8,000 Rally against Georgia Anti-Immigrant Bills

By Gloria Tatum, Atlanta Progressive News
March 25, 2011

(APN) ATLANTA -- Over 8,000 activists rallied outside the State Capitol on Thursday, March 24, 2011, to show their outrage and disgust over Georgia's Arizona-type immigration bills.

As previously reported by Atlanta Progressive News, legislation, HB 87, has already passed the State House. A similar bill, SB 40, has also passed the State Senate. While the vast majority of protesters at the Capitol were Hispanic, opposition to the bills came from a wide spectrum of constituents including immigrants, students, religious groups, peace groups, veterans of the Civil Rights Movement, Asian groups, GLBTQI activists, labor, artists, musicians, business owners, elected officials,and others. "Thousands of Georgia immigrants and allies came together today to say no more to racial profiling and no more to the dangerous and unfair targeting of immigrant communities and communities of color," Adelina Nicholls, Director of the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights (GLAHR) and one of the rally’s central organizers,said in a statement.

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http://www.atlantaprogressivenews.com/interspire/news/2011/03/25/8000-rally-against-georgia-anti-immigrant-bills.html

Thousands protest Georgia anti-immigration bills
By Kate Brumback, Associated Press
March 24, 2011

ATLANTA — Thousands of people gathered at the Georgia Capitol Thursday, waving signs and chanting to protest legislation that targets illegal immigrants.

Javier Mendez, his wife and their 18-month-old son were among the crowd that police estimated at roughly 5,000 people. The 35-year-old waiter, who lives in Roswell, said he came here from Mexico about five years ago to seek a better life.

"We are fighting for something we believe is fair," said Mendez, who works as a waiter. "We're not the criminals they say we are. We're just looking for a better opportunity."

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http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/42258173/ns/politics/

Immigration rally in Atlanta draws thousands, organizers say
By Andrea Castillo, Macon.com
March 24, 2011

ATLANTA - About 30 Middle Georgia Hispanics are among thousands from across the state attending a rally at the state Capitol Thursday to protest two immigration bills before the Legislature.

Thursday's rally drew 9,000 people, according to organizers.

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http://www.macon.com/2011/03/24/1499870/immigration-rally-in-atlanta-draws.html