By Karl-Erik Stromsta

Four words about the guy who picked the spot for April 10’s immigration protest: Give him a raise.

It was just too perfect. Los Angeles’ Olvera Street and the adjacent La Placita look more Mexican than any part of Mexico I’ve had the pleasure of seeing – the architecture, the restaurants, the statues, the shop signs. The apt question was not, ‘Do these protesters deserve to be Americans?’, but rather, ‘Can you believe this place is in America?’

The protest had the atmosphere of a carnival, vertiginous and loud. No one was crying; no one was scared. Giant blue globules of cotton candy floated past like low-flying storm clouds. A helicopter thumped overhead. Rosaries jangled like flecks of sunshine in a sea of lolling flags.

Halfway down Olvera Street I launched into conversation with an avuncular man who stood hocking umbrellas in front of a tiny wishing well. He wore a sombrero, which was also for sale. His eyebrows twitched like fishing lines when he spoke.

“Why the long face?” I asked. “Protests are supposed to be fun, aren’t they?”

“Protest or no, I wish it would rain,” he said, looking skyward. “That way I would sell more umbrellas.”

“What could be more American than that?” I wondered aloud. (more…)

By Scott Martindale

Lyndon LaRouche supporters were there. So were members of America’s Communist party. There was even a group calling itself “The World Can’t Wait: Drive Out the Bush Regime.” At April 10’s immigration rally in downtown Los Angeles – where thousands protested immigration reform legislation currently before Congress – activists from various political groups mixed in with the noisy and spirited crowd. They set up booths, passed out fliers, even waved American flags alongside their mostly Latino counterparts. (more…)

By Leo Juarez

Since 9/11, the U.S. government has targeted American Muslim charities suspected of sponsoring terrorism abroad. Now, overall donations to these charities are down and Muslim groups say the unjustified scrutiny is intimidating donors who are obligated to give. Leo Juarez reports.

A Treasury Department notice is posted on the padlocked offices of KindHearts in February. The Ohio-based Muslim charity was shut down by the government amid suspected ties to the terrorist organization Hamas. (Photo courtesy of The Toledo Blade).

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By Millicent Jefferson

I arrived to yesterday’s immigration rally on Olvera St. in downtown Los Angeles not knowing how or if this would be different than some of the events that have been taking place over the past month.

One thing that struck me while I was at the event was the number of kids involved. As I think back to the march last month I remembered seeing a lot of children there also.

Moments after I arrived I walked past a Korean family. One of the children, a little girl, was holding a (more…)

By Christina Wu

When I arrived to the La Placita immigration rally downtown, I wandered past all the street vendors, hot dog stands and ice cream carts. Cardinal Mahoney was about to give his speech and I approached one of the nuns, who was anxiously surrounding the podium.

Read more on my protest excursion.

(more…)