Los Angeles Indymedia : Activist News

For 2011, the May Day International Workers Day march for immigrant workers rights returns to Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles This annual demonstration of support for immigrant workers, their families, and for all workers, has been happening since 2000. In 2006, after years of growth, an estimated half-million people marched on "A Day Without an Immigrant" - a boycott to demonstrate the impact of immigrants on the local economy. This was the largest political demonstration in Los Angeles (and perhaps American) history.

In 2007, the annual march was fractured, with different marches happening in different areas. The later march, which was supposed to be the moderate march, ended at Macarthur Park, and turned into a police riot where out-of-control LAPD brutalized the marchers.

In 2010, with the odds of legalization for students and youth dwindling, and in response to Arizona's draconian racist law SB 1070, tens of thousands of people mobilized to protest the criminalization of undocumented immigrants. Obama promised a path to citizenship, but delivered on desktop deportations.

In 2011, we've experienced the rightward shift of politics, and a leftward response. Not only are immigrants being scapegoated for the terrible economy, but the attacks have extended to public sector workers and labor unions. California schools are being threatened with severe cuts to funding, and tuition at state colleges are rising. And around the world, millions are marching to protest the ongoing "austerity" of budget cuts, raised fees, privatization, and attacks on immigrants. The rich are getting their tax cuts, but the poor and middle class are just getting cut. We're working so they can avoid paying taxes.

People are suffering and angry. We're going to take to the streets to stand up and fight back -- the economy is not working for us; it's working for the capitalists. We refuse to scapegoat immigrants; we need legalization now. We're sick of these racist wars. We're getting evicted and foreclosed. And we see through the bullshit, flim-flam of divisive bigotry, inequality and poverty that the capitalist class is pulling on us. Enough already. Ya Basta! We march together.

The march starts at Olympic and Broadway at 10:00AM this Sunday. There will be numerous contingents representing all communities: immigrants, progressives, radicals, community groups, LGBT, labor unions, Democrats, unemployed, teachers, students, enviros, and everyone who supports the idea of respect for the people. Take your signs and banners!

Newswire stories about May Day: 2 May Day Marches by the Southern California Immigration Coalition | | May Day 2011 Call to Action! by Immigrant Solidarity Network | | The History of May day, Made in the USA by janus | | RAC-LA May Day 2011-Calling All RAC-LA Supporters by RAC-LA | | This Sunday, May 1: March for Immigrant & Workers' Rights by ANSWER-LA | | May Day 2011 Celebration and Film Showing at Solidarity Hall, Friday, May 6, 7:00 pm by Radical Women LA | | Luchando por Nuestros Derechos - Tres Días de Lucha por Comité Latino de Valle de Coachella | | March on May 1 for Immigration Reform! by LA County Federation of Labor

RELATED: Retenes del fin de semana del Día del Trabajo / May Day Weekend Checkpoints 2011 by/por Checkpoint response

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