page_title: 2006 United States immigration reform protests
section_title: April
hierarchical_section_title: 2006 United States immigration reform protests / Timeline / April
context_page_description: In 2006-2007, millions of people participated in protests over a proposed change to U.S. immigration policy. These large scale mobilizations are widely seen as a historic turn point in Latino politics, especially Latino immigrant civic participation and political influence, as noted in a range of scholarly publications in this field. The protests began in response to proposed legislation known as H.R. 4437, which would raise penalties for illegal immigration and classify undocumented immigrants and anyone who helped them enter or remain in the US as felons. As part of the wider immigration debate, most of the protests not only sought a rejection of this bill, but also a comprehensive reform of the country's immigration laws that included a path to citizenship for all undocumented immigrants.
  The 2006 immigration protests were a series of demonstrations that began in Chicago and continued throughout major cities nationwide for a period of eight weeks. The first major demonstration in Chicago was held on March 10, 2006, and was estimated to have about 100,000 participants. It was the initial impetus for many of the other protests which followed throughout the country.
context_section_description: April 1: 10,000 marched across the Brooklyn Bridge to Foley Square in New York City.
  April 6: Hundreds of Aurora, Illinois students left school to march downtown to protest.
  April 8: Several hundred people rally at Chicano Park in San Diego.
  April 9: Demonstrations in several cities across the United States, including:
  50,000 marched in San Diego from Balboa Park, through downtown to the County Administration Building.
  6,000 protested in Des Moines, Iowa at Nollen Plaza in support of comprehensive immigration reform., April 9
  April 10: Demonstrations were staged in many cities and towns across the United States;
  Atlanta, Georgia, at least 50,000 people rallied both for and against amnesty.
  Boston, Massachusetts, approximately 2,000 demonstrators march from Boston Common to Copley Square.
  Charleston, South Carolina, at least 4,000 people gathered and protested the inability of lawmakers to agree on legislation that would lead to citizenship.
  Fort Myers, Florida, an estimated 75,000 people took part in "The Great March" which affected traffic in nearby areas of the march.  The stream of protesters was at least a mile long at times.
  Las Vegas, a well-organized march of approximately 3,000 people was held. Protesters marched two miles from Jaycee Park to the Federal Courthouse during the first day of the Clark Country Spring Break, waving Mexican and American flags alike. They protested in favor of amnesty.
  New York City, between 70,000 and 125,000 people demonstrated in front of City Hall.  Senators Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer spoke at the rally.  Neither called for amnesty, though many of the crowd's signs and chants did.
  Oakland, California, an estimated 10,000 people took part in the demonstration.
  Salt Lake City, Utah, a unity rally was held at the City-County Building; there were an estimated 15,000 protesters.
  San Jose, California, an estimated 25,000 demonstrators marched several miles from King and Story to city hall. Highway access to US 101 and I-680 was closed, causing significant traffic backups.
  Seattle, between 15,000 and 25,000 marched to a rally at the federal building where speakers in support of the demonstrators, such as Mayor Greg Nickels and County Executive Ron Sims spoke.  Just five thousand were expected.
  April 11: Several protests occurred in Nevada.
  In Las Vegas, a rally with an estimated minimum of 300+ was held at the Cashman Center; several important opposition figures showed up, such as Jim Gilchrist, the Nevada Secretary of State, local radio host Mark Edwards, and numerous state Minuteman Project branches to protest against amnesty.
  In Carson City, Nevada, an estimated 200 students walked out of class, rallying in front of the Governor's Mansion.
  In Reno, Nevada, between 2,000 and 4,000 protesters marched through the downtown area, from the University of Nevada, Reno campus to the Bruce R. Thompson Federal Building, and continued to a designated spot near the Meadowood Mall. Traffic was held and diverted along South Virginia Street during the march.
  April 13:  Students from several Woodburn, Oregon (a town with a large Hispanic community) schools marched out of class.
  April 19: Students from various Denver high schools and middle schools walked out of class and marched to the capitol.
  April 27: Approximately 200 volunteers and supporters built a 6 foot high, quarter mile section of barbed wire fencing along the Mexico and United States border to send a clear message to Americans and leaders in Washington regarding the lack of security at our borders.
  April 28: Nuestro Himno, a Spanish language rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, is played simultaneously on about 500 Spanish language radio stations across the country. The controversy died in a few days, after it was revealed that Cuban immigrant Jon Secada had sung the anthem in Spanish at Bush inauguration ceremony , and that a Spanish version of the anthem had been commissioned by the Bureau of Education of the United States in 1919 .
caption: Students Of Jersey City's McNair Academic High School gather to protest the proposed H.R. 4437 at Liberty State Park after walking out of their school at 2:00 pm on April 10, 2006.
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