On Saturday March 26, 2006 the largest protest in the United States since the Vietnam war unfolded on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles.
Following the refusal of the Senate to pass legislation to criminalize undocumented workers and those who associate with them, people gathered in public to express the growing need for immigration reform, including a path to citizenship for undocumented workers.
People in LA were mobilized to hit the streets by Eddie “PiolÃn” Sotelotalk, the host of a popular Spanish-language morning radio talk show. Following Sotelotalk’s lead, other Spanish-language radio and TV personalities encouraged people to participate in La Grand March, resulting in a massive turnout.
The subway trains that rolled into the downtown area on the Saturday morning of the protest were packed with men, women and children carrying banners and signs. A few cafes along Broadway offered free cups of coffee. Volunteers picked up trash as soon as it hit the steet.
These photographs were taken on Broadway during La Grand March.
Excellent pictures capturing a monumental moment in the history of Mexican immigrants.
The protestants are absolutely correct when stating that most of western United States was once
Mexican territory, but it must not be forgotten that the first indigious peoples were the various Indian tribes of this
vast expanse of land.
This said, Mexican laborers did work under conditions which could be consisdered slavery to build the present culture of the west, not only in construction but in the fields of the great agricultural lands. Their labor was and continues to be back breaking, ill-paid, etc. and the Mexican people continue to be maltreated and discriminated against.
It’s good that this demonstration was presented by Michael Lawlor and he should be congratulated for bringing the Mexican problem to the attention of the general public.
Mr. Lawlor,
are simply great photos. You’ve become a first class photographer.
And you’re so right that indigenous peoples of this country were here long before the Europeans arrived. And when they did, the greatest genocide in history was committed. It’s been estimated that 120 million Indians were murdered, most by horrific methods.
Keep up your excellent work.
Sincerely,
John Kafkaloff