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May Day march preceded by rumors
In the wake of recent arrests of illegal immigrants by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents throughout the nation, it didn't take much to spread concern that the same was about to happen in southeastern Wisconsin.
Callers in to the Racine radio station WBJX, known as La Campeona ("The Champion"), reported rumors that such raids were imminent. The rumors were that the federal agents were about to investigate area Wal-Marts and a Racine produce store, where large numbers of Hispanics work and shop.
The rumor came after a large number illegal immigrants were arrested in Chicago last week at a company that manufactures wooden pallets.
While many of the rumors were proved to be false, enough alleged incidents of crackdowns were witnessed that Voces de la Frontera, a group that advocates for the rights of immigrant workers, planned a press conference to address the concerns, said group director Christine Neumann-Ortiz.
"We were able to confirm over the course of time some reports of raids taking place in schools and churches," Neumann-Ortiz told WisPolitics before the scheduled press conference "The Department of Immigration said these were false rumors, but witnesses saw people dressed like immigration officials at a church in Milwaukee and two work places, one in Milwaukee and one in Green Bay. So we have asked the U.S. attorney general, the governor, and the Milwaukee police chief to investigate."
Neumann-Ortiz said she is asking the public not to spread false rumors because she believes these are attempts to try to limit participation in a march set for 10 a.m. Monday through downtown Milwaukee. "I think it's an organized effort by anti-immigrant people, and it shows the bankruptcy of their own ideas by their breaking the law," she said. "It shows they are trying to terrorize the Latino community."
The May 1 rally is planned to coincide with a similar nationwide effort to attract attention to the problems facing undocumented workers in the U.S. The march is scheduled to promote a solution by Congress to many issues facing immigrants, said Neumann-Ortiz.
The march should draw about 30,000, she said. It will proceed through the streets of Downtown and end at Veterans Park on the lakefront. She said there will be speakers from diverse immigrant communities, including traditional ones like the Irish and Germans, and more recent groups of immigrants, like the Hmong.
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Talkbacks
OMCreader | May 8, 2006 at 9:41 a.m. (report)
Tim E.S. said: In fact, the New York Times had an article last week on how African-American leaders on the national level are reacting to the marches. While some are voicing solidarity, others are fearful that the marches will interrupt progress of the African-American agenda.
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OMCreader | May 8, 2006 at 9:38 a.m. (report)
Will said: The point is the black leadership has nothing to do with topic. I understand what your saying but it has nothing to do with imigration.
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OMCreader | May 2, 2006 at 4:21 p.m. (report)
A Different View said: RE: Joe and Will... Believe me when I say that Black leadership has its hands full dealing with its own issues. Or actually, I should say NOT dealing with the issues facing the community. The main issue I'm talking about is black on black crime, specifically the rampant and disgusting amount of shootings continually occurring in our community and now spilling over into others. I am not exaggerating when I say that it's an epidemic and I am hoping and praying we don't have another bloody and violent summer in the community like we did last year. As a black man, I am\was appalled to read that on April 24th, there were 16 shootings in the black community over a weekend. Does anyone else find that unacceptable and simply disgusting? Does anyone else wonder why Black leadership, which was so quick to support Frank Jude by protesting the verdict, is so silent when it comes to these shootings? I have said it on this site many times before and I will continue to do so: I am personally going to dedicate my time and energy at every opportunity to spread the word that murder is unacceptable. Trying to solve a dispute by shooting or stabbing someone is wrong. We have eliminated shame from our society. We want everyone to feel good about themselves! BS!!!! Some people DESERVE to feel bad about what they've done. Believe it or not, everyone is NOT a good person!! And I'm sorry, black folks in Milwaukee do to each other FAR more wrong than ANY white person has ever done to them!! It's time we reintroduce SHAME into our vocabulary, especially when it comes to the senseless disregard for life that currently exists in parts of the black community. So Will, I think what Joe was trying to say is this: black people, like these immigrants, are still a minority in this country. We should be banding together for a good cause. I agree 100% that if these individuals want to live here, fine: but you MUST learn the language. If you are in France or Spain, you learn the language! Case closed! When will the United States learn that trying to please everyone usually means disappointing all!! It's time for the black leaders choose their battles much more wisely! Rallying against a verdict that was inevitable because of coward cops refused to come forward was the wrong battle.
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OMCreader | May 2, 2006 at 11:57 a.m. (report)
LJ said: There is nothing wrong with LEGAL immigrants, our country lets people come here that play by our rules. If you want to be here follow the rules and the laws and pay up like the rest of us who all also came from immigrant families. If you are not playing by our rules then get out. Nothing in life is free, not even citizenship. I say if there are illegal immigrants KICK THEM OUT. Just like with anything PEOPLE WHO BREAK THE LAW ARE PUNISHED. And to everyone complaining about the fact that they do jobs we don't want to do, THAT IS STUPID. There are plenty of law abiding citizens that NEED jobs. Give the people who are LEGAL citizens jobs first. Let the illegal people swim back to their country and spread the word that nothing in life is free.
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OMCreader | May 2, 2006 at 11:12 a.m. (report)
US said: The only people that seem to be making all this fuss is the latino community. whats wrong with this picture
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