Immigration protest marches

[radfringe]

just wondering where it will go and how far.. some questions

News/polls had previously indicated large GOP support among hispanics -- is it still there? Potential to swing to the Dem side?

The marches late last week and over the weekend - just wondering how "organized" it was or was it "word of mouth" spontaneity?

This issue is not going to go away - especially when it's linked to National Security -- how do you think politicians will balance pandering to immigration supports & protestors with those concerned about National Security?

last question: Will the protests devolve into riots?

[teriyaki jones]

1. When you get half a million people

together in one place to protest something, and it's powerful but peaceful, it seems that the only way one of these events would "devolve into riots" would be if the cops incited the violence themselves. And I'm certainly not putting that past them. I was at the anti-war march in Chicago last weekend, and the cops were quite intimidating, in large numbers and full riot gear.

I can definitely imagine Karl Rove arranging for law enforcement to start something at the next big demonstration in an attempt to discredit its message. Just my opinion.

[RagingInMiami]

3. And they are prepared for that

They expect that to happen. They plan on controlling their own crowds.

[RagingInMiami]

2. It will go as far as it has to go

As far as the legislation makes it go.

I'm not sure what polls you're talking about, but there is not a large GOP support among Hispanics. Other than the Cubans in Miami, Hispanics in this country are largely democrats. And even the Cubans are becoming more democrat.

Those marches were pretty well organized. But word-of-mouth, of course, enabled them to be much larger than expected.

How is this issue linked to National Security?

And the protests will not turn into riots unless heavily provoked by police. As I said, these protests are well organized. Any rioting that takes place within any group is usually spontaneous.

[teriyaki jones]

4. It's linked to national security

through border protection issues. You know, that big fence they want to build.

[RagingInMiami]

6. Oh right

I'm sure the terrorist boogie man will think twice about crossing the border now that they want to make illegal immigration a felony.

[lapfog_1]

5. Methinks the protesters do not want to end up

as the first residents of the newly built FEMA detention centers... which is in a plan somewhere now floating around the federal government. Seriously, instead of repatriating illegals to the homelands, we are considering putting them in indefinite detention "until their cases can be heard". If I was illegal (or a relative of an illegal) I'd be protesting too. Who wants to be the first (or is it second now) racial victims of the new fascism. (Gitmo was the first).

I'm not in favor of unrestricted immigration, but this isn't the answer either.

[vi5]

7. Has anyone noticed this about the coverage of this...

..that it has largely revolved around how this is causing a rift in the GOP on the immigration issue?

Notice how similar sized protests occur because of the Iraq war or the GOP convention or any other number of things but those protests aren't covered even half as much as these immigration protests have been covered in the news. I mean it's been the lead story on every newscast I've seen since Thursday or Friday.

So in other words if something divides the country as a whole (Iraq War, Bush, NSA, etc) it's not really news worthy coverage.

However, if an issue divides the GOP, then by all means it needs to be addressed and fleshed out.

I'm not even trying to diminish the immigration issue because I think it's important and it should be covered. It's just funny how only issues that threaten to crack the GOP seem to merit a serious, furrowed brow examination by our news corp.