4.10.2006

Si, Se Peurde!

After a job-related interview this morning, I found myself on W. Washington and couldn't help but notice great masses of people walking towards Brittingham Park carrying flags, pushing strollers and chatting. I knew there was supposed to be an immigration rally in town, but I didn't know how just how big it was going to be.

As the weather was fantastic (apparently, Aaron noticed this too), and also as I didn't want to go inside and study, I decided to go check it out. Upon arriving, I was taken aback by the sheer number of people present and the countless scores of American flags being waved in the air. The typical rally chants in the air soon transformed into a march to the Capitol, which, due to the large number of people present, took nearly an hour to simply get everyone involved onto the street. And how big was the march? Well, in taking up the entire north-east bound lane of W. Wash, the densely-packed parade stretched the entire length from the park all the way to the Capitol building. Wow. That's a lot of people. [Ed: Channel3000 estimates the crowd was around 10,000 strong]

After snapping a few pictures with my terrible camera phone (see above), I decided to jump in towards the end of the stream of people. I have to say, I was impressed with the positive tone of this huge event and the simple desires expressed by this (mostly Latino) crowd - the desire not be treated as criminals, but instead as Americans. And this rally was one of the most American things I've seen in some time - a community of people wanting to be heard in the governance of our country and holding a peaceful demonstration to voice this position. Many of these people came to this country with the desire to work and create a better life for their families. Isn't that why our country was founded in the first place?

Anyway, cheers to everyone involved for having a peaceful political event on a beautiful day, and jeers to J.B. Van Hollen and James Sensenbrenner for their xenophobic views toward immigrants. After all, this country is nothing more than a huge conglomeration of one-time immigrants.

posted by brian at 3:02 PM | Permalink

2 Comment(s) - Click to View/Hide

are you insinuating that i was not plunked down here, and my ancestors before me, in madison, wisconsin, by god himself? what are you going to tell me next, that i have a common ancestor to these so - called latinos? hogwash ;-) comment by  Anonymous, 4/10/2006 9:52 PM

[sarcasm alert, for you non-humor-understanding folks] Don't worry, of course you were placed here by [Diety of Choice]. It's those "other" (read: non-white) people that are invading your space. You know, like those Native Americans. I mean, the nerve of them to claim they may have some right to be here. Same thing with those Latinos. Sheesh. [/sarcasm] More coverage of the event (and a much better photo from the same vantage point) is available at the Badger Herald, and a few other pictures and a piece of personal commentary is available here. comment by  brian, 4/11/2006 3:02 PM