Marchers took to the streets this morning on Milwaukee's south side as part of the "A Day Without Latinos" demonstration. Milwaukee police estimated the crowd at more than 10,000 people.<br /><br />The demonstration began at Voces de la Frontera on S. 5th St. and moved across the 6th St. Viaduct to Zeidler Park. The marchers are protesting legislative efforts that target undocumented immigrants.<br /><br />About three dozen Latino-owned businesses on the south side are closed part or all of today in support of the protest.<br /><br />The Milwaukee Common Council also added its voice to the immigration debate this morning, by condemning legislation to criminalize illegal immigration.<br /><br />Aldermen voted, 11-1, to oppose a congressional bill that would set tough penalties for illegal immigrants and those who aid them. Instead, they called on Congress to approve a different immigration reform bill that would help illegal immigrants attain legal status, expand temporary work visas and tighten border security.<br /><br />"There are thousands of people in my neighborhood who would be affected," south side Ald. Jim Witkowiak said of the criminalization bill, sponsored by U.S. Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.). "My neighborhood would be greatly harmed by criminalizing all the Latinos who are here undocumented at this time. ... If we deported all the undocumented Latinos who are here at this time, our economy would absolutely fold."<br /><br />Sensenbrenner's bill has already been approved by the House. Both that measure and the competing legislation, sponsored by U.S. Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), are awaiting Senate action.<br /><br />Stay tuned to DayWatch for further updates today and turn to the Journal Sentinel tomorrow morning for a full report.
. Imagine the pucker factor when you realize that the light at the end of the tunnel is rapidly getting closer and blowing it's horn.
