April 10 -- a "National Day of Action"

That's a Monday. What kind of "action" isn't clear. I expect last Friday's events to look like a dress rehersal for one really gigantic expression of solidarity among immigrants, mostly Latinos.

As the Senate prepares to debate immigration reform, the coalition of union and civil rights groups announced a National Day of Action on Immigrant Rights on April 10.

The groups plan rallies in San Antonio; Chicago; Denver; Las Cruces, N.M.; Los Angeles; Milwaukee; New York; Philadelphia; Tucson; and Washington.

LINK

In a nationwide poll conducted by Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn., 88 percent of respondents thought illegal immigration was a serious issue. At least 25 percent opposed driver's licenses for illegal aliens.

The poll was conducted in late February and surveyed 1,892 registered voters. The margin of error was 2.3 percentage points.

Quinnipiac found that 39 percent want to reduce the level of legal immigration and as many as 62 percent oppose easing requirements for illegal aliens to become citizens.

Wade Henderson, executive director of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, said the immigration system is broken and that legislation such as Mrs. Sensenbrenner's would do little to rectify it.

"With measures like HR 4437, Congress appears to be heading down a dangerous and discriminatory path," he said.

Advocates will call for comprehensive immigration reform April 10 during a National Day of Action on Immigrant Rights.

Protests are scheduled for the District, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, New York, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Las Cruces, N.M., and Tucson, Ariz.

LINK

...the nation’s two labor federations and their allies have launched mass protests and lobbying for positive immigration reform. Demonstrations began March 10 with a 400,000-person march in Chicago’s Loop. And the AFL-CIO, Change to Win, La Raza Unida, LULAC, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and others will build up to a mass march in D.C. during a “National Day of Action” on April 10, leaders told a D.C. press conference on March 22.

Marches will also occur that day in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Milwaukee, Tucson and Las Cruces, N.M., among others.

LINK

Saturday was the second day of similar marches across the country. The rallies were spurred by efforts to crack down on illegal immigration. The Senate is preparing to debate legislation increasing penalties for undocumented aliens and people who hire them.

The marches are expected to culminate in a "National Day of Action" April 10 organized by labor, immigration, civil rights and religious groups.

LINK

Hmm...I'm off on Mondays. Just like the good old days. I can wear a white teeshirt. Get in the streets. If I could be an honorary Jew, I could also be an honorary Latino on April 10.

Update #1:
Since this post was published traffic on this blog has multiplied with searches about April 10. Since that time there have been a number of additional posts pertaining to that event.

Undocumented workers are rebuilding New Orleans

LULAC -- League of United Latin American Citizens (Includes a detailed summary from The Immigrant Legal Resource Center explaining the legal problems with HR 4437, the proposed bill that seems to have prompted immigrant groups to take to the streets.

Lazy Mexicans

Cubans in America are refugees, not immigrants

Andrew Sullivan, London Times, Sheriff Bush and the Latinos

"If these were northern Europeans pouring across the border, nobody would care." (Chris Matthews)

Update #2:

Additional links outside this blog pertaining to immigrant issues generally and Monday's nationwide rally specifically...

FIRM - the Fair Immigration Reform Movement -- state by state list of locations and contacts.

New American Opportunity Campaign -- coalition of various groups -- list of upcoming events

NCLR Homepage (National Council of La Raza)

Asian American Justice Center, Homepage

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Hootsbuddy's advice: This event on Monday looks to be big. Really big. What that means is that a lot of people will be taking part who otherwise might never be in the same room together, yet all have found common cause moving them to speak out.

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There are two big types of "leadership." One has to do with setting a good example, doing the hard, boring, thankless work of organizing, coordinating and cleaning up afterward. The other is to "find a parade and get in front of it."

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Know what kind of leaders you are seeking and which to avoid. Do not allow the excitement of the moment cause you to do anything you might later regret. You can always get more pushy, more militant, more aggressive should the need arise. But once you have traveled down that path it is not easy to return.

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Some people have nothing to lose and therefore are willing to risk everything, even their safety and future, for the chance to 'get something."

Those with something to lose tend to be more careful about what they do, what they say, and how they behave. If you have something to lose, remember the difference.

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I pray that Monday will be a wakeup call for everyday Americans who have never been privileged to know anyone other than people like themselves. Unfortunately, that is probably most Americans. If you have to awaken someone who is asleep, he will awaken in a better humor in response to quiet gesture than a splash of ice-water. Sheer numbers is a powerful statement.