News
Madison rallies for immigrant rights
Looking for a print version?
Simply use your browser’s ‘Print’ command and a printer-friendly document will be generated automatically.
Also by Nick Penzenstadler:
- UW probes frat after allegation of hazing event (May 7, 2008)
- Cartoon attacks David Horowitz (May 6, 2008)
- Organization confident 'Sex Toys 101' will go on (May 1, 2008)
- Law School shuts down 'Sex Toys 101' talk (April 30, 2008)
Sharing tools:
E-mail this article:
With thousands of immigrant workers and supporters flooding Capitol Square Tuesday afternoon, Madison joined dozens of major cities around the country in celebrating International Worker's Day.
The "Unión de Trabajadores Inmigrantes" rally, sponsored by the local immigrant workers union, specifically denounced the federal Real ID Act.
Under the act, by 2010, citizens would be required to show standardized driver's licenses to enter federal buildings and board federally regulated aircraft.
Tuesday's rally was also part of a national boycott against going to school or work and buying or selling goods.
"We're here celebrating immigrant labor with the international May 1, which is celebrated all over the world," UTI organizer Jennifer Wood-Taylor said. "Dane County recently passed a resolution to officially celebrate the day of workers."
Coming on the heels of three detentions in Dane County last week for illegal immigration by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, Wood-Taylor said the rally was significant in its timing.
"This is to show people that we will not let their scare tactics get to us," Wood-Taylor said.
The thousands of Spanish-speaking laborers joined University of Wisconsin students and other supporters of the boycott Tuesday and marched from the peaceful Capitol protest to Brittingham Park.
Madison resident Rolando Fuentes joined the protesters Tuesday with some friends during his day off of work.
Fuentes said immigration is a difficult issue and said it has changed dramatically since he first came to the United States from Guatemala.
"I just don't think everybody should be a resident," Fuentes said. "I've been here for almost 20 years, before there were good jobs making more than $5 to $6 an hour, and even though I went to school, I'm unable to find a job — I'm washing dishes."
Fuentes said too much illegal immigration could hurt the economy when people send money home to their families rather than investing in the local area.
He also said the government should analyze the history of immigrants and check if they've been paying taxes and staying out of trouble before making them citizens.
"There are plenty of people that came to Madison just to sell drugs, but Immigration [and Customs Enforcement] needs to check records," Fuentes said. "They can't just give papers to everybody."
Compared to many Spanish speakers at the rally, UW freshman Catherine Procknow, whose parents were immigrants from Europe, said she's grown up with less discrimination because of her heritage.
"I feel like immigrants are the backbone of our country," Procknow said. "I feel like I am not discriminated against because (of) what I look like and these people are just like me, and they are."
—Keegan Kyle contributed to this report.
18 Comments | Leave a comment
Leave a comment
Herald Blogs
The Beat Goes On
Brother Ali makes an ‘Exclusive’ stop
Muckrakers
Report: Barrett to make decision by the end of the week
Extra Points
Top Classified Ads (view all)
HOUSES FOR Fall 2010. All houses are on W Dayton or N Bassett. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 bedrooms. All have parking. madisoncampusrentals.com
These people are all stupid. This is not against immigration, the laws are against illegal immigration who take jobs for lower wages and receive benefits from the government in which they pay no taxes. Illegal immigration is a problem and most of these people who protested did so just because there families are over here illegally most likely.
What other criminals openly march without fear of arrest?
Why should I feel sorry for the line-jumping cheaters that break the law and enter the country illegally?
The last deal had illegal immigrants only having to pay taxes for three of the last five years. I wish I could get that deal.
yes, don’t let enforcement of lawys deter you
I would guess that Procknow’s parents were LEGAL immigrants and didn’t cut in line ahead of all the other millions of people who would like to enter the USA.
They also didn’t come as part of an invasion force seeking to retake land for their native country, land which had been conquered or purchased by the USA over 100 years ago.
"This is to show people that we will not let their scare tactics get to us,"
It seems that scare tactics shouldn’t be used. I agree, REAL penalties for these criminals should be used. Don’t just “catch and release”, put them to work on chain gangs to build a fence on the border.
And maybe it’s time to change things so that only those born to US citizens are automatically US citizens. That will address the “think of the children” problem.
The USA is one of the few countries where just being born within the borders makes you a citizen.
“the laws are against illegal immigration who take jobs for lower wages and receive benefits from the government in which they pay no taxes.”
If they’re working here, they are paying taxes. And if they’re not paying taxes, then it’s at least as much the fault of their employers as it is their fault. Are you willing to penalize their employers substantially? Are you prepared for all the consequences? Somehow, I doubt it.
Ship them all back NOW!
I think it’s funny how people think that immigrants take money away from our economy. Not only are the majority of these immigrants working minimum wage or some kind of cheap labor, if we were to “ship” them all back, who will do these low end jobs? No one. And if we were to recruit "average" Americans to do this jobs they would definitely fight for better wages etc., thus creating even more conflict. Plus, because they’re getting paid so low, how much are they REALLY affecting our economy? Probably not by much. We need to try to understand that they’re trying to achieve the “American dream” just like each and every one of us. As for taxes, yes, they aren't paying taxes, but they're not getting the social security benefits and so forth like we as citizens would get. We should just let them have our .01% of our nation's money so that they can live like kings back in their country.
Most of the people who are in the US illegally pay taxes through fake documentation used for jobs.. this is as much about racism as it ever has been. The only thing threatening about the people at these demonstrations is that their ethnic heritage happens to not be European. This country is built on immigration…get used to it. If legislation was left to public opinion slavery would still exist today.
“Are you willing to penalize their employers substantially?”
I love to, but this would require a sure way to determine if you are a citizen when you apply for work. Any ideas how that could be done?
“this country is built on immigration.”
So let’s reopen Ellis Island and let them enter LEGALLY!!! What, no good? They don’t wnat to wait in line with all the other people who want in to the USA?
“If legislation was left to public opinion slavery would still exist today.”
Now what a LOAD of CRAP that is.
“This country is built on immigration…”
But this is an INVASION. Bring the troops home and garrison the borders!
SHIP THEM ALL BACK, I SAID IT, DIDN’T I?
Next thing you know they’ll be trying to rename states like California and New Mexico and Florida to something more Spanish-y! - Germain Q. Stemme
well florida is a spanish name.
ship em all back? well, in that case all the whites and blacks on welfare that are too lazy to get jobs should be shipped somewhere as well. maybe they should be deported to Mexico, Central America and leave their families behind. Maybe then they would actually get a job and stop soaking up valuable resources. you hate these immigrants cuz they work, yet you do nothing for the thousands of lazy ass Americans that dont do shit except collect a welfare check. its them you should be mad at not the immigrant willing to do the work that those lazy asses dont wanna do.
Why don’t the Mexicans ask Spain for their gold back?
How am I supposed to like Mexicans that come here by just jumping a fence and running or sneaking onto a transport truck entering this country illegally, when you have law-abiding immigrants working their ass off to come to this country legally?
Love the Mexicans but Hate the Border-Hoppers