Dispatches From the MegaMarcha
Posted May 2nd 2010 at 3:24 pm
by Sara Ines Calderon
Saturday’s protest in downtown Dallas was probably one of the most peaceful and hopeful protests I’ve ever been to. People brought their children, grandchildren, grandmothers, fathers, people in wheelchairs particip
ated and people even brought their dogs.
Saturday’s protest in downtown Dallas was probably one of the most peaceful and hopeful protests I’ve ever been to. People brought their children, grandchildren, grandmothers, fathers, people in wheelchairs particip
ated and people even brought their dogs. The official count was 25,000, but I’m telling you that’s too small. The organizers said it was 50,000. That seems more accurate. Marches were held across the country, similarly undercounted. For example, supposedly only 50,000 showed up in Los Angeles (I believe the higher 100,000-plus figures from organizers).
The tone of the march was pacific and dignified.
The tone of the march was pacific and dignified.
People want immigration reform. People don’t want to be illegal. People want to work and be treated like human beings.
Media outlets of all kinds were there, local, national, print, broadcast, radio, left, right, English, Spanish. And, of course, there were some counter-protesters, whose appearance in the media probably outnumbered their physical numbers.
Media outlets of all kinds were there, local, national, print, broadcast, radio, left, right, English, Spanish. And, of course, there were some counter-protesters, whose appearance in the media probably outnumbered their physical numbers.
The Dallas Tea Party was telling their members to participate if they wanted to, but warned:
“If you choose to participate in Saturday’s events, we strongly encourage you to keep your wits about you at all times, to refrain from escalating any actual or potential conflict and to avoid any situations that may present a significant risk of bodily injury to yourself or others. Immigration activists have been perpetrating violence at their marches in other parts of the country, and there is a significant risk that they may initiate violence at this march, as well.”
Which, if you think about it, is kind of funny, considering that this “warning” was given in advance of any marches.
“If you choose to participate in Saturday’s events, we strongly encourage you to keep your wits about you at all times, to refrain from escalating any actual or potential conflict and to avoid any situations that may present a significant risk of bodily injury to yourself or others. Immigration activists have been perpetrating violence at their marches in other parts of the country, and there is a significant risk that they may initiate violence at this march, as well.”
Which, if you think about it, is kind of funny, considering that this “warning” was given in advance of any marches.
(Political activist Carlos Quintanilla, president of Accion America, said his group was at the forefront of the march planning and said his group would continue to organize against local ordinances discriminating against illegal immigrants. He said his group's efforts in 
Brownsville would continue until local BISD trustees Rick Zayas and Ruben Cortez either resigned or were defeated at the polls.
Brownsville would continue until local BISD trustees Rick Zayas and Ruben Cortez either resigned or were defeated at the polls. He also said that the complaint Cortez launched with the Texas Secretary of State alleging illegal conduct by Accion America had been dismissed.)
The police were out in full force. They were expecting hundreds of thousands of people, but I was grateful they were there.
Everyone was peaceful. Even when there were counter-protesters, there were pro-immigration reform protesters next to them. There were no fights, that I saw, even the counter-protesters were pacific.
A quinceañera was being photographed inside of the Cathedral. Mariachis played the songs everyone knew by heart.
Chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!” were frequent, as were U.S. flags. People also had other chants. The classic “Sí se puede” hijacked by the Obama campaign in 2008 and reiterated at the march in English, “Yes we can!” “This is what democracy looks like!” “We are not illegal!” “Obama, escucha, estamos en la lucha!” (Obama, listen, we are in the struggle!) “Nadie es ilegal!” (No one is illegal!)
Overall, it was a great event.
A quinceañera was being photographed inside of the Cathedral. Mariachis played the songs everyone knew by heart.
Chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!” were frequent, as were U.S. flags. People also had other chants. The classic “Sí se puede” hijacked by the Obama campaign in 2008 and reiterated at the march in English, “Yes we can!” “This is what democracy looks like!” “We are not illegal!” “Obama, escucha, estamos en la lucha!” (Obama, listen, we are in the struggle!) “Nadie es ilegal!” (No one is illegal!)
Overall, it was a great event.
2 comments:
If you crossed the river in a tire tube, without going through the bridge immigration offices without the proper documentation. You are here illegally, cabrones.
Y you want to make changes, vayan a protestar a Mexico, bola de mojados. Out there the damn goverment, will tell your fat assess to take and hike and put your asses in jail. Lla estoy asta la chingada de estar oyendo a esta bola de Indios pata rajadas, andar de pallasos estan de dar lastima, MF's.
Andan aqui de limosnerors, beggars y luego tambien complain. Go back to your country. And leave us alone.
It was a good event according to who, you, or the counter protesters??? Why don't they go and change the laws in Mexico or better still go back and work for 10:00 a day. As the saying goes: Bite the hand that feeds them. Please!!!
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