The Osterley Times: US counts cost of day without immigrants

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

US counts cost of day without immigrants

I have no doubt that Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh will be up in arms.

A million immigrants have marched across America demanding that they be accepted as citizens. Carrying signs that read, "Pick your own lettuce today, whitey" they marched through Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, Houston and San Diego.

The mood at the first of two demonstrations in Los Angeles was celebratory, with protesters streaming along Broadway in the heart of downtown towards City Hall. "I'm here to support the people who work here and to demand full rights for all immigrants," said Ricardo Meneses, who came to the US from Mexico 15 years ago. "We all come here to look for work. The only thing we can do now is demonstrate peacefully." Mr Meneses, who described his job as an "agent", said he was forgoing a day's income by attending the demonstration. "What does it matter?" he asked.
Around him the predominantly Latino demonstrators blew whistles and banged drums, emotions and noise levels rising every time a police helicopter appeared overhead. Banners in English and Spanish raised the issues of the day: "The US is made by immigrants," read one; "This is not democracy, it's hypocrisy," said another, referring to a bill passed by the House of Representatives in December that would criminalise undocumented migrants as well as spending money to tighten border security.
A Latino protester wore a T-shirt reading "The sleeping giant has awoken", referring to an immigration protest at the end of March which attracted half a million people to the streets of Los Angeles. The scale of that protest and others around the country shocked organisers, police and politicians, and helped to move the debate on immigration to the top of the agenda.

Every time the subject of immigration comes up, I am reminded of how far right wingers have strayed from the ideals that made the US great, as encapsulated by the inscription at the base of the Statue of Liberty.

"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she with silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"