Illegal immigration has been a volatile topic in Alabama since the legislation known as HB 56 was signed into law by Republican Gov. Robert J. Bentley in June. Anecdotal evidence suggestions that many illegal immigrants have fled the state. The demonstrators took a far different approach Tuesday.
“Undocumented, unafraid!” they chanted.
Eleven protesters sat down in the middle of a street in hopes of blocking traffic. The location for their sit-in protest: across from the Capitol and the first White House of the Confederacy. The effect on motorists was minimal. Police had already sealed off the street a block away and were rerouting traffic elsewhere.
Two more demonstrators staged a sit-in on the floor of the lobby at the Alabama State House.
In September a federal judge upheld some portions of the law, but temporarily stayed others pending further review in the courts. For example, the judge blocked a section that would have barred illegal immigrants from enrolling in public colleges and universities.
But the 115-page ruling by U.S. District Judge Sharon Blackburn also upheld a controversial section that requires police to check the residency status of suspected illegal immigrants during traffic stops.
On Tuesday, rows of police officers watched the protest. They had not taken action by midafternoon. The protesters said they expected to be arrested at some point.
“No courage, no change!” they shouted.
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This DREAM Act seems like a way of discrimination towards all of the illegal immigrant within Alabama. It seems as though these people who are undocumented are going to be "witch hunted" in the sense that police would have to be checking places of residency . I think this is taking the whole situation of immigration within this state out of control. I feel that there are better ways to go about the situation than to make people feel like they are going to be hunted down to basically get rid of them. There is also a lot of controversial issues that arise from both sides of immigration and putting this Act into Alabama's laws. Much of what we discussed in class about harsh realties, like drugs, gangs, jobs, economy and standard of living could very well be affecting the state of Alabama, which are brought by the immigrants. But there is also controversy with every act, policy or piece of legislation that tries to get passed as well.
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This DREAM Act seems like a way of discrimination towards all of the illegal immigrant within Alabama. It seems as though these people who are undocumented are going to be "witch hunted" in the sense that police would have to be checking places of residency . I think this is taking the whole situation of immigration within this state out of control. I feel that there are better ways to go about the situation than to make people feel like they are going to be hunted down to basically get rid of them. There is also a lot of controversial issues that arise from both sides of immigration and putting this Act into Alabama's laws. Much of what we discussed in class about harsh realties, like drugs, gangs, jobs, economy and standard of living could very well be affecting the state of Alabama, which are brought by the immigrants. But there is also controversy with every act, policy or piece of legislation that tries to get passed as well.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/11/demonstrators-denounce-alabama-illegal-immigration-law.html
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