Today We March, Tomorrow We Vote!
Doreen Shenassa
May 03, 2006
It was an empowering day for immigration on Monday, as thousands of marchers chanted their way down Wilshire Boulevard with a sparkle in their eye and an American flag proudly gripped in their hand.
Nearly 75,000 supporters rallied, determined to legalizing their status in this country.
News stations set up their satellite vans; the LAPD patrolled the area, circling the blocks in synchrony while choppers hovered the skies amid the breezy spring afternoon.
Hundreds of supporters paced the vicinity of Wilshire and La Brea anxiously waiting for the demonstrators to reach their destination.
It’s our country too,” said Alberto Embry, a soft-spoken man, originally from Chile. His two young sons stood beside him waving their American flags.
We’re supporting worker-immigrants,” said Alberto Jr., Embry’s 7-year old son.
Alberto Jr.’s 4-year old brother nodded in agreement.
Embry described how his children watch the news but question why good people are not treated equally.
The concept is very interesting to a young kid,” Embry said. “We hope for opportunity for every person.”
An animated woman stood tall between the two traffic lights, flaunting her red, white and blue flag high up like a starter waiting for her queue to initiate a drag race. “This is my country!”
The time was a quarter to five, when the first sign of marchers stepped over the horizon.
The crowd of supporters cheered as they gazed into the distance and joined a faint chant that became clear as the protestors neared. “Si Se Puede,” was the Spanish tune, meaning “Yes we can,” a famous quote by Mexican American labor activist, Cesar Chavez.
My family struggled,” said 28-year-old Allan Dallantorre. “The legalization process took 25 years.” Dallantorre, an immigrant from Nicaragua grew up in Los Angeles, and took advantage of the opportunities that were not available to him had his family remained there. He is now working toward a master’s degree in architectural design from UCLA. He hopes the day without immigrants will bring a new level of awareness to the American public. “But I see both sides to the story,” Dallantorre said. “After 9-11, the borders need to be more secure.”
And it truly was a day without the men and woman who walked off their jobs in an attempt at persuading Congress to pass a law giving them a chance of citizenship.
They proudly held their banners that read “rights for all” and “today we march, tomorrow we vote,” as they walked into the sunset.
Nearly 75,000 supporters rallied, determined to legalizing their status in this country.
News stations set up their satellite vans; the LAPD patrolled the area, circling the blocks in synchrony while choppers hovered the skies amid the breezy spring afternoon.
Hundreds of supporters paced the vicinity of Wilshire and La Brea anxiously waiting for the demonstrators to reach their destination.
It’s our country too,” said Alberto Embry, a soft-spoken man, originally from Chile. His two young sons stood beside him waving their American flags.
We’re supporting worker-immigrants,” said Alberto Jr., Embry’s 7-year old son.
Alberto Jr.’s 4-year old brother nodded in agreement.
Embry described how his children watch the news but question why good people are not treated equally.
The concept is very interesting to a young kid,” Embry said. “We hope for opportunity for every person.”
An animated woman stood tall between the two traffic lights, flaunting her red, white and blue flag high up like a starter waiting for her queue to initiate a drag race. “This is my country!”
The time was a quarter to five, when the first sign of marchers stepped over the horizon.
The crowd of supporters cheered as they gazed into the distance and joined a faint chant that became clear as the protestors neared. “Si Se Puede,” was the Spanish tune, meaning “Yes we can,” a famous quote by Mexican American labor activist, Cesar Chavez.
My family struggled,” said 28-year-old Allan Dallantorre. “The legalization process took 25 years.” Dallantorre, an immigrant from Nicaragua grew up in Los Angeles, and took advantage of the opportunities that were not available to him had his family remained there. He is now working toward a master’s degree in architectural design from UCLA. He hopes the day without immigrants will bring a new level of awareness to the American public. “But I see both sides to the story,” Dallantorre said. “After 9-11, the borders need to be more secure.”
And it truly was a day without the men and woman who walked off their jobs in an attempt at persuading Congress to pass a law giving them a chance of citizenship.
They proudly held their banners that read “rights for all” and “today we march, tomorrow we vote,” as they walked into the sunset.