It is fairly well known among "activist"circles that on Oct. 16 there are two planned immigrant rights marches and rallies in L.A.

Now some say that it is just two rallies and marches supporting the same issue. However there is the ugly ugly ugly rumor (UNTRUE I am sure - yea right) that says that each rally and march is competing for leadership of the immigrant rights issue.

Now one rally and march is starting at "Five Points" in East L.A. which is at Cesar Chavez Avenue and Lorena and marching to First and Spring St. in L.A. Then the other rally and march starts at Olympic and Broadway and marches to (SAY WHAT!) the same place as the first march to First and Spring Street.

And the rallies are not cooperating on having a joint rally at First and Spring Street at the very same time and at the very same place. HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK? Will the two rallies fight it out for who gets to speak. Will there be two stages and two sound systems at the very same intersection at the very same time? And no the two rallies and marches are not cooperating one bit - at least so far.

Right now there are permits and plans to have two marches and two rallies going to the very same place at the very same time and having two stages and two sound systems and two sets of speakers - at the very same place and at the very same time. A bit of a conflict to say the least.

The LAPD is trying like crazy trying to end the East L.A. March. But the East L.A. march applied for their permit in March of this year and the permit was granted on May 14 of this year. The Olympic and Broadway march did not even apply for its permit until August 19 of this year.

WHY DID THE POLICE COMMISSION ISSUE A MARCH AND RALLY PERMIT TO A SECOND MARCH AND RALLY GOING TO THE VERY SAME PLACE AT THE VERY SAME TIME?.

And why is the LAPD trying to revoke the permit of the East L.A. march when the East L.A. march was issued its permit a full five months before the Olympic and Broadway march?

Hey it could not be that the LAPD is trying to revoke the East L.A. march permit because the East L.A. march is a mainly East side and Latino march and the competing Olympic and Broadway march is a mainly Westside liberal march could it?

It is also interested to know that IAC has been pretty active in the East L.A. march (but by no means has been the major organizing force) and that A.N.S.W.E.R. has been one of the major organizing forces in the Olympic and Broadway march. And John Parker (Workers World Presidential Candidate and IAC organizer) is scheduled to speak at the East L.A. march. Could that be relevant?

And groups and members of the L.A. "progressive" community are being forced to chose which march and rally to support and to attend.

Can't we all be friends?



Jim DeMaegt