Friday, March 31, 2006

TASK #98 Go on a Demonstration

I'll try to add more details soon, but I just wanted to let my readers know that I got this one done. Well, to be honest with you I was only there like 45 minutes so I'll have to check the book to see if this qualifies.

I attended a protest against House Resolution 4437, which would make all undocumented immigrants felons and require all employers to verify the immigration status of its employees.

See article on CNN for more details:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/03/23/latino.march/index.html

I've never joined a protest before but it was eye-opening. Seeing and joining a mobilization of thousands of mainly service and manual worker laborers, just fighting for a better life, was pretty moving.

The idea that these people would be treated the same as murderers and rapist, is pretty appauling.

I didn't even know about it until I heard all the police sirens and saw all the news trucks passing by my work. I asked around and someone told me what it was about. So I thought, what the heck, I believe in it, I have a lunch break - I can do this!

I walked over and there were thousands of people (woman, children, husbands and wives) peacefully marching toward a park where I could here speakers calling out for support and unity.

I picked up a sign and joined in some chants. I signed a petition of support.
I even bumped into someone I knew and stood with them for a while.

It was a neat experience and I would certainly do it again for the right cause.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wait a minute. How could that law make people who aren't citizens of the United States felons? I mean, if they come from Mexico for example, shouldn't it only be the Mexican government who can call them felons? Wouldn't doing something like that violate some international law or something of the sort? What about sovereignity of nations?

...Yeah, I know absolutely nothing about this whole immigration debate thing, and I am probably unintentionally making myself out to be insensitive by asking this, but what the hell, I'm curious...

Pablo Baez said...

Yes, it is a pretty ridiculuos idea. Unfortunately, I think it was passed.

Go here for more info -
http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/HR4437.html

Thanks for reading and commenting.

pbaez