April 10 in Atlanta

By Thomas
April 10th, 2006 @ 4:07 PM Politics


April 10
Originally uploaded by alexo05.

Photo from today’s April 10 Mobilization Rally in Atlanta.

22 Comments so far

  1. Andrew (unregistered) on April 10th, 2006 @ 4:21 pm

    I love it when people get together to voice their opinion in a country where their opinion means diddly. You’re here illegally. You don’t get a vote, you don’t get a say on how this country is run. Maybe if they put this much effort in bringing about change in their own country, they wouldn’t need to immigrate illegally to this one.


  2. karsh (unregistered) on April 10th, 2006 @ 6:31 pm

    Andrew, you may think their “opinion means diddly”, but their efforts do help to strengthen our economy (not to mention the economies of the countries they come from, in some cases). It’s a sticky issue on whichever side you lie.


  3. Andrew (unregistered) on April 10th, 2006 @ 7:18 pm

    I don’t see it as a sticky situation at all. They’re here illegally. There are laws and rules in place to allow people to come to this country legally. Either follow the rules or stay home.


  4. Lori (unregistered) on April 10th, 2006 @ 7:43 pm

    Try telling that to all of the US employers that they’re working for.


  5. JP (unregistered) on April 10th, 2006 @ 7:59 pm

    I’m with Lori on this one. I want to know why everyone is all up in arms about the immigrants and saying “they need to respect our laws,” when you DON’T hear them saying that about the employers.


  6. Alejandro Leal (unregistered) on April 10th, 2006 @ 11:32 pm

    All of you are missing the entire point. Andrew, you make the same ignorant mistake that a large portion of the population makes. There are very, very, limited ways for people to come over legally. Moreover, the people that do make it legally, are professionals, technicians, professors, i.e., high skill workers. I’m sure the relatively cheap vegetables in your fridge will attest to the fact that low skill workers are needed, are in demand, and are 94% employed. 500,000+ make it across the border illegally. Yet there are 25,000 low-skill worker visas.

    Do the math.


  7. exis10s (unregistered) on April 11th, 2006 @ 8:51 am

    The concept that someone is “illegal” still baffles me. It’s like people want to turn this country into private property with a “keep off the grass” sign.. though then I’d wager they would still hire others to cut said grass.

    As for following the rules.. how is that binary? When U.S. companies travel the world and drive prices up and use up foreign resources, do they listen and “go home”? They create their own rules.

    Excuse me, but fuck anyone in this richest country on the planet from condemning those outside it for wanting a piece of what we take from the rest of the world. If we’re going to operate like this, accept the realities of it.


  8. Eric (unregistered) on April 11th, 2006 @ 8:52 am

    One of my biggest peeves with the marches is that they are being branded “Immigrants Rights”, which is so dishonest. This is about ILLEGAL immigration, not legal immigrants.

    The whole topic is quite interesting with regard to the right. Their big business interests love the cheap labor allowing to keep wages suppressed, and not having to pay taxes on these employees. Then many are conflicted by the total disregard for the law.

    Yet another of the countless problems that this country faces today.


  9. Andrew (unregistered) on April 11th, 2006 @ 9:26 am

    Lori, I agree with you. All employers hiring illegal immigrants need to be punished as well. They are breaking the law. This however does not excuse the illegal immigrants from breaking immigration laws. Maybe our laws need to be changed to allow more unskilled immigrants to come to this country. So be it, but until that happens everyone involved needs to be obey the laws.


  10. Lori (unregistered) on April 11th, 2006 @ 10:02 am

    Andrew, I definitely agree with your last statement. This is an extremely complicated issue.


  11. lawman (unregistered) on April 11th, 2006 @ 5:04 pm

    “So be it, but until that happens everyone involved needs to be obey the laws.”

    In the Metroplis of the south.. it’s a bird! it’s a plane! it’s sure not an illegal immigrant!.. its.. L A W M A N!!

    THRILL!… as he unfailingly follows every law of the land, no matter how morally corrupt!

    GASP!… as he travels backwards in time to the times of the old south, where slavery is law, and must hunt down runaway slaves!

    SHOCK!… as LAWMAN downloads Poison_-_Unskinny_Bop.mp3, and rushes to Bret Michaels’ side to pay him recompense!

    As LAWMAN of Atlanta notes (on the books in GA):
    Donkeys may not be kept in bathtubs.
    No one may carry an ice cream cone in their back pocket if it is Sunday.

    These are THE LAW.. so you better follow them!

    Tune in next week for LAWMAN gets a speeding ticket for going the speed limit ..and HIS MIND EXPLODES!


  12. FTP (unregistered) on April 11th, 2006 @ 7:27 pm

    It was recently said that you cannot let people start their career in America by breaking the law, because that breaks down the entire system of respect for the law. Sneaking across the border, pretending you are a legal citizen of this country (while millions of others spend money and years going through the proper channels to attain citizenship), utilizing public services without paying any tax dollars for them, these are all big problems that have serious consequences. It is not keeping a donkey in a bathtub, but thanks for the humorous insight there, LAWMAN.

    However, we do need to target and penalize the businesses that hire illegal immigrants under the table and not pay taxes. Then we can help these illegals get back home where they belong. Fixing the system makes more sense than making fun of the issue.


  13. FTP (unregistered) on April 11th, 2006 @ 7:37 pm

    BTW, Karsh, your reasoning tells me that if we go out and kill off ethnic people in this country and sell their body parts for profit, to strengthen the economy, then it would be a good idea, a “sticky issue.”

    Are ethics a sticky issue? Or would you suggest we just change our ethics to whatever the current issue is?


  14. American contractor (unregistered) on April 11th, 2006 @ 8:07 pm

    The economy is not strengthened by illegal immigrants, but rather damaged due to illegal immigrants. And the job market is harder for many Americans, unless you are willing to work for nothing and pay no taxes.


  15. David Ortiz (unregistered) on April 12th, 2006 @ 3:56 pm

    Contractor, think that over the next time you’re eating a cheap box of strawberries.


  16. american contractor (unregistered) on April 12th, 2006 @ 5:56 pm

    Mr. Ortiz,

    I think about it every time I pay taxes. Yes, taxes are what legal citizens of this country pay: to cover our medical, fire, police, and schools. They also pay for federal prisons, which happen to be 29% occupied by illegal immigrants. I have many friends who immigrated from South and Central America (in addition to other countries) the right way. By applying for citizenship.

    But, I guess, if you are concerned about strawberries, and picking up cheap labor without having to pay taxes, then you can always vote that way come election season.


  17. melocotón (unregistered) on April 12th, 2006 @ 9:48 pm

    Sure it’s easy for us Americans to say “go back to where you came from” and “go fix your country” and “migrate here the legal way,” oh and I can’t forget “29% of federal prisons are illegals” (so i guess that makes all illegals criminals!?).

    But if you happen to know or have known an illegal immigrant, you will begin to understand where they came from and why they came here the way that they did. Believe me, they tried to make it in their countries and they came here with the best intentions. And a lot of them came from little or no education.

    America is the best – I would want to live here if I didn’t. This is our opportunity to educate the illegals and show them that they can apply for citizenship, that they too can become American and stop being afraid. It is the attitudes like “go back to where you belong” that is telling them they don’t belong here. Of course they’re scared.

    Remember this country is built on immigrants, that’s right, even illegal ones. They should not be treated like criminals, they work and contribute to our economy in great ways. Give them a chance. What is it you are really afraid of?


  18. cindy (unregistered) on April 13th, 2006 @ 7:57 am

    I have the best intentions every time I steal a case a beer from the convenience store: to drink free beer.


  19. LAWMAN2ELECTRICBOOGALOO (unregistered) on April 13th, 2006 @ 12:46 pm

    …This week on LAWMAN™…

    LAWMAN visits his brother HIGHHORSE at his downtown loft.. where LAWMAN finally gets away from all the lawless activity going on around here. While there, they wax poetic about how hard it seems to be for people to just FOLLOW THE LAW.. As LAWMAN takes a sip of his imported beer, flips on the A/C and dials up On-Demand for a little “Sopranos” action, he can’t help but wonder why people won’t just go back to their poverty and fill out the paperwork to come into this country BY THE LAW.

    Sufficiently rested, LAWMAN bursts back on the beat.. whisking past the pot-smoke he smells in the buildings hallways (after all, middle class whites smoking pot are of no concern to LAWMAN!).. he kicks the janitor on his way out and is off again to protect LAW, LAWS, and the AMERICAN WAY!

    Tune in next week when a fully rested LAWMAN grapples with AIDS drugs being ILLEGALLY transported to African nations… Will LAWMAN be able to put an end to .. BEFORE ITS TOO LATE??


  20. trudat (unregistered) on April 13th, 2006 @ 7:21 pm

    Right on LAWMAN. This country’s laws are such a joke anyway!! Why even bother to make laws, it’s not like people pay attention to them!! Especially prosecuting murders and rapes, most of the victim deserve it, right? You know those gays and women are asking for it anyway. And drugs…ya know, everyone should have the right to screw their own lives up and their familys. That’s their biz. Laws are retarded and MADE TO BE BROKEN. And if anyone owns a business, they deserve to have it broken into and stolen from!! Steal from everyone, that’s what say, poor, rich, citzen or alien. We are all the same, why force us to behave a certain way!!


  21. youshouldbeinjail (unregistered) on April 14th, 2006 @ 8:33 am

    TRUDAT.. if you honestly think the only reason people don’t rape and murder each other, maybe you should be in jail- because I don’t trust you.
    Most people don’t do this because its MORALLY wrong, and ETHICALLY wrong.. regardless of the nuances some old guy put in a book.
    Take a look at the drug laws in this country some time, and THEN tell us that they make sense and do more good putting people with addictions behind bars.

    You scare me. Not only do you have zero respect for your fellow humans, but you sound like the only thing keeping you from killing is a law.. thats disturbing.


  22. Nicole (unregistered) on April 20th, 2006 @ 2:51 pm

    FOR ALL YOU PEOPLE TO READ…….
    I was born and raised here in ATLANTA GEORGIA about 21 years ago, thanks to both of my loving parents. My father came into this country illegally until he feel in love and married my mother who was a American citizen.He came to look for a better life in the US and to be part of this beautiful nation.HE came in search for the American Dream. My family is legal in this country, we pay taxes, and we contribuite to our community. People have to realize what the laws are going to do to families that work hard that help support each other. Three years ago I fell in love with someone. That special someone that I feel in love and stole my heart and means the world to me,is ILLEGAL.He was born and raised in Guanajuato Mexico.He as well came to this country with dignity and a dream.To become a hard working man and pursue the American dream in one day becoming a citizen. He has been to so many immigrantions offices in trying to find ways to become legal.You may wonder, Why hasn’t he become legal? Well, the answer is simple the process is so slow. Now do you think this is going to make this any better for those that are tying to become legal in this country.You may wonder WHY I brought this up. I don’t want him to get get deported, I don’t want him to be unemployed, and I don’t want the law to take him away from ME and I am too young to get married.Would the LAWS be capable of taking away loved ones and family members.I have many cousins,uncles,aunts,and friends that are illegal.Why tear us up. Many families will suffer.WHY? Because many will lose thier jobs.The jobs that helped them put supper on the table, the clothes on their back, and the roof over their head.IT easy for you to think OH WELL there not legal and who cares they don’t have any rights but they are human. They have the right to live, the right to try to persue the American Dream, and the right to support their families just like every single American. But why Is the law making this diffitcult for them. All they want is to work and live just like everyone else and live in PEACE.If it wasn’t for all these immigrant workers. Prices on food,supplies,and homes would be sky high. Think about it… A home that was built just early this year in 2006 is going to be twice or triple the price LESS than a home that is going to be built within the next 2 or 3 years.I as well do believe that Education is for all. These people can be tommorrow’s leaders in this Country.Many students work hard in their high school years to achieve a level of education. In the Process they realize they are capable of better things in life and want to continue their education to have a successful career. Unlike my best friend since middle school she couldn’t achieve her dream like she wanted to. She wasn’t the brightest student in class but she had high hopes in getting into to a good and affordable college.She worked for minimum wage in part time jobs to save money for college. Just enough till where she can help her parents pay for her tuition.Unfortunatley her dream never came true.As she applied for colleges in Georgia the tuition were ridiculous high for her family to afford.The family that worked for minimum wage for over 15 years still were not able to afford a college for her to attend.I was lucky and I continue my education and I got myself into the Insurance Industry.Unbelievable and yes it is possible for a 19 year old to work with Insurance.You might think that the rallies were ridiculous but you have to understand you would as well would have stood up for what you believed in.I myself was at the rally along as well showing my support in Atlanta.Now think, you would have done the same.We fight side by side in the WAR and now they wants us out.My grandfather fought in WORLD WAR II. I hope you understand what i am trying to say. All I want is to explain what immigrants family are going through or what would become of them.WE should be United but with LAWS that punishes those who don’t obey and do wrong that rob and steal and not to those that work hard and that have loving families.
    Even though Sonny Perdue signed that LAW early this week. FOR sure when Election DAY comes 6 votes have been lost.
    I would be Eagered to hear from anyone that has any opinions in regards to my opinion. You are more than welcome to write me AT..sgae6511@allstate.com…..God bless each and evryone of us and let there be a better day tommorrow.Thanks.Nicole M Zuniga



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