Immigration Rally
When I heard that there were 100,000 people downtown, sending a message to the government, I hopped on the train and emerged from beneath the ground to the masses. Controversial at best, it is mostly about a majority of honest, hard working people wanting the same securities and opportunities for their family, as we all do. What do you think?
What do you think? Leave a comment!
Immigration Rally [Quicktime 7/iTunes M4V, H-264 optimized for iPod – 3:15 – 19.1 mb]
Alternative download :: Immigration Rally [Quicktime 6.5+ MOV, MPEG-4 – 3:15 – 16.4 mb]
On a side note, I urge you to watch this documentary on PBS’s web site. I think it helps you see an important view from the other side of the border.
TAGS :: immigration, illegal aliens, Chicago, crowds, rally, equality, watchthis
March 17th, 2006 at 12:47 am
It’s a bit more than that, wouldn’t you say? For instance, aren’t they citizens of other countries, agitating in our country for rights to which they aren’t entitled? I’m sure there are billions of people in the world who’d like the same securities as we do, should we invite them in?
I suggest thinking about this issue in a bit more depth.
March 17th, 2006 at 1:04 am
Thanks for you comment, however, I am asking a question more then anything here. I know it’s quite a complex situation, so I hope people look at it from both sides, not just one.
Thanks!
Kev!
March 17th, 2006 at 2:15 pm
It’s undoubtedly a very complex situation but it’s also right look at these issues from both sides and not just one. So well done Kev!
March 17th, 2006 at 10:40 pm
This was a good piece of citizen journalism, observing a protest.
March 21st, 2006 at 2:02 pm
I walked right by this demonstration at lunch. too bad I didnt see you. Well done on the video.
April 9th, 2006 at 4:42 pm
When my grandfather came to this country he had to learn English, be sponcered by a citizen and pay for his own healthcare. He also took care of his family by working hard ,learning english and pursuing education. He loved this country although he didnt have the right to vote. He earned that right by becoming a USA citizen.
April 10th, 2006 at 9:21 am
I agree that these people are desparate to get over here. In their shoes, i would be too. However, i live in a border town, i also come from Irish/German immigrants. I saw my family struggle to come here legally, to do things justly, and they were rewarded for it.
Living in this coastal border town, i see them raping the U.S. in many ways;coming over here with what we call “burro babies”, which they have here so they will have dual citizenship and access to housing, medicaid, food stamps, etc, and yet, not pay in a cent to the U.S. Govt. for these services. Ever. I know people who have lived here upwards of 50 years who are still illegals. Many have been deported numerous times and still come back. The problem is, this issue has never been looked at as a crime. And yet, thats what it is!
As i said, my family went through hell getting here legally, and i don’t see why anyone from any country should be allowed anything less than obeying the law. How can they take any laws seriously, if this one is such a joke? Gosh, i need to stop and go get coffee, i’m not even awake yet.! I’m Shell, also known as Mermaid, (lovin the water and all that), and i love your page, enjoyed it immensley, i am also have asleep so please forgive my grammatical chaos. cheers!
April 11th, 2006 at 12:18 am
Well… inmigrants are a problem for the USA, but there are more biggest problem to think about. What i figure out problematic is to call “Illegal” to people who are working and doing nothing bad, indeed the day they do something bad they have to go to a jail for a real crime, but before it isn’t.. So i think government should be careful about the language to use to call the inmigrants… BYE
April 11th, 2006 at 12:28 am
I forget something, sorry : How can you call “illegal” to people who are completely ADAPTEd to a society ?… that’s a linguistic mistake, and it penetrates the mind of everybody. Thank you.
April 11th, 2006 at 12:30 pm
Many of these folks did get here illegally but are doing everything they can to become legal. They have filed all the paperwork and are waiting for our government to recognize them. My grandfather came here illegally in the mid 1800’s. He jumped a ship from Norway without documentation. Should I go back to Norway?
I don’t believe these folks should be given the right to vote, obtain medical benefits, or social security benefits. I do believe that there are obviously too many to deport at this point and the folks that are currently here working at a steady job, should be allowed to continue. If they have a criminal record or are unemployed they should leave.
I know some of these folks. They honestly do jobs that we can’t find anyone else to do (even our teenagers won’t do the jobs that these people do, they are too spoiled to work that hard even for more than minimum wage). If these people go home, we might all have to work a little harder for a little less money…What a travesty that would be.
Remember, we all came here from somewhere else. The only people that didn’t recently immegrate are the Native Americans.
April 11th, 2006 at 5:45 pm
Well, Many of my family members are legal and illegal. And I understand the struggle it is to come to this country and live a normal life as an illegal. But i say an “illegal immigrant” as they call it. The U.S lets them join the army and fight for them when at the same time they are kicking them out! What does that tell you, that they only use them when they need them. Their spirit is great to fight fr a country that obviously hates them. I think instead of going forward society is going backward back to looking at each other as different instead as a whole.
April 30th, 2006 at 1:12 am
I’m sure there are billions of people in the world who’d like the same securities as we do, should we invite them in?
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We’ve already invited them in. 11-20 million people can’t work and pay taxes here without being implicity invited to so. That’s the whole point.
We say nothing when they work, pay taxes, and in some cases fight in Iraq. But when it’s time to distract everybody from the war and high gas prices in an election year, suddenly they’re public enemy #1.
It’s despicable. They should be legalized, and politicians should stop scapegoating them.
May 1st, 2006 at 12:58 pm
Definitely, If you check out the history, every body has ran to the country where there was wealth and richies. Britishers came to India to get the richies/wealth of India. They had robbed and emptied India. At least these people are not robbing and emptying U.S. All they want to do is, they want to live here and get betterment in life.They are hard working, caring, family oriented - not gang bangers or drug dealers. They take care of their families without depending on government money. They are not taking our tax dollars. Immigrants are not the people who depend on Medicaid or State government to fund for their housing ( Section 8). Immigrants don’t depend on state government to pay for their WIC or childcare, since the mother is pregnant immigrants are not the ones processing for their un born child’s applications for Public Aid money. They are not depending on Food stamps from government. They are not the ones who have many children so they can collect money from State Government and take Earned Income credits. In other words if they are doing any thing, they bring their contribution.They aren’t taking anything away from here.
May 1st, 2006 at 5:05 pm
I do not agree that they work on jobs no one else want. I am an american architect, but I have been a busboy, a mover, a construction worker in order to get where I am today.
I understand the plea of immigrants. However, an open border, instant legalization of all undocumented immigrants, and so forth is not plausible, or beneficial to the US. On the same token, having immigrants serve in the mitlitary is not correct either. There should be uniformity of thought. If they are not legalized, they should not be allowed to serve the military.
May 2nd, 2006 at 5:05 pm
Where is the humanity in everyone? These Imigrants are HUMANS. Hard working people just like you and me, who are just trying to make a better life for them selves and their children. America is a land of freedom, land of opportunity, a land of imigrants.
Is it so bad for a person to want a better life?
November 2nd, 2006 at 1:45 am
What you’re seeing is people giving voice to frustration. And if [change] doesn’t come, there will be more reaction by this community. They know we have the numbers.
May 4th, 2007 at 9:53 am
I saw the video, I read all the signs and all the messages. The one question I would have for an illegal immigrant is this, do you think that it is fair for you to be here in the United States more than your own native brother who is waiting at the doors to get in through due process by filling out his proper paper work to have the right and do you think your native brothers and sisters or anyone not born of the United States for that fact would think that it is fair for you to be here, don’t you think that would make them feel as though its a slap in the face if you were granted amnesty? I don’t honestly think anyone I have heard has come up with any answer to these questions instead I hear and read justifications for breaking laws of this land and there are no apologies for them only demands. Histories are brought up about the people who are of the United States. At one time many of our ancestors were immigrants but they came here legally. And the ones here before, there were no laws or regulations because mass immigration to the United States was not a huge problem. There were no Government programs to take care the poverish families, the immigrants had to start at what they brought into the country with them. Which were their skills. Now, there is no distinction of who is native and who is immigrant. Just to let you know, the native indian american were here thousands of years ago and were here first before anyone else. However, more of our bloodlines are inter mixed with the native american. So anyone who has deeper roots into this country are definitely native american to a certain degree. And therefore have all legal grounds, rights to inherit and rights to this country. As for americans not wanting to do the jobs that immigrants are doing, well lets be reasonable here. Jobs are being offered, and we blame this on cheap business men, who don’t want to pay for the work for what its worth. I mean would you stand outside all day in the sweltering heat, shoveling road to make another one for $5.50 an hour for twelve hours. Im pretty sure someone would do those jobs if it was the only thing the only skill they had or no skills at all and little or no education at all.
May 5th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Yes, america is the land of opportunity,a land of freedom,a land of immigrants, but people from other countries should respect our laws,just as how they ‘ll like somebody to respect their own.There are a lot of illegal law breakers that needs to be deported,on the other hand there are people who is in this country for a long time with families that should be given a chance if they have good criminal background.America wouldn’t be free anymore if the country is made up of lawbreakers.