text: 2006 U.S. immigration reform protests\nFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia\nJump to: navigation, search\nThousands gather for illegal immigrant rights rally in Nashville, Tennessee on March 29, 2006.\nEnlarge\nThousands gather for illegal immigrant rights rally in Nashville, Tennessee on March 29, 2006.\n\nIn 2006, millions of people were involved in protests over a proposed reform to existing United States immigration laws. The protests began in response to proposed legislation known as H.R. 4437, which would raise penalties for illegal immigration and classify illegal aliens and anyone who helped them enter or remain in the US as felons. As part of the wider immigration debate, most protests not only seek an overhaul of this bill, but also a path to legalization for those who have entered America illegally and fewer Immigration Services delays.\n\nThe largest national turnout of protests occurred on April 10, 2006, in 102 cities, and were the largest demonstrations in many years in cities such as Dallas, Texas, (estimated crowd 500,000), Chicago, Illinois, (estimated crowd 100,000), Atlanta, Georgia , (estimated 60,000), Salt Lake City, Utah, (estimated 40,000), Seattle, Washington, (estimated 30,000) and Madison, Wisconsin, (estimate 25,000). Almost all of the protests were peaceful and attracted considerable media attention, although there was also controversy over what many people considered anti-American symbolism at some of the protests. Additional protests took place on May Day and many of the protesters carried portraits of Marxist icon Che Guevara and signs mass-produced by communist organizations such as Socialist Worker and Workers World Party. [citation needed]\nContents\n[hide]\n\n    * 1 Role of Spanish-language media\n    * 2 Role of the Internet\n    * 3 Controversy and backlash over flag symbolism and protests\n    * 4 Timeline\n          o 4.1 February\n          o 4.2 March\n          o 4.3 April\n          o 4.4 May\n    * 5 Legislation\n    * 6 See also\n    * 7 References\n    * 8 Organizations\n    * 9 External links\n\n[edit]\n\nRole of Spanish-language media\n\nSpanish-language media outlets, in particular Univision and Telemundo and various Spanish-language radio stations across the country, in large part aided in mobilizing people for the protests. Eduardo Sotelo, a Spanish-language radio personality from Los Angeles and known by the nickname El Piolin, persuaded eleven of his counterparts from Spanish-language radio stations based in Los Angeles to also rally listeners to attend planned protests. [1] [2] [3]\n[edit]\n\nRole of the Internet\n\nInternet community sites containing personal blogs also played a significant role in helping to "get the word out" on the dates and locations for the marches and demonstration protests. Whereas Spanish language radio concentrated on the Spanish speaking audience only, the Internet catered to Mexican-Americans and other Hispanic youths. MySpace.com in particular was seen as a significant source for attracting the youth who speak English. Because of the Internet, the various marches and demonstrations which occurred around the nation attracted more than merely the illegal aliens, immigrant advocate nonprofit organizations and churches. The Internet was directly responsible for attracting a large percentage of the English speaking Hispanic American youth.\n[edit]\n\nControversy and backlash over flag symbolism and protests\n"Stolen: Continent, since 1492": One of the many bold signs used by the Mexica Movement during the Los Angeles March of 2006 (La Gran Marcha), and the subsequent march in Dallas, Texas.\nEnlarge\n"Stolen: Continent, since 1492": One of the many bold signs used by the Mexica Movement during the Los Angeles March of 2006 (La Gran Marcha), and the subsequent march in Dallas, Texas.\n\nThe initial protests caused some controversy after a number of protesters waved Mexican and other Central American flags. The issue 