Peter Prengaman for AP reports Thousands March in L.A. Over Immigration
LOS ANGELES - Tens of thousands of immigrant rights advocates from across Southern California marched Saturday in protest of federal legislation that would build more walls along the U.S.-Mexico border and make helping illegal immigrants a crime.
The march followed rallies on Friday that drew throngs of protesters to major cities around the nation.
On Saturday, demonstrators streamed into downtown Los Angeles for what was expected to be one of the city's largest pro-immigrant rallies. The crowd was estimated at more than 100,000, said police Sgt. Lee Sands.
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USA Today says About 100,000 march to protest immigration bill in Chicago
AP reports In Phoenix, the police said 20,000 people marched to the office of Senator Jon Kyl, a Republican and the co-sponsor of a bill that would give illegal immigrants up to five years to leave the country. Officials said it was one of the largest protests in the city's history.
georgia10 at dailykos has more
update:
reporters on the local early evening TV news here in LA (channel 4 and channel 7) reported half a million demonstrators
(the station websites just have the AP story, which refers to "more than 100,000")
digby recalls what Prop 187 did to Pete Wilson, and has some advice for Democrats
update 2:
LA Times confirms: More Than 500,000 Rally in L.A. for Immigrants' Rights
"The crowd, estimated by police at more than 500.000, represented one of the largest protest marches in Los Angeles history, surpassing Vietnam War demonstrations and the 70,000 who rallied downtown against Proposition 187, a 1994 state initiative that denied public benefits to undocumented migrants."
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