Republican Anti-immigrant Legislation Ignites Protest By Latinos

Thousands rallied around the Madison Capitol to protest severel anti-immigrant bills targeted at the Hispanic community in Wisconsin.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

February 18, 2016

Madison, WI - On Thursday, more than 60,000 Latinos and non-Latinos including children and students marched around the Madison State Capitol shoulder to shoulder in protest against several anti-immigrant bills that were passed by the majority of White racist Republican legislators. Both bills AB450/SB369 and SB533/AB723, which one bill allows law enforcement to report undocumented suspects arrested and charged for a crime to ICE and the second bill restricts local and county governments from issuing identification cards to undocumented immigrants and sanctuary cities. 

A statewide shut down of businesses was organized as "Day without Latinos and Immigrants" by Voces de la Frontera (VDLF), a workers and immigrant rights organization to show the economic impact the state anti-immigrant bills by the Republican controlled legislature have in the state economy.
At least 15 cities were represented by Latino taxpayers at the rally, according to Christine Neumann Ortiz, the executive director of VDLF.

State Representive JoCasta Zamarripa (D-Milw.) and other Democrat legislators joined the rallied in front of the State Capitol building. Not one Republican or State Representative Yesenia Eldermira "Jessie" Rodriquez (R-Oak Creek) who co-sponsored AB 723 made their presence at the mega Latino rally.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Rep. Rodriguez immigrated to the U.S. from El Salvador as an illegal immigrant herself and later gained legal status.

 Video: 60K Latinos Rallied In Madison, WI against anti-immigrant bills https://youtu.be/mq7DgDNRTBU