Even though many of these demonstrators can't vote, some of their friends can and their children will as they all reach voting age. Politicians will have to pay attention to these demonstrations. DP
By Tyche Hendricks and Vanessa Hua, Chronicle Staff Writers
San Francisco Gate : Swelling immigrant pride -- and fear that harsh reforms will emerge from the current debate in Congress -- propelled more than a million protesters into streets across the country this month and could reshape the politics of immigration, analysts said Tuesday.
Mass rallies for immigrant rights, most notably in Los Angeles and Chicago but also Milwaukee, Phoenix, Atlanta, Denver and elsewhere, may also influence closely fought elections this year.
This wave of political activism corresponds with a national poll's finding, released Tuesday by San Francisco-based New American Media, that legal immigrants are alarmed about the debate and generally support illegal immigrants.
"It's potentially a very important political movement, and in the short run it's a very important political event," Mark Baldassare, director of research at the Public Policy Institute of California, said of the protests.
"The demonstrations by immigrant rights groups mean that voters are going to ask candidates where they stand on these issues."
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