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By MARTIN ESPINOZA
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Labor and immigrant rights activists are scheduled to hold a May 1 march and rally on Sunday in Santa Rosa.
The afternoon procession will take participants from Santa Rosa’s Roseland neighborhood through downtown to Juilliard Park. It is aimed at bringing awareness to the plight of both workers and immigrants.
A crowd of thousands of immigration rights supporters march through Santa Rosa, Saturday May 1, 2010. (Kent Porter / PD)
The goal is “to show that people care about these issues,” said Attila Nagy, co-chairman of the Sonoma County May 1st Coalition, which organized the march.
The coalition includes the local Committee for Immigrant Rights, the North Bay Labor Council and the Sonoma County Peace and Justice Center.
Assemblyman Michael Allen, D-Santa Rosa, is scheduled to speak during the pre-march rally at 1 p.m. at the old Albertsons shopping center parking lot on Sebastopol Road. Lisa Maldonado, executive director of the North Bay Labor Council, is also scheduled to speak.
As in previous years, participants will march down Sebastopol Road, through Railroad Square, under Highway 101, around the north end of Santa Rosa Plaza, south on B Street and up 3rd Street to Santa Rosa Avenue and then south to Juilliard Park.
The procession will be restricted to one side of the streets along the route. The park event will be mostly music and entertainment, Nagy said.
Immigrant rights issues have often taken center stage in previous years. Nagy said this year the theme of workers right also will be stressed.
“There will be (May 1) marches all over the country,” he said. “This is in solidarity with all the other marches.”
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The tone, language (“solidarity”), timing and composition of this march are just foolish.
The core issue is to protect the rights of all LEGAL workers ro organize and bargain for salary, benefits and working conditions (ie. job safety). Doesn’t mean the unions always win, and we haven’t.
Mashing together all these causes just provides ammunition for those who would like to get rid of all unions.
I have NO problem with pre-employment verification of immigration status. But it seems that republicans and democrats don’t agree with me. Reasons matter less than the negative effects of that stance on all legal workers.
Mr. Michaelson-
There is no hatred in me…. I don’t have the time or the energy for it. Well, that’s not entirely true- there are things that I hate (like hypocrisy)- just not people.
And I hate to be stickler, but accuracy and truth is important to me. I think you offered an incorrect definition- one that served to support your pre-conceived notions about my beliefs. Convenient, but not truthful.
You said.
“Mexicans” as an ethnic group…”
First of all, the term Mexican does not refer to a race. It does not even refer to an ethnic group. There are multiple ethnic groups in Mexico- this article identifies a few:
http://www.questconnect.org/mexico_cc_ethnic.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Ethnic_groups_in_Mexico
I agree with you that there was a bit of hyperbole in the original statement that was made by Tom… especially if you ignore the context. That being said, not everyone is as specific with their words as maybe they ought, and sometimes they express a point in a way that is not thoroughly clear or precise.
So if your goal was to shut down any constructive conversation, you have absolutely succeeded by playing the race card.
You and the others here crying racism aren’t even trying to understand the point that was made… you jump so quickly to the defensive, and assign the worst traits and intentions that you can imagine to the poster, that you don’t bother to do anything other than react. It would be nice if you could at least try to argue the merits of a point without all the emotional baggage that you seem to be bringing to the table.
So let me help you- the phrase prior (to the one that triggered your knee-jerk) was as follows: “Every other culture in the world is respectful when they are visiting other countries….”
That provides us a bit of context and insight into what this poster was trying to say- that he felt that among Mexican citizens, there is a deficit of respect for US laws, customs and tradition. Not every single Mexican citizen, but as a cultural norm within the Mexican nation.
I tend to agree (conceptually, if not specifically) with the statement, and gave a few specific examples. And instead of giving examples to the contrary, to offer evidence that my position is flawed or incorrect, you and Mr. Michael jump right into the rhetorical talking points and the personal insults.
You claim, in nice big bold letters that it is WRONG FACTUALLY, but offer no evidence to support your assertion.
So step up- let’s see some decent analysis instead of condemnation and generalization- the thing you claim to be condemning in your comments.
I’m with Galt.
Show your respect for the law by leaving and returning the right way.
Yes, the process is difficult.
It is supposed to be!
Becoming an American is not the moment where things start getting easy, it’s where things start getting hard.
Man up illegals, and start earning that which you obviously believe we Americans owe you.
It’s either that or deportation back to the hellhole from whence you crawled.
Time to choose.
And lose the race-baiting.
We’re a lot better at it than you are.
Just a simple question, because obiviously the article is to make it seem the labor march is an anti-immigrant march. First off, we are not against immigrants. My mother is an immigrant, legal at that. But the issue illegal immigrants. I’m tired of hearing people mix the two together. The reason why they do that? Because it feeds their feeble minded argument that seems to stem no where because according to them: We hate all Immigrants, especially those who are BROWN.
The issues is not about who’s brown, white, black or anything else, it’s the issue of the legitimacy of our laws and people following them. Regardless of who they are, if they are here ILLEGALLY, mean, not having the proper permission or authority to enter this country by the GOVERNMENT. If they are here on a legal resident visa, then GREAT, they’re just fine. However, we cater to those who aren’t here legally and it makes a bad name for those who are here legally, as well as gives the radical nonsense of those who support the illegals by intertwining legals with them.
Mexican is not a Race, it a Nationality. German is not a race, it’s a nationality. Pretty much, we are all mixed in some way. We all have European, to include the hispanics, they are mixed with Caucasians from Europe. This is not 1492, this is not 1800, this is not 1861 or 1963…this is 2011. We can not longer afford to take care of the worlds issues anymore. Case in point…look at all the cuts from our Government. Really, do you think your tax dollars and my tax dollars can support everyone…yeah right.
That’s ok, the same people pouring their hearts out and crying foul on the government are the same ones crying about there not being enough social services and will cry when we have not. To every argument, there is a double edged sword, either side will cut you!
Mr “Galt”, the fact that you could even try to defend or “argue” the statement “Mexicans have no respect for our land and our laws” (and that the PD allows that to be posted) is so incredibly ignorant and offensive that I can’t believe it is even necessary to spell it out. But here goes: “Mexicans” as an ethnic group are comprised of many many people. They have (just like every other ethnic group) many different beliefs, values and individual characteristics) When you condemm a whole ethnic group as lawless and distrespectful in one huge and untrue generalization (i.e. all blacks are lazy, all mexicans are lawless, all italians are in the Mafia)that is racist. It is also WRONG FACTUALLY and doesn’t belong on this website. I won’t bother trying to address you any more for your postings (and your ridiculous handle) say all about your toxic and divisive beliefs and irrational hatred.
Who is John Galt?
John Galt is the copper-haired, white-boy protagonist in Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged. Galt leads a revolutionary movement in which all the top leaders of the banks and corporations forsake their corporate jets and perks to work in diners or as subway repair guys. No they weren’t fired by Galt. Rather, Galt urged them to go on strike and withdraw their expertise from an increasingly socialist world. Deprived of the genius of their genius, the world economy collapses.
Hmmmmm. Might be good if they did withdrawal. They aren’t doing a very good job. In fact, they were on the job when the world economy almost collapsed.
@Anthony Michael
I’m a moderate, and I couldn’t disagree with you more. The issue as I see it is not one of race, but one of law and order, a basic foundation of our country and our government.
Immigration is a great thing and it has greatly enriched this country. Illegally crossing over our southern border is not immigration, it’s against our written laws and our basic belief in fair play and equity. It has more negative impacts, then positive ones. It greatly impairs our ability to protect ourselves, it places a large financial burgen on our economny and it tends to isolate us or them by language and culture.
Illegal immgrants come here without any documentation, making it impossible to maintain our nations security. Illegal immigrants then become either a perfect victim for the home grown criminal element or the perfect criminal with no true name or past that we can establish. The illegal immigrant tends not to speak english or understand our laws, and therefore it’s much more difficult for them to integrate into society and instead creates little isolated communities within our states and towns. Yet, as a country of laws and order illegal immigrants our afforded both the protection and the public safety nets that citizens are and this creates a large expense to our economy in education and healthcare, not to mention the expense of translation in both of these areas. In no other country is illegal immigration or “illegal border” crossing tolerated as it is here and there is a very good reason for that, the negative impacts outweigh the positive ones.
And both political parties are to blame, the republicans don’t want to alienate the agri-business population and the democrats don’t want to alienate the labor population, but both do a dis-service to their country by not enforcing our border security and dealing with illegal immigration as the law states and as the spirit of the law requires.
Seems Maldonado’s new strategy is to find a more appealing and “middle America movement”(labor rights) to marry with the illegal immigration issue to confuse the real issue and make it more appealing to the masses.
Go march and holler about what a crap place America is then please explain why you people are here. Thanks.
@Anthony Michael- “Mexican” is now a “race of people”? I thought it was a nationality… is that a promotion?
Instead of complaining and being offended, why don’t you argue the point. The opinion that was offered is that the people of Mexico have a culture which does not respect sovereign US law. There was no racial component- my understanding is that the origins of current day Mexican citizens are several different “races”…. just as the origins of our citizenry are from multiple races, though we are a little more muddled and mixed up in that regard.
The evidence for a general culture that does not respect US law is prima facie…. from Mexican citizens who cross the border illegally, to reported Mexican military incursions across the border, all the way to Mexican government officials denouncing US policy and demanding change.
So again- instead of playing the race card where there is no racial component, how about you elevate the level of the discourse by offering some compelling arguments to counter the point that was made?
It’s been said that the definition of a racist is “a conservative winning an argument with a liberal.”
So quit introducing the racist component that you imagine is there- and if you don’t like the way the conversation is going, look in the mirror and make a change.
Calling these people “immigration rights supporters” is like calling a rapist a “lover”.
The perfect storm, SEIU and illegals marching to the same tune down the streets of Santa Rosa to Red Square for a day under the red banner of May Day. It is almost like the old May Day parades in the good old Soviet Union. Ahh, the fond memories.
But didn’t they get swept into the ash bin over 20 years ago?
How does a comment such as “Mexicans have no respect for our land and our laws” make it past the so called moderator at WSC? This is a an obvious untruth and a racial slur. The calibar of “so called discourse” on this website has declined to the point that it’s basically indistinguishable from the racist ranting on the PD’s other blogs. No moderate or progressive voices here, just the same hate filled anti immigrant right wing rants. I am really appalled and disappointed with the PD and it’s editors. Do they believe that statements that attack and criminalize a whole race of people add something to the public discourse?
Makes me wonder how many people will march with only the Mexican flag, yet have no problem accepting free lunches, free education and will gladly use those DBT cards that will be ‘re-loaded’ in a few days.
Thank goodness for the tax-paying middle-class that allows people like Michael Allen and Lisa Maldonado to rally their troops for the right to even more tax-payer entitlements.
Mr. Klausner-
While I was not alive at the time (of either presidency), the history books say that it was Eisenhower that established Law Day, not Nixon.
From the Wiki article I linked:
“….Eisenhower proclaimed May 1 (Previously known as May Day or International Workers’ Day) would now be known as Law Day, U.S.A. in 1958.[1] Its observance was later codified into law by Public Law 87-20 on April 7, 1961.”
I don’t take issue with the “Green Root” (Pagan based) holiday, with which the may pole is associated. It’s the “Red Root” holiday that I’m not a fan of.
I fear that you are intentionally obfuscating the issue to make a point….
@Jon- Striking is not in my nature- I’m too busy working and being productive supporting those who choose to make a hammock out of our social safety net. But I will raise my voice when I see something that concerns me. If you don’t agree, or don’t like what I have to say, why don’t you put forth a more compelling argument, rather than wishing that I would stop speaking my mind?
You might add something beneficial to the dialogue.
@John Galt
I remember when President Nixon changed May Day to Law Day. Down went the May Pole and up came the police baton.
Mr Galt, will you please go shrug. Seriously go on strike against us little people we need the break. You won’t be missed.
Hmmm…May 1st… why does that date sound familiar? Let’s see…
Ah, yes. Could it be this?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Workers%27_Day
But wait a minute… we already have an official day to celebrate labor here in the United States. The only conclusion is that it must have something to do with the Communist connection…. yikes!
Too bad these activists don’t celebrate and uphold this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_Day
Or this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loyalty_Day
As a legal immigrant all I can say is…yawn.
The process to become a legal immigrant is justifiably laborious.
Dont like our policies, go back to Mexico. Every other culture in the world is respectful when they are visiting other countries, Mexicans have no respect for our land and our laws.