(Union Square Park May 1, 2010) Photos: © Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates
Arizona's new controversial immigration laws were the focus of May Day rallies being held around the city Saturday.
While an immigration rally has been held at the same time for the past six years in Union Square, many protesters say this year they were especially motivated by the new legislation, which requires police to question people about immigration status if there's reason to suspect they're in the country illegally, according to NY 1.
"Today is the day when immigrants across the country say talk is not enough; we need action," said Chung-Wha Hong of the New York Immigrants Coalition. "What happened in Arizona that legally sanctions racial profiling and makes it a crime to be non documented has set off a national spark."
"There is a real danger [of that law spreading], unless it's confronted and stopped right here," said a rally attendee.
In addition, protesters called on Washington to take immediate action on comprehensive immigration reform and more rights for immigrant workers.
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NY 1 - May 1, 2010
New York Times - City Room - May 1, 2010 - By Alison Bowen
Eye of the Beholder: I will tell you what I have seen these last few days I saw our beloved Stars and Stripes flag, the flag from Mexico and some flags from other countries. I saw children, parents and grand parents together in solidarity, my people the working class, they may not be sophisticated but they got the message heard. From publish reports the demonstrations included both US citizens and undocumented workers. This brought me a smile because I always enjoy seeing brothers helping brothers.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of a parable from the good book where a Levite and Priest come upon a man who fell among thieves and they both individually passed by and didn't stop to help him. Finally a man of another race came by, he got down from his beast, decided not to be compassionate by proxy and got down with the injured man, administered first aid, and helped the man in need. Jesus ended up saying, this was the good man, this was the great man, because he had the capacity to project the "I" into the "thou," and to be concerned about his brother.
You see, the Levite and the Priest were afraid, they asked themselves, "If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?"
But then the Good Samaritan came by. And he reversed the question: "If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?"
As I see it, we should stand-up against a law is passed in anger and is against our Constitution/ Bill of Rights/ Declaration of Independence and is targets a specific group.
God bless all my brothers and sister that stood side by side with our brothers and sisters in need. When our judgment comes I know God will not discriminate by country of origin as men do.