and "The Walking Dead" wasn't filming there....

Thousands rally against immigration law

Eighteen-year-old Myra Cerecero said she wakes up every morning praying her parents made it home safely.

"I'm living in a constant state of fear they'll be picked up," said the daughter of illegal immigrants. The American-born Loganville teen was among roughly 10,000 to 15,000 people, according to Capitol police, who jammed the streets of downtown Atlanta Saturday morning to voice their opposition to House Bill 87, Georgia's crackdown on illegal immigrants.

But she was born here. So she is safe. Fill out the paperwork, Anchor Baby so your parents can stand in line.

The recently signed bill penalizes those who use false identification to secure jobs as well as government officials who fail to enforce the state's immigration laws.

Though the law went into effect Friday, protest organizers say the fight to repeal HB 87 is far from over.

"This is the beginning of the end, not the end," said Teodoro Maus, president of the Georgia Latino Alliance on Human Rights (GLAHR).

Protesters invoked President Barack Obama's name repeatedly as they marched past the state Capitol, signifying their support of the federal DREAM Act, which would provide conditional permanent residency to certain illegal immigrants, such as high school graduates, who came to this country as minors.

"We need comprehensive immigration reform," said Helen Kim Ho, executive director of the Asian American Legal Advocacy Center, one of 62 organizations that participated in Saturday's march. "Change has to come from the federal level."

Mableton resident Alma Olmedo said she's not optimistic about a federal solution.

"Obviously the federal government is not doing anything for us so we'll have to do it for ourselves," said the 22-year-old, holding a sign declaring "I will not live in the shadows."

Olmedo, who came to the U.S. when she was 5 years old, said she fears the consequences of HB 87.

"I could end up being sent back to a place (Guadalajara, the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco, where Olmedo was born) I don't remember to live among people I don't know," she said as marchers chanted "Si, se puede," Spanish for Obama's 2008 campaign slogan, "Yes we can."

What will you do Ms. Olmedo ? (if that is your correct name)

The message Saturday was about more than politics, according to Adelina Nicholls, executive director of the GLAHR.

"We believe they have the right to stay here," she said. "Our kids have grown up here. We work here. This is our country also."

What "right"...since you didn't come here legally?

HB 87's opponents welcomed one small victory this week, as a federal judge blocked some contested parts of the bill, including a provision that empowered local and state police to investigate the immigration status of certain suspects and another that punished those who harbor illegal immigrants.

Georgia is one of several states to adopt tough immigration legislation patterned after the groundbreaking law enacted in Arizona last year.

D.A. King, president of The Dustin Inman Society, which he described as "pro-enforcement on American immigration and employment laws," said the rally participants are on the opposite side of the majority of U.S. opinion.

"Most Americans realize that we take in more legal immigrants than any nation on the planet -- more than 1 million a year," King said. "Most Americans watching this rally understand that these people's message is one of anti-enforcement, open borders and separatism."

King said HB 87 "is doing exactly what it was intended to do and I, along with a majority of Georgians who oppose illegal immigration, are very happy -- elated -- to watch illegal immigrants migrate out of Georgia."

King said "we will really know we have an effective immigration law when we make ours closer to what they have in Mexico," which he said is far more stringent.

http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics...95853.html

Quote:"Obviously the federal government is not doing anything for us so we'll have to do it for ourselves," said the 22-year-old, holding a sign declaring "I will not live in the shadows."

Even though I don't belong here I demand my rights and entitlements. F U

Wouldn't this be like a piniata for INS agents? I mean, you don't even have to look for them! They're all gathering for you and aren't gonna run! Get your asses out there! God, I wish they would give rewards for rounding up illegals. I'd be tempted to quit my job and switch to a more lucrative profession.

For a minute there, I thought you were talking about Rebs was there drinking at a tea party rally.

(07-02-2011 05:19 PM)T-Monay820 Wrote:  Wouldn't this be like a piniata for INS agents? I mean, you don't even have to look for them! They're all gathering for you and aren't gonna run! Get your asses out there! God, I wish they would give rewards for rounding up illegals. I'd be tempted to quit my job and switch to a more lucrative profession.

No kidding. Get a card like a "Kroger Card" that is scanned. How about a nickle off per gallon of gasoline for every illegal caught?

It's sick to see the way righties talk about undocumented workers. When you start to dehumanize others, you need to take a serious look in the mirror.

(07-02-2011 05:11 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  

Quote:"Obviously the federal government is not doing anything for us so we'll have to do it for ourselves," said the 22-year-old, holding a sign declaring "I will not live in the shadows."

Even though I don't belong here I demand my rights and entitlements. F U

Guess they have been here long enough to want federal benefits but not long enough to need them (generation or two?)

(07-02-2011 08:32 PM)UM2001GRAD Wrote:  It's sick to see the way righties talk about undocumented workers. When you start to dehumanize others, you need to take a serious look in the mirror.

The ones making quips about 'Kroger Cards' or making snarky remarks about the protesters aren't the ones needing to reevaluate themselves and their actions. Rather, it's those who willingly violate and flaunt the laws of another country who should be doing so. And I would gather that every country on the planet has rules and regulations when it comes to immigration; and I'd further wager that most countries have stricter laws and harsher punishments than the US (Mexico, ironically, definitely being one of them).

Imagine Americans sneaking into another country - for whatever reason - and then marching into major cities' squares, vocally demanding certain services and carrying "Yes, We Can!" signs. They'd be called out by the foreign press as arrogant 'ugly Americans', and rightfully so. But here, it's politically incorrect to pass judgement, and those criticizing are made out to be the "bad guys," and the lawbreakers are considered victims.

How many countries allow those who aren't legally supposed to be there to peacefully assemble?

(07-02-2011 08:32 PM)UM2001GRAD Wrote:  It's sick to see the way righties talk about undocumented workers. When you start to dehumanize others, you need to take a serious look in the mirror.

If we really wanted to "dehumanize" them, we wouldn't hold them accountable for their actions and violations of our laws. We would just round them up and use them as forced labor. See what I did there? I pointed out actual actions that dehumanize someone, instead of just throwing around a trigger word trying to guilt trip people. You should really think before you go and open your mouth to say stupid **** like this.

Good, ship 'em all back from where they came!

(07-02-2011 11:37 PM)OrangeCrush22 Wrote:  Good, ship 'em all back from where they came!

Damn it man. I have enough work to do at my job, I don't need any more.

So how did it go on Friday, which was, in Atlanta, a "day without illegal immigrants".

(07-03-2011 08:09 AM)SumOfAllFears Wrote:  So how did it go on Friday, which was, in Atlanta, a "day without illegal immigrants".

I ate Mexican Food and the Restaurant was packed.

(07-02-2011 08:32 PM)UM2001GRAD Wrote:  It's sick to see the way righties talk about undocumented workers. When you start to dehumanize others, you need to take a serious look in the mirror.

Out of curiosity, are you "pro choice"?

(07-02-2011 08:32 PM)UM2001GRAD Wrote:  It's sick to see the way righties talk about undocumented workers. When you start to dehumanize others, you need to take a serious look in the mirror.

The prisons are full of dehumanized people.

(07-03-2011 08:09 AM)SumOfAllFears Wrote:  So how did it go on Friday, which was, in Atlanta, a "day without illegal immigrants".

I had heard there was going to be a Day like that, but I didn't know it was last Friday, and I couldn't tell the difference. However, I admit I live far inside the Perimeter and the large communities of illegal immigrants are typically "OTP", so maybe it was more noticeable there.