We can learn from yesterday' demonstrations across America

While I have heard a lot said, both good and bad about yesterday's demontration about illegal immigrants, I think we as today's black people can learn a lot from our Hispanic brothers and sisters. Now I'm not taking a position on what they were demontrating about which was in response to a bill passed in the House that would speedup deportation, tighten border security and criminalize illegal immigrants.

What I will speak on is how they gathered to speak up on what they believe. Nearly 2 million all accross America people including atleast 40,000 in here in Atlanta alone (some put it at 60,000), and approximately poured 200,000 onto the National Mall waving American flags and chanting in Spanish "Si se puede" I told means "Yes We Can."

Tens of thousands of demontrators in more the 70 cities including Phoenix, Arizona, Washington DC, Atlanta, Madison Wisc., Houston, New York, Fort Myers, Fla., Omaha, Nebraska and Santa Ana, Calif just to name a few, most of them Hispanic, may be emerging as a potent political force.

Things I read included...
Largest efforts by immigrants to influence public policy... The scoop and size of the marches have astonished politicians on Capitol Hill... Some Republicans in Congress say the demonstrations have recalled the debate on immigration legislation, forcing lawmakers to take into account the groups political muscle. - The New York Times

Unlike anything we have seen on immigration issues ever in the nations history- The Atlanta Journal- Constitution

I even read or heard on the local Atlanta news that this was the biggest gathering on an issues in Atlanta since the days of civil rights and this is about civil rights as well.

What we as today's black people need to learn from this is who Washington is paying close attention to this one gathering and looking at this group of people as a political power. A group that will have to be considered when politicians are running for office. If this group of people are allowed to become citizens, politicians who considering this group of potential voters in their equation.

It's one thing that they come here and do the jobs we wont. It one thing that they have more unity then we do. But yesterdays display and demonstration where illegal immigrants spoke to the press both newspaper and television news, gave their names and where they work and showed their face on the nightly news not to mention how Washington is paying attention. If we are not careful we will be left behind in this country.

I have said it countless times before
We need to stop celebration the advancements made in the civil rights days of the 60's and start stepping up today and we will be further behind in the future than we were in the past if you follow what I'm saying.