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News & ArtsThursday, May 20, 2010
City Forty Protesters Downtown Are Trying to Be Arrested to Draw Support for Immigration Reform
Posted by Cienna Madrid on Thu, May 20, 2010 at 1:07 PM
Walking through the middle of downtown streets and blocking traffic at intersections, 40 protesters—including several local leaders wearing "Immigration Reform Now!" shirts—are trying to be arrested. Hundreds of supporters are rallying around them:
Earlier today, the Washington Immigration Reform Coalition was teaching the group the best techniques for being arrested. At noon, the protesters—including Estela Ortega, Executive Director of El Centro de la Raza, King County Council Member Larry Gossett, Hilary Stern, Executive Director of Casa Latina, and Jeff Johnson, representing the Washington State Labor Council—began their civil disobedience.
They formed a human chain in front of the office building elevators to the located at 1000 2nd Avenue, blocking access to all offices within the building, including blocking access to office for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which deports undocumented workers.
Lorena Gonzalez, Vice President of One America, which organized the rally, says it's part of an orchestrated national movement that kicked off this week. Their goal is to draw attention to president Barack Obama's failed campaign promise to introduce comprehensive immigration reform within his first year in office.
"He broke his promise," says Gonzalez. "What's worse, we're seeing 1,000 deportations a day under the Obama Administration. That's much higher than what we were seeing under the Bush Administration."
More after the jump.
Gonzalez explains that with Arizona's new racial profiling law—which gives law enforcement the authority to stop anyone and request to see their immigration papers and other states considering similar legislation—creates a pressing need for federal immigration reform. "We're fighting the clock," she says. "The only way to prevent escalating racial profiling on a state level is to get comprehensive federal reform now. This isn't just something we're demanding, it's something that Obama's already promised to us."
Behind Gonzalez, hundreds of protesters blocked easy access to the building on 2nd Avenue, holding homemade signs in Spanish and English chanted, "Yes We Can!" and, "Immigration Reform Now!"
Seattle City Council Member Nick Licata attended the rally as a supporter. Earlier this week, the city council passed an Arizona boycott resolution that called for comprehensive immigration reform while denouncing the AZ law. City council members have been inundated by angry emails and phone calls regarding the amendment. "We've been getting a lot of heat for it," confirms Licata, "my theory is there's a national right wing campaign to blast local electeds with negative feedback where resolutions like ours are passed." That's why rallies like this are so necessary, says Licata. With anti-immigration advocates so well organized, "the only way we're going to see change in this country is to lay on the pressure."
Gonzalez says pressure is mounting: On Monday, a group of students were arrested for civil disobedience in Arizona for blocking the doorway to John McCain's office. On Tuesday, city council members in New York were arrested.
"As far as we know, this is the largest display of civil disobedience to date," says One America spokesman Charlie McAteer. "But it won't be the largest and it won't be the last."
This is not a sentence.
Also it is factually incorrect.
You Stupid Lying Cunt.
6
13-1509. Trespassing by illegal aliens; assessment; exception;
41 classification
42 A. IN ADDITION TO ANY VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW, A PERSON IS GUILTY OF
43 TRESPASSING IF THE PERSON IS BOTH:
44 1. PRESENT ON ANY PUBLIC OR PRIVATE LAND IN THIS STATE.
45 2. IN VIOLATION OF 8 UNITED STATES CODE SECTION 1304(e) OR 1306(a).
http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bi…
9
http://edgeoforever.wordpress.com/2010/0…
12
I'm kind of disappointed that these folks are treating "deportation" like its a four-letter word. It's not, and even after we do get comprehensive reform, we are still going to be deporting illegal residents. Getting hysterical about deportation obscures focus on other needed aspects of reform.
15
When it comes down to it: just bad reporting.
16
Wake me up when the cops arrest some employers.
17
18
It appears that JF is right on the facts. The law specifically states that,
"A law enforcement official or agency of this state …. may not solely consider race, color or national origin in implementing the requirements of this subsection except to the extent permitted by the United States or Arizona constitution."
It is a bit disingenuous to say it is a "racial profiling" law since it incorporates the US Constitution, as interpreted by the US supreme Court prohibition of racial profiling.
Not to say an officer can't push the envelope or that there are other concerning aspects of the law (what is "contact" or the presumption of citizenship for those that possess a drivers license), but technically, this law comports with current racial profiling prohibitions.
LMAO, it's tough being a spoiled white kid these days, you can't get arrested at a Critical Masshole ride and now you can't get arrested at a protest!
What's a kid gonna do with their Evergreen State degree? It's not like it's good for anything else. Post on Slog all day like Will?
BTW I love illegals, they do a great job cutting my grass, work hard and work cheap. Fuck our AMerican bums, let's send THEM back to Mexico. Of course, like these protestors, I live in lilly white Seattle so there's no worries illegals can afford to live in my neighborhood.
21
And Will @17 is dead on. We need to start punishing employers for creating this incentive. It shocks me that we allow people to employ illegals on a daily basis. I hate the fact that we have a country full of greedy consumers who aren't willing to pay the fair market value for our countries products. There is a lot of blame to go around for this mess but I'm not going to sit here and worry about the emotions of individuals who are contributing to the problem.
22
"Lawful contact" was so broad and open to overzealous interpretation that it was changed to "lawful stop, detention, or arrest." However, wording was added making it acceptable to check the status of people in violation of town ordinances, so in some places having tall grass would be sufficient reason to demand someone's proof of citizenship.
Also, "solely" has been removed. It now reads "may not consider race, color or national origin in implementing the requirements of this subsection except to the extent permitted by the United States or Arizona Constitution."
23
But I'm sure the AZ legislature appreciates your faith in their intent.
24
(and yes, I am completely aware that there are bad cops - it doesn't make what I'm saying any less true).
"Gonzalez explains that with Arizona's new racial profiling law—which gives law enforcement the authority to stop anyone and request to see their immigration papers and other states considering similar legislation—creates a pressing need for federal immigration reform."
This is still not a grammatically correct sentence.
And it is still factually incorrect.
YOU FUCKING STUPID LYING CUNT.
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