LA Immigraiton Marches End in Chaos

The May Day marches were mostly conducted quietly and peacefully all over the country. Thousands of people took to the streets to demand an overhaul of immigration laws. Some called for amnesty, some called for a path to citizenship, but all were asking for more immigrant rights.

The rallies were much smaller then last years events, were over one million protesters participated. Organizers in many cities circulated post cards addressed to President Bush and Members of Congress calling for immediate Congressional action to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Many were supporting the STRIVE act.

In Miami several thousands came out with American flags and dressed in red, white and blue. One of the young participants called Florida Senator Mel Martinez, and had him on the loud speaker so everyone in the crowd could here the conversation. The participants were questioning what he would say but he then spoke up and thanked the Senator for his vote and his leadership on immigration reform. The entire crowd screamed "Thank You." The young man then said he was calling with thousands of others to remind the Senator to continue to support the issue and they were counting on his vote.

In Chicago over 200,000 people came to the May Day March. Many felt compelled to come to the rally in protest to the high profile raids taking place all around the city were heavily-armed FBI agents have been storming large Mexican neighborhoods focusing on law-breaking business employing illegal immigrants and illegal immigrant sanctuaries. The marches in Chicago were generally quite.

In L.A. the marches did not have a positive ending. According to published reports:

"Officers fired 240 "nonlethal" rounds to clear MacArthur Park late Tuesday. News images showed police hitting a television cameraman to the ground, shoving people who were walking away from officers and injuries from the rubber bullets, including a Hispanic man with welts on his abdomen and back. Lines of officers moved through the park firing the rubber rounds."

The altercation occurred 45 minutes after the rally started winding down and was a reaction to some people in the crowd throwing items that struck 15 police officers. Their are now investigations on what truly occurred.

read more about the May Day Rallies