Just a few moments ago there was a rather significant downtown protest to support The Dream Act.
Organized by the KS/MO Dream Alliance and members of Jobs with Justice, a group of about two dozen people protested in front of the Lathrop & Gage Building at 2345 Grand Boulevard for about a half an hour.
Remarks by Kansas City, Missouri School Board President Airick L. West were the highlight of the gathering. He noted something that slipped under the radar of most newsies in Kansas City . . .
ON MAY 26TH THE KCMSD PASSED A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT THE DREAM ACT!!!
For TKC Readers new to this effort, The Dream Act is one of those pathways to citizenship that reactionaries often criticize without coming up with a viable solution to the broken immigration system.
West's remarks were inspiring, "The Kansas City, Missouri School District hosts immigrant students from all over the world who are both documented and undocumented. We want to encourage this legislation that helps these scholars go on to fulfill their education and seek opportunity," West said.
"I encouraged the School Board to do so and I completely support The Dream Act," West said. "Undocumented students excel in our district, they are valedictorians and salutatorians. To deny them opportunity is immoral."
Speaking for KSMODA Jessica Piedra noted that the current immigration system is outdated and unjust. "We must support the Dream Act so that children and students aren't targeted solely for seeking an education."
For a midweek afternoon, I'm surprised there were so many people in attendance. The crowd of grassroots protesters gathered a lot of attention. The location of the protest was selected because there is an immigration court inside the building at 2345 Grand Boulevard.
Local Activist Tino Camacho can be seen here holding protest signs. Today Tino spoke to a number of media folks regarding his opposition to the current hate law in Arizona that is literally now targeting children.
"They're killing kids and going after kids," Camacho said. "It's important that we stand up to this hatred and support tolerance and legislation like The Dream Act."
Other speakers noted that part of the organizing force of this demonstration was an effort to express solidarity with Yahaira Carrillo, a resident of Kansas City and a college student who protested Arizona Hate Law at Sen. John McCain's office and now faces deportation proceedings.
Finally, at the protest I noticed Veteran News Dude Joe Arce of The Kansas City Hispanic News photographing Julia and her children attending this protest and carrying the American Flag. To me, they were the strongest sign that Arizona and the hateful immigration efforts are on the wrong side of history and would shamefully target children in their reactionary vendetta.
For more info on the dream act go to: http://dreamact.info/
ReplyDeleteWe are going to need some help here....jobs and education to fit THIS NEW POPULATION on ideas and subjects that will help them understand what America is and isn't... and that sure isn't forcing math and science on them....teach them how to read and write in English, history and civics, and for God sakes music...
ReplyDeleteTony, since you're so enamored of the Mexican way of life, why don't you move there? They will make this the New Norte Mexico if the borders are not closed. They have already trashed parts of KC and you want more of them here.?????
ReplyDeleteI support the Dream Act. It has nothing to do with Mexico.
ReplyDeleteI support doing away with in state/out state tuition. Why would we punish legal citizens by charging them double what an illegal alien would have to pay? The purpose of the difference is to reward those who pay STATE taxes in the state they choose to go to college. Aliens pay no tax other an sales tax which don't fund university ed.
ReplyDeleteThe Dream Act provides in state tuition for undocumented people living in the United States. So if it were to pass don't you think the documented and American citizens attending and planning to attend out of state schools would also like to pay in- state tuition. Oh wait why can't they? Because they didn't pay taxes in that state to go towards the funding of the education. Does the Dream Act also cover undocumented people? NO.
ReplyDeletePeople have to learn that things like an education cost... and you have to pay taxes.. why don't we see the same folks that are soo hell bent on pushing the Dream Act through also focused on Legalizing the majority of undocumented people (from Mexico)so that they can participate like every other American law abiding citizen?
There is also an economic cost to not providing an education.
ReplyDeleteI don't care if some poor people illegally crossed the rich man's border to get here. I don't understand this obsession with "undocumented" workers. I don't think its about whether they're legal or not; you don't like them because they're not white & because they refuse to pretend that they are English.
Byron,
ReplyDeleteThe fact is these people and many are from all over the world: Eastern Europe, Canada, Africa, and yes the majority are from Mexico and Latin America, What I hate is the fact that my tax dollars are being used to educate the masses from another county in the name of diversity, while we ship jobs south of the boarder (NAFTA. And to India outsourcing. Wasn't NAFTA the "rich man's" hand out to Mexico? Wasn't 2.5 million Labor/union jobs enough? Now we have to pay for illegals to get the education Liberals refuse to extend to our kids? Enough already lets compel Mexico which has a trillion dollar economy to take care of it's own people. The real issue is the lack of a middle class in Mexico. Byron do you support withholding USAID to Mexico until it gets a handle on their wealth gap?
Hey folks Byron is right we White Americans are evil, racist, and hate brown people. God forbid we view Mexico the way they view Guatemala. Let's sneak into Mexico, demand citizenship,services and privileges and then let's see how the honorable Mexican Government and people react cause after all we're morally inferior cause we're not handing over the money fast enough. "Smirk"
ReplyDeleteWhen will we get a handle on our wealth gap?
ReplyDeleteWe can tell Mexico what to do, but that's about as effective as Mexico telling us what to do.
This influx of people from "all over the world" is good for our economy. Immigration leads to job growth for everyone.
Anon 3:40 PM
ReplyDeleteYou're confusing the Mexican government with the Mexican people.
Aztlan
ReplyDeleteright on.
ReplyDeleteWhat's with this "rich man's border" stuff?
ReplyDeleteIs Mexico's southern border a "rich man's border"?
My last name is German. Am I "pretending" to be English?
What are the Mexicans "pretending" to be? Spanish is the language of another country in Europe, just like English.
I am offended by lawbreakers protesting, trying to tell America what to do.
ReplyDeleteIgnorant. These people are Americans.
ReplyDeleteYea South American. Byron didn't answer the question and tell me Byron how are 15 million low wage workers lifted the economy when they send billions back in remittances to mexico? Do you support ending USAID to Mexcio? Or how about this lets bill mexico for the education and social services we provide to its citizens. Which by the way I would have no problem paying for if they became US citizens which they refuse to do legally.
ReplyDeleteNo, the people at the protest are Americans. And Mexicans contribute a lot to the economy. They're the only ones really funding your social security.
ReplyDeleteThe dream act is a way for them to become citizens legally.
Screw the Dream Act. Airick (mommy couldn't spell?) West just demonstrated that he too is a hater of America. He won't last very long as Prez. The Arizona law is not a HATE law you racist. The law was put in place to protect our fellow AMERICANS. Now we have the Federal Government now closing a portion of one of our National Parks because of the violence pouring over the Border by these drug ridden criminals. Are you people screwed in the head. This is an invasion from the south. I'm tired of blacks and browns calling whites racists because we want to protect our families. And Byron, an influx of immigrants is not necessary good for our economy. the illegal brown people coming from the Ass of America are destroying this country. Also, they are not covering social security you moron. They're illegal, they don't pay into the system, they leech off it.
ReplyDeleteFinally, thousands of people gather on the lawn of the Liberty Memorial and they are called insignificant by Tony, but these 12-15 retards stand in front of a court house and some how they are a significant force. I spit on them and their illegal immigrant Dream Act. You hate whites so much, go back to your brown hole south of my ass cheek border.
Classic tea party. Ugly, racist and hateful.
ReplyDeleteSo am I understanding this correctly, we are to let the illegal children attend our state colleges at the in-state tuition rates? Yet, my nephew on the Kansas side would have to pay out-of-state tuition and his parents have been paying taxes all of their lives.
ReplyDeleteIf I also understand this, it is because these kids cannot get a social security card and therefore cannot get jobs. So what happens when they graduate college? Are they granted a social security number or are they in the same boat again?
I agree with 5:46pm claiming our whole social security system is being paid by the 20 million illegal Aliens is racist against the 300 million law abiding Legal and rightful citizen's of the US who pay taxes and who have let these intruders over stay their welcome in our home. Byron where do you live? I want to come to your house, break in, move my shit into your bedroom, eat your food call you a racist cause your won't work harder to take care of me, oh and then I'll have a dream that I deserve your kid's college fund and I demand that you take a loan out in my name lest you be a racist.
ReplyDeleteSee its not so nice when its you and your household. This is the situation we are in as a Nation.
But what if your wife was paying him to stay?
ReplyDeleteThen it gets curiouser.
:)
Double standard for and from the turd-hides, once again.
ReplyDeleteGreat, get your panties in a knot!
ReplyDeleteRant about our country not having enough to go around! Paint the "illegals" as the boogie men and women.
Because, you know, we are entitled - "This is America, it is OUR country!"
Then why do so many US Ameruhcans fail to vote?
Why do so many US Ameruhcans cheat on their taxes?
Why do so many US Ameruhcans break the law when they think no one is looking?
AND
Why do so few US Ameruhcans take the jobs and work for the wages that it seems like ONLY illegal immigrants accept?
This entire illegal-immigrant-fear-mongering has become a dehumanizing discussion that has reared its ugly head throughout history.
The so-called "experts" decrying the "ILLEGALS" can't even see how their rhetoric fails to understand that there are PEOPLE involved who didn't create the situations that brought them to this country trying to live as best they can.
"There but for the Grace of God..."
One more time: Crossing the border is a misdemeanor. That is the only law that the majority of immigrants who came across the southern border of the United States have broken.
And another thing: The majority of illegal immigrants in this country came here legally at first, then overstayed their visas and broke a more weighty law by not going back to their home country.
The 12 million plus illegal population didn't come all at once. It didn't happen overnight. It took decades for the illegal immigrant situation to get to this point.
We US Ameruhcans love to have an opinion. Not so long ago, the hot topic was abortion, then it was gay marriage and now its illegal immigration. It is exhausting!
The current xenophobia against the illegal immigrant population is a repeat of how immigrant populations were treated during the depression, how African Americans were treated during the reconstruction period, how Japanese and German USA citizens were treated during WWII, etc, etc, etc.
Change is difficult and blame is easy. I am ashamed to read the crazy comments that follow whenever there is a post on TKC about this issue. But human nature being what is, I never fail to note that the harpies who thrive on putting down others have always existed and will never cease.
After all, this, the United States of America and the Rule of Law allows us to be as crazy as we please, as long as we don't hurt anyone but ourselves.
When the economy tanked two years ago, illegal immigration rose to the top of the list of hot topics for Ameruhcans.
I haven't read about many illegal immigrants calling US citizens racists, but I sure have read many racist anonymous comments on this blog whenever you write about this topic.
Thanks, TKC, for providing a forum. I wish it didn't reveal so much about about the failure of regular Ameruhcans to become better informed.
Anon 8:59 PM
ReplyDeleteThat was a great comment!
Yep 8:59
ReplyDeletewe White Americans(Americuns) are: evil, racist, and hate brown people. God forbid we view Mexico the way they view Guatemala. Let's sneak into Mexico, demand citizenship,services and privileges and then let's see how the honorable Mexican Government and people react cause after all we're morally inferior cause we're not handing over the money fast enough. "Smirk"
6/16/10 3:40 PM
Pretty much hits the nail on the head. The typical anit-American liberal will list off the bad about US citizens while ignoring the crime and genocide occuring south of the boarder while painting the illegals as a noble darkies and all Americans as ignorant racist whities, except those who readily give over their hard earned wealth to the invaders. Yep Monchesmo in full display.
Yep 8:59
ReplyDeletewe White Americans(Americuns) are: evil, racist, and hate brown people. God forbid we view Mexico the way they view Guatemala. Let's sneak into Mexico, demand citizenship,services and privileges and then let's see how the honorable Mexican Government and people react cause after all we're morally inferior cause we're not handing over the money fast enough. "Smirk"
6/16/10 3:40 PM
Pretty much hits the nail on the head. The typical anit-American liberal will list off the bad about US citizens while ignoring the crime and genocide occuring south of the boarder while painting the illegals as a noble darkies and all Americans as ignorant racist whities, except those who readily give over their hard earned wealth to the invaders. Yep Monchesmo in full display.
KCMSD does not give a crap about little Brown kids, if they did they would NOT have closed nearly all of the schools in the part of town where they live. There's more Brown kids living east of Troost than there are on the west side.
ReplyDeletelucius0729, you speak the truth! ... now they focus on drilling the brown children on useless theoretical math just to reach some stupid number on a standardized test that won't help them one iota when it comes to applicable learning skills...but hey, isn't education all about getting administrators and test companies rich at the expense of brown children?
ReplyDeleteOh sure, let's blame a country that doesn't want the dregs of another country's society pouring in.
ReplyDeleteMexico wouldn't be the maxi-pad of the US if their government didn't decide to govern a have and have-not society. If we want all these people here then annex Mexico, tax the crap out of them (like the productive people here) and reform their government.
I'm sick and tired of people making excuses for the failures of Mexico's leadership(?). Take them over and manage them appropriately.
And teach them fucking English.
Anon 11:47 PM
ReplyDeletePoor economic refugees from Mexico are not responsible for the sins of their government.
Someone earlier wanted to know if I support aid to Mexico. We're not talking about the relationship between the United States Government & the Mexican Government. There is no linkage between Mexican immigration polices & what kind of country we want America to be.
What is so special about English? I am free. I live in free country. I will speak any language I chose. The First Amendment doesn't say English only.
Educated people are multilingual.
Byron, you are a broken record of hippie bullshit. Thank you for the laughs.
ReplyDeleteJohn McCain has always been a hateful racist. Years ago McCain voted against the Martin Luther King Holiday, recently he voted NO to confirm Justice Sotomayor a well qualified Latino woman to the supreme count and came out AGAINST Native Americans opening up casinos. Now McCain is a loud vocal supporter of Arizona's racist immigration bill. McCain even made a silly campaign commercial and this is funny he made a fool out of himself. He said in the ad looking goofy in his hat,"BUILD THE (DANG) FENCE! The state of Arizona and the country will be better off by voting politicians such as John McCain out of office.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous Coward 11:26 AM
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome.
4:07 P.M.: I read up on the Dream Act. It is for ILLEGAL ALIENS who came here as minors with their parents. I'm not saying they aren't deserving of some consideration, but they are NOT Americans.
ReplyDelete