Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Students Hit The Streets Of America In Protest Of The Defeat Of The DREAM Act

Photos by HNG

Students of all ages protested the defeat of the DREAM Act by comming out and marching in S. Cesar E. Chavez Drive in Milwaukee

By H. Nelson Goodson
September 21, 2010

Milwaukee - On Tuesday, numerous students of all ages hit the streets of America in protest of the defeat of the DREAM Act in the Defense Authorization Bill. In Milwaukee's South side, shortly after the DREAM Act was defeated, students rushed to the streets with signs and banners in protest and calling for passage of the DREAM Act.
They marched up and down the Cesar E. Chavez Drive Business District, despite a rain storm. The community, business owners and residents support a long awaited DREAM Act.
The DREAM Act, if it had passed would have added millions of highly educated and bilingual students deemed undocumented immigrants to the military. Today, the U.S. military is having extreme difficulty in recruiting personnel in the armed forces and has ordered the current personnel to continue and serve numerous tours. Soldiers have exhausted their leaves and must return to active duty. Without a current draft, military personnel will continue to serve multiple tours where needed, especially in the Afghan war.
On Tuesday, the U. S. Senate failed to pass the anticipated DREAM Act bill that was included in the Defense Authorization Bill. The Democrats and supporters fell short by four votes of 60 to pass the defense bill.
Democrats failed to get a single Republican vote and couldn't get the 60 votes needed to move forward in order to attach the DREAM Act as an amendment. The vote was 56-43.
Three Democrats voted with Republicans. Democratic U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor from Arkansas voted with Republicans. Majority Leader Harry Reid (Dem.) also voted with Republicans to block the bill in a procedural move that allows the Defense Authorization Act - S. 3454 to be revived later.
The DREAM Act would have allowed for millions of undocumented immigrant students a path to U.S. Citizenship by serving in the military or attending a credited college and university. The DREAM Act allows undocumented students a path to become legal U.S. residents after spending two years in college or the military. It would only apply for teenagers who were under 16 when they arrived in the U.S., have been in the country at least five years and have a diploma from a U.S. high school or the equivalent.
Latinos and supporters say, they will continue the push to pass the DREAM Act.

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