Is this the same group that disrespected our Veterans on Memorial Day? I'm not sure if this is the same group or not. If someone knows please post.

Oh for the love of Pete. How about you go back to your home country and fight for rights there? We have a just and humane immigration policy, it's called come here legally or get out. Labor rights for all workers? We have labor rights, but when you come here illegally it's hard to enforce them. You can get any job you want - if you are here illegally you will likely be taken advantage of, paid less money, not get any benefits.... and so on. A local id card? It's called a drivers license or a state issued id. You need 6 points of identification to get one - a US passport, Social Security card, etc. You could get one if you came here legally.

And while we are at it, the citizens of Hightstown, East Windsor and Roosevelt have some requests. Garbage doesn't belong in yards, clean up after yourselves. Horns are NOT doorbells, don't use them as such. Music is not meant to be played as loud as possible for as long as you want - your neighbors likely don't want to listen to the music that you are listening to. There are screens on windows for a reason, it keeps bugs out. Windows are not meant for throwing your dirty mop water out of. Windows are also not meant to be hung out of so that you can see what's going on. See how close the houses are? Yeah, that means your neighbors hear you when you are revving your car or truck engine or chattering away at midnight or 5 am. Houses are not meant to hold 20 people. We don't want to pay to educate your children, try birth control.

1.This is not the same gruop that disrespected anyone on Memorial Day.
2. People such as Homeowner should find out the facts about immigration and its causes before speaking. Undocumented immigrants are net contributors, not extractors, of both the tax system and profit in the US: they pay taxes and can never collect returns; they pay all the fees everyone else pays for services without being able to do things such as collect unemployment due to their status (incidentally, this means that you are not paying to educate their children, more likely, they are paying for your retirement); they would not be here were it not for the fact that NAFTA and other US policies and treaties destroyed their jobs at home... really, it is easy to find all these things out just by reading the NYT or any other reputable newspaper.
3. These types of neighborly issues are legitimate concerns and are best resolved by amicable face to face discussion, not by aggression and confrontation, because guess what: unless the government is willing to go ahead and cripple the US economy with mass deportations immigrants are here to stay and more are coming in, so you would be better served by learning how to resolve cultural differences and expectations of neighborliness.

Martina,
What was the group at the Memorial Day Parade, I was there and was under the impression its the same group.
HH has it exactly correct we already have a just and humane immigration policy, the fact is a lot of the members of your group have chosen to ignore it and break the law by coming here and staying.
As far as illegal immigrants (not undocumented they are here illegally) being net contributors not extractors, that is laughable. Sure some pay taxes, and if they do it is with a falsified social security number (another law broken). A great many work 'off the books' and do not pay income taxes at all. Now the cost of illegals is huge in this county and in NJ. Police, Fire, First Aid services all cost money, and have to be paid by someone. When you put 15 people in a house designed for 5, no extra property taxes are paid but 3x the services are used.
In NJ education for children of illegal immigrants cost 1.85BILLION last year for NJ. How much is our deficit again? That number does not include LEP, limited English Proficient programs, Remedial Education Programs, breakfast/lunch programs.
In a 2010 study FAIR pegs the cost of illegal immigration to the U.S. at $1,117 per 'native headed household' in the country. I for one would like my money back.

Back to the May 1st rally, why would any citizen want to attend the rally originally organized and currently endorsed by socialists? For example the International Socialist Conference of NJ is endorsing.

Yes this is the same group that gave their speech at the parade. Why lie about something that was done by this group ? If you disapprove of what they did stand up and say so to them don't try to lie about it.
And as far as what is being asked for 1.A just and humane immigration policy
2.Labor rights for all workers
3.Jobs for all, regardless of race, gender or religion
4.A local ID card
Aren't all these things available already? It only takes following the rules to get "ID card" Jobs for all LEGAL citizens is already a law. Labor rights, laws cover them already if you work for a company legally. And what is a humane immigration policy? We have a policy now that isn't followed so what would make your group happy?

Martina, specifically which policies and treaties have destroyed jobs in Mexico and Central America? How do you figure NAFTA killed jobs in any of those places? There are an awful lot of men and women who used to work in manufacturing here and no longer do because their jobs were shipped to Mexico. In fact, jobs in Mexico have increased 15.5% since NAFTA ( see Hufbauer GC and Schott, JJ, NAFTA Revisited, Institute for International Economics, Washington D.C. 2005). See how I did that? I provided a source. Would you like more? I have several. Now see if you can do that too.

There is no "face to face talking" when the other person doesn't speak English. There is also no face to face talking when the "neighbor" refuses to abide by the cultural norms of this country. As an example, my illegal immigrant neighbors had a child who would sit in the back window, eat watermelon and throw the rinds in my backyard. Each time it happened I would go over there and it would continue to happen. And it wasn't limited to watermelon, soda cans, tissues, whatever... So I called the police. For a ridiculous matter like that because there is no "face to face talking". They don't speak the language. They dont' care to try and be neighborly.

We can certainly afford to do mass deportations or better, incarceration, we'll just deduct the cost from the aid that we send down.

I can't believe that in 2011 we have people like Mike, homeowner and all the others who are racist and discriminative against other human beings. The group ULANJ did make the speech and what Martina said was that they did not disrespect anyone with the speech. It is time for YOU all to feel ashamed of yourself for being haters. We all deserve the same rights regardless of our immigration status. Stop being selfish because without immigrants for all over the world you would not have the country you live in now!!!!!!!! This is a country built on immigrants and if you are a nasty, racist person just go back to your family tree and see where you came from. Hopefully then will you see that this is true and you will change your negative comments.

As a country we need to realize that these immigrants are no different in their motivation to be here as any other prior immigration group. If we are able to see past the immigration rage we will realize that these people are not “criminals” at all, they are hard working families trying to become American like all other immigrants did.
The negativity towards immigration, be it warranted or not, is not good for our country. It fuels segregation, racism, prejudice, and discrimination. It affects everyone and does nothing to resolve the issues at hand. You people need to take a moment to make eye contact and become human again.

Big difference is that immigrants in the past came here legally. Furthermore, my ancestors saw the importance of learning English and adopting the social norms and mores of America. Can the same be said of the illegal immigrants of today?

Imigration is good for America is right. But ILLEGAL is the issue here. Please stop calling everyone a racist for wanting laws enforced. Should everyone for illegal immigration be called anti American? No human can be illegal was one poster I saw all over at the rally, but ACTIONS can be illegal right?

RIGHT NOW THERE ARE 8,000,000 UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PAYING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN STATE AND LOCAL TAXES, BILLIONS MORE THAN VERIZON, GE, GOOGLE, AND BANK OF AMERICA COMBINED, BECAUSE THOSE COMPANIES, AMONG MANY OTHERS, DO NOT PAY A PENNY IN CORPORATE TAXES. VERIZON AND GE ALONE EARNED $40 BILLION IN INCOME IN 2010. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE REAL FINANCIAL ISSUES AND NOT SCAPEGOAT THE WORKING CLASS, FOLKS WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO GET BY.

I'm sure that Sharon, Luisa and Ana are also passionate about fighting for immigrants in Mexico where illegal immigration is a felony. I'm also sure that they would fully support me if I illegally moved to Equador or Guatamala and demanded free bilingual education and for all government forms be available in English as well as Spanish. And I just know that they would have rallies to support my right to expect those countries to adapt to my culture.

As for Sharon's comments, I'm all for much stiffer penalties against employers that hire illegal immigrants. Let's make the fines so high that no company would dare hire an illegal immigrant. Would you support that Sharon?

Luisa, I am sure the motives of most illegal immigrants are noble...just looking for a better life. But, that doesn't make their actions right. There is a process to go through to be here legally and if you want the same rights as legal residents you need to go through that process. I know it's a long and difficult process but governmental red tape is not justification to break the law. You can't just take what you want because the process to obtain it legally is difficult.

Ana, stopping a Memorial Day Parade to make a political speech is disrespectful, period. re:"We all deserve the same rights regardless of our immigration status." No you don't.

Sharon, try making a point rather than throwing out a red herring...and CAPS LOCK doesn't impress anyone either.

To all of those who are so outraged about the undocumented supposedly coming here illegally simply because they are not following "the rules," I have some news for you. Many, including the mother of my 21-year-old son and my 20-year-old daughter, did try to come here by following "the rules." She was denied, and for what reason? For what offense? For the offense of being poor, for not owning a home. She came here not knowing more than a word or two of English, but today she can converse in English and is now a US citizen. As for bilingual education, one of the goals is to make sure that the non-English-speaking immigrants learn English, not just cling to their native languages. Having been married to an immigrant, I know a lot more recent immigrants than most North Americans and I have never met one who did not want to learn English.

As far as Memorial Day and veterans are concerned, please note that my 21-year-old son, whose mother was undocumented when she came here, is currently serving in the Army Reserves for 8 years as an X-Ray Tech. In addition, it is instructive to note that: "One of the first US soldiers to die in Iraq, José Gutiérrez, was an orphaned Guatemalan who at the time of his death was not even an American citizen," according to a report by Miriam Kagan. I recommend clicking on the following link to read what has been reported on the death toll of Latino soldiers: http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0922-02.htm.

In response to Les's remark contradicting Ana's statement about all of us deserving the same rights regardless of immigration status, I would remind him that one's nationality is an accident of birth. What makes him or any of the others who apparently hate immigrants think that they're so damned superior? It's an accident of birth, nothing more, no cause to look down one's nose at others.

Anyone who wants to prevent employers from hiring the undocumented by imposing stiffer fines, as so-called "Taxpayer" suggests, should pick their own fruits and vegetables.

Concerned about lost American jobs? Why not go after the US Chamber of Commerce which thinks the offshoring of US jobs is just dandy? It's big business and its lobbying arm, the US Chamber of Commerce, that have caused massive job losses, not immigrant workers, documented or undocumented.

I participated in this event. You might have seen me on Main Street:

You might have seen me on Main Street saying "Stop the Raids and Deportations".

My son and his friends painted a banner that states: Workers Solidarity Has No Borders! Stop the Raids and Deportations! Amnesty for All Now!"

He sang at the event and played piano. He sang the song El Pueblo Unido Jamas Sera Vencido!

Look it up on You Tube - it is a really cool song.

Not withstanding the few detractors above, there are a growing number of folks who recognize the importance of oppressed people, including immigrant workers, state workers, education workers, youth, the impoverished class and many others sticking together and uniting.

We are not about to be divided by scapegoat politricks of blowhards like Beck, OReilly and their ilk.

This event which was well attended not only by the immigrant community but by many supporters from a wide range of backgrounds is only one small stepping stone toward a growing struggle that will not be divided by cheap talk and finger pointing.

A system in crisis needs to create enemies to shift focus from the root causes of our problems to internal and external enemies . . . thus the xenophobia and immigrant bashing that dominates discourse. A lot of us ain't having it though!

Nice story Dave. Your wife tried to follow the rules but when she didn't get what she wanted she waited until no one was looking and took it anyway. I'm sure after she became legal she paid back all the federal & state taxes, FICA, FUTA, SUI, SDI, etc that hadn't been deducted from her pay while she was illegal, right?

I'm also not sure what your son serving in the military has to do with your friends being disrespectful at the Memorial Day parade?? Your logic seems to follow along the lines of people who claim they aren't racist because the have friends who are black.

Regarding your superiority comment - it's not that I think I am superior, my point is that when you play by the rules you are afforded certain benefits, but if you choose not to play be the rules then you are not entitled to those same benefits. You can't sneak into the country illegally and then expect to have all the benefits of the people who are here legally.

Bob, I think it's funny that you are trying to lump state workers and teachers in with your group. I don't think the majority of them would appreciate you doing that. Looking at the 4 "demands" made at the march, they don't seem to be issues of state workers or teachers. Why would they want a local ID card?