"immigration is a feminist issue. It's a human rights issue."

Not much to add; just, Amen. And thanks for posting this.

Absolutely a feminist issue.
I didn't know that May Day was associated immigration rallies recently (I'll blame my ignorance on living in Canada)
I just saw the movie The Visitor, which was interesting and I didn't know going in that it would be about deportation/detention centres. Has anyone else seen it? Thoughts?

Surely, this site can't be calling immigration raids an "abuse", because in that case we couldn't enforce our laws and we'd have no border. As for family separation, it's not our laws to blame but those families who put themselves in the situation they're in. As long as we have laws and we enforce them (which we will), the only way to prevent separation is to discourage people from coming here illegally.

And, whether immigration is a feminist issue or not, it's certainly an issue dear to the heart of the Mexican government. They're working with the ACLU, and they also have links to those involved in past marches. But, the fact that you're serving as a useful idiot for a corrupt foreign government and crooked businesses is a good thing, right?

I.
Stand up, all victims of oppression,
For the tyrants fear your might!
Don't cling so hard to your possessions,
For you have nothing if you have no rights!
Let racist ignorance be ended,
For respect makes the empires fall!
Freedom is merely privilege extended,
Unless enjoyed by one and all.

So come, brothers and sisters,
For the struggle carries on.
The Internationale,
Unites the world in song.
So comrades, come rally,
For this is the time and place!
The international ideal,
Unites the human race.

II.
Let no one build walls to divide us,
Walls of hatred nor walls of stone.
Come greet the dawn and stand beside us,
We'll live together or we'll die alone.
In our world poisoned by exploitation,
Those who have taken, now they must give!
And end the vanity of nations,
We've but one Earth on which to live.

So come, brothers and sisters,
For the struggle carries on.
The Internationale,
Unites the world in song.
So comrades, come rally,
For this is the time and place!
The international ideal,
Unites the human race.

III.
And so begins the final drama,
In the streets and in the fields.
We stand unbowed before their armour,
We defy their guns and shields!
When we fight, provoked by their aggression,
Let us be inspired by life and love.
For though they offer us concessions,
Change will not come from above!

So come, brothers and sisters,
For the struggle carries on.
The Internationale,
Unites the world in song.
So comrades, come rally,
For this is the time and place!
The international ideal,
Unites the human race.

"Surely, this site can't be calling immigration raids an "abuse", because in that case we couldn't enforce our laws and we'd have no border."

You obviously have not heard of the raid that took place last year in April in Little Village (a predominantly Latino neighborhood in Chicago). Up to 200 Immigration and customs enforcement agents stormed a mall, where residents were shopping with their families. These agents, who also had guns and were wearing bullet-proof vests, locked down the mall and asked everyone for their Identification, right in front of children. How can this have any positive affect on them whatsoever? Their main focus was to arrest people who were involved in selling fake documents so that people can work. So, why the big show in front of thousands of people, and CHILDREN no less? It was obviously done as a way to intimidate the Latino community but luckily for us, that didn't work seeing as how people were out there protesting minutes after the raids occurred. Have you asked why these people are coming to this country in the first place? Risking their lives by crossing not only one but in many cases 2 sometimes three borders? This is largely to blame on NAFTA, and those big companies like walmart, and while it does offer jobs to people, their "low prices" are also a competition for local stores in Mexico. Hence the reason (among many others) for their coming here. The media with their biased information when it comes to minorities also makes it easier for people who are uninformed to make an uneducated decision about us. Criminalizing immigrants simply because they want a shot at a better life. We are NOT criminals, so you should not be treating us like it.

"Surely, this site can't be calling immigration raids an "abuse", because in that case we couldn't enforce our laws and we'd have no border."

You obviously have not heard of the raid that took place last year in April in Little Village (a predominantly Latino neighborhood in Chicago). Up to 200 Immigration and customs enforcement agents stormed a mall, where residents were shopping with their families. These agents, who also had guns and were wearing bullet-proof vests, locked down the mall and asked everyone for their Identification, right in front of children. How can this have any positive affect on them whatsoever? Their main focus was to arrest people who were involved in selling fake documents so that people can work. So, why the big show in front of thousands of people, and CHILDREN no less? It was obviously done as a way to intimidate the Latino community but luckily for us, that didn't work seeing as how people were out there protesting minutes after the raids occurred. Have you asked why these people are coming to this country in the first place? Risking their lives by crossing not only one but in many cases 2 sometimes three borders? This is largely to blame on NAFTA, and those big companies like walmart, and while it does offer jobs to people, their "low prices" are also a competition for local stores in Mexico. Hence the reason (among many others) for their coming here. The media with their biased information when it comes to minorities also makes it easier for people who are uninformed to make an uneducated decision about us. Criminalizing immigrants simply because they want a shot at a better life. We are NOT criminals, so you should not be treating us like it.

Thank you! It's a shame that many working class women blame immigrants for their situations (low wages, lack of unionization, etc.), when in reality the fault lies elsewhere.

Looks like you've already been found by at least one anti-migrant commenter. They are fast!

I just got back in from taking part in some of the Chicago march and the numbers were much larger than the media have been reporting, included a large number of women and children, and were very ethnically and racially diverse - it is very clear that immigration is a human rights issue and a feminist issue. Thanks for reminding us of the history of May Day!

The international observation of May 1 comes from Chicago's General strike of 1886 and the 'Haymarket Riots' which followed. Someone threw a bomb at the police, the police opened fire on the crowd and eight Union leaders were hanged for murder. May 1 was an international declaration of solidarity with the working people of the USA.

The campaign for an eight hour day goes back further, to at least 1820 and was first won by Stonemasons in Australia in April 1856.

d

I was upset when people in one of my classes started mocking participators marching by the window. This is a very real, and very serious issue, and one that hits close to home for me.

It's really sad when people can't even respect a peaceful protest, especially when it's in Berkeley!

LaFemme apparently has a slippery hold on our laws, coming out in support of document forgers. And, I was not only familiar with the case I posted about it a couple time, including the news that the ring had been allegedly involved in a murder. But, why worry about things like that, when people just want to work?

It's especially ironic that someone who promotes illegal aliens using forged documents says "we are not criminals".

As for the underlying reason, let me suggest learning the difference between an explanation and a justification. Hopefully that won't be too difficult.

Even if that's an explanation, it's not a justification because it makes things worse for all concerned. Hopefully figuring that out won't be too difficult either, but I doubt it.

In Sweden, this is a national holiday, and also the official day when you go out and protest everything you don't like (assuming it has some connection to the workers movement, or the left in general). So I spent the day marching the streets of Stockholm along with a few ten thousand others, declaring my support for all sorts of feminist issues (and many others). I'm hoarse from singing all those rallying cries and singing of The Internationale.

I don't think this tradition is likely to take off in America (with all your hatred of the proletariat!), so I think it's a really nice idea to use Mayday to highlight the struggles of immigrants. It's a great holiday, and using it to highlight issues like immigration is certainly in the spirit in which the holiday was intended.

Interesting. I am in Southern Sweden (Lund) and April 30 was the celebration day. We had breakfast with champagne and drank in a park with thousands of others and at night there was a huge bonfire. I haven't heard anything about protests. Also, I am from Canada and also never knew May 1 was such a big day in a lot of places. Interesting.

I don't think this tradition is likely to take off in America (with all your hatred of the proletariat!), so I think it's a really nice idea to use Mayday to highlight the struggles of immigrants.

Actually, the tradition originated in the US with the Haymarket Massacre at the end of the 19th century. It took a sixty-year propaganda offensive to beat these things out of people's consciousness, and that consciousness is gradually beginning to return. I honestly think that this is the best time in years to start reclaiming 1 May.

lyndorr: April 30 is another festival altogether. It's called Valborg, or Walpurgis Nacht in German. That's way, way, way older than May Day and has nothing to do with the workers movement. It's a pagan festival that dates back to the Vikings.

I was always told that the bonfire was a traditional ancient way to scare of witches, but I don't think that's true. It has something to do with celebrating fallen warriors in the name of Odin or something.

Mostly, it's just about lighting huge bonfires, partying and getting as drunk as possible. At this point, it doesn't really have a meaning anymore, it's all about tradition. We have some fun pagan holidays here in the cold north :)