Wilshire Boulevard in May 1, 2006
• Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) - mobilized dozens of persons in various counter-protests.
• Minuteman Project - held sporadic counter protests in a some major US cities.
• American Patrol - This has extensive reports that is "allegedly" ignored by the mainstream media.
• Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform - New York based organization that mobilizes efforts by the Irish community across the United States in protests in Washington, D.C. on March 8, 2006 and June 28, 2006. Partially funded by the Irish government [34]

[edit] External links

• Immigration Debate Resources - A website with education facts concerning the Immigration debate
• GranMarcha.org - photos of the March 25th march and rally in Los Angeles
• Prisonplanet.com story on violence associated with protests.
• Who's Behind the Immigration Rallies?
• Georgia illegal immigration boycott organized by former Mexican consul
• News With Views's Homepage
• From Prison Planet:Radicals Take Control Of Immigration Movement
• From New Media Journal:Invading Army Stages "Granmarcha",Aided by 5th Column
• News With Views Homepage - From here is accessed various anti-illegal immigrant articles, currently stated or in the archives.
• The Great March of Los Angeles 2006 (Gran Marcha) Photos and commentary of the Gran Marcha of Los Angeles, the largest march in Los Angeles history.
• "500,000 Pack Streets to Protest Immigration Bills"
• 'Today we march, tomorrow we vote': fearful US Latinos flex political muscle
• Student immigration law protests continue
• Student Walkouts Continue; Officials Vow Crackdown
• Hundreds Of Students Protest Immigration For Second Day
• Test of fire as immigration bill is placed before Senate
• "Thousands protest immigration plan"
• Richard Renner's photos of the 2006-03-26 rally in Columbus, Ohio
• The American Resistance - Featured on CNN protest special
• Columbus Dispatch photo
• Boycott has little impactcy:Protestiadau hawliau mewnfudwyr yr UDA 2006

pdc:2006 U.S. Immigration Reform Protests es:Protestas de inmigrantes en los Estados Unidos en 2006 fr:Mouvement de 2006 contre la réforme de la loi sur l'immigration aux États-Unis pt:Protestos de Imigrantes nos EUA de 2006