LOS ANGELES, CA - On March 25th, 2006, the largest public protest in all of U.S. history occurred on many of the major downtown streets of Los Angeles. Officially, it was called “La Gran Marcha” (LGM) by a group of community organizers, myself being one of them. Today, with the benefit of hindsight, it's now also called “The Great March” (TGM) in an effort to have it be more commonly known to the majority of the English speaking population of the U.S. - and its mainstream media.

Donald Trump, Immigrant Crime Statistics & Mass Deportations

Ever since announcing his run for president in 2016, Donald Trump's relationship with the U.S. Mexican American community has been contentious - to say the least. When he started his campaign claiming that Mexico is "sending rapists"... "and people with lots of problems"... intent on "bringing drugs and crime" into the U.S., he didn't win favor with most inside our community. Despite that there are many studies which repeatedly show Mexican and other U.S. Latino immigrants (whether legal or not) are far less prone to dangerous "felony" behavior and commit "fewer crimes" in general than native born U.S. citizens, there are millions of Americans who believe otherwise. Undoubtedly, this can be directly attributed to the rhetoric of Trump.

To counter this false narrative which portrays undocumented immigrants as an unruly criminal population that is a threat to the U.S., one only need look at The Great March as a perfect example of how the overwhelming majority of undocumented immigrants are merely seeking to work legally while living peacefully in pursuit of their American dream. The need for comprehensive immigration reform still exists today.

Most Americans don't know much about TGM. As, it was shockingly ignored by most English language U.S. mainstream media outlets. Simultaneously happening during March Madness, the national collegiate basketball series, it went either unreported or given 'very little' attention at the time. Today, after an extensive photo analysis of the event by U.S. academics, it is now known to be the "largest single day protest demonstration in all of U.S. history." Today March 25th, is the 19 year anniversay of this unparalleled historic and important event.

Largest Protest Demonstration in U.S. History & How It May Have Saved Millions From Trump's Deportation

Despite the very common practice of many in mainstream media, politics, and other circles who are tremendously quick to give crowd size estimates for public gatherings; the truth of the matter is, that, accurate crowd counts are nearly impossible to determine when any function is not a ticketed event. Under the scrutiny of three prestigious academic institutions ( i.e. Saint Mary's University, San Jose State University, and UT Austin ), it is now known to be a fact that the initially reported crowd size of 500 thousand participants by the Los Angeles Times on the morning after was glaringly incorrect. After an extensive photographic analysis, it has now been determined that between 1.3 and 1.5 million protestors assembled in the heart of downtown Los Angeles on this historic day. In comparison to any other event, it is now undoubtedly known that The Great March was the "largest single assembly" of people ever gathered "at any one place at the same time."

So, why does any of this matter nearly 20 years later? Considering the heated rhetoric of anti-immigrant sentiment still expressed by many today, a precise recollection of what immediately transpired subsequent to this protest (along with the many other national protests against HR 4437 in 2006) does matter for many reasons. To appreciate the significance of The Great March (TGM) and how it may have helped save millions from the threat of Trump's mass deportation, an understanding on the implications of its intended measures must be known.

What Was The Great March & How Might It Keep Many In The U.S.A.

The Great March of 2006 was a U.S. Latino community reaction to H.R.4437, a bill named the "Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Act of 2005." It was introduced during the 109th Congress and authored by two House Republicans, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin and Rep. Peter King of New York. The bill was offically passed by a Republican controlled House of Representatives on December 16, 2005.

At the time of organizing The Great March, H.R.4437 was quickly making its way to being approved by the Republican controlled Senate as well. The White House which was occupied by George Bush Jr. at the time is another significant factor. President Bush is only second to President Obama in the number of people deported during his administration. At the time, he was under heavy pressure by the Republican controlled Congress to not veto the bill if it were to be presented for a signature on his desk at the Oval Office.

Because it appeared that H.R. 4437 was destined to be quickly approved, U.S. Latino community leadership across the nation rapidly organized to form multiple coalitions intent on immediately stopping its passage. Major cities throughout the United States began holding protests with Chicago being the first to have a major mass demonstration. When it came time for Los Angeles to display the power of our community, we were very intent on using all available means, which included: Spanish language radio and TV; Spanish language newspapers; churches; community activists; flyers; labor unions; posters in the streets; and most significantly, a newly found power in usage of the Internet which turned out to be highly instrumental in the overall success at organizing our Southern CA event.

These demonstrations did more than block H.R. 4437—they galvanized a political awakening among immigrants and their allies. The movement fostered solidarity, advocacy networks, and a collective voice for immigrant rights. Latino voters became a crucial political constituency, and immigration reform emerged as a central issue in national politics. The defeat of H.R. 4437 also sent a clear message to lawmakers: harsh anti-immigrant measures would provoke widespread resistance.

The Primary Points of Contention That Provoked a Need for Massive Protest Demonstrations Were the Following Five Measures:

1) HR 4437 would have immediately turned countles millions of undocumented immigrants from being misdemeanor fine offenders into hardcore criminal felons. A real life example of this would be the immigrant mother simply working as a housekeeper flipping sheets at the local motel could now charged as a felony criminal offender (instead of a misdemeanor fine only).

2) HR 4437 would have created laws to charge "any" person who knowingly aides an undocumented person to remain in the U.S. (without proper documentation "approved" and in good standing) to be guilty of criminal “smuggling.” This would have included anyone of the clergy, all nonprofit service sectors, and even medical professions.

3) HR 4437 would have required local law enforcement to act as federal immigration agents - which at the time, was both against the law and seen as unconstitutional. Donald Trump has subsequently requested this same action from local police as an executive level order.

4) HR 4437 would have required the construction of a complete southern border barrier in the form of a wall and fence with Mexico, while leaving the northern border with Canada to remain virtually open. Donald Trump has continued this construction already started by others. In addition to the barrier wall, this bill would have also attempted to turn Native American reservations into immigrant detention centers.

5) HR 4437 would have required the creation of a new employment verification system "to be maintained by the Department of Homeland Security and comprised of data from the Social Security Administration" -- this also necessitated that every inhabitant of this country who would be seeking legal employment be required to carry a new type of social security card "made of a durable plastic" that "include an encrypted machine-readable electronic identification strip" or chip that "be issued to each individual (whether or not a U.S. citizen)."

In addition to these five main commonly mentioned statutes, there was another extreme provisions that is less commonly known. Law enforcement through Homeland Security was being given the authority to act solely "without judicial review." Not even Nazi Germany of the 1940s did that. Donald Trump however, has brought forth this unconstitutional practice.

Aside from being the largest protest in U.S. history, one of the other most remarkable things about The Great March is that by virtue of its size, it was also the largest "peaceful" gathering. The L.A.P.D. did not have a report for any disorderly conduct or even one single arrest. This day should literally be included in the curriculum of every U.S. history classroom. The mass protests against H.R. 4437, marked a transformative moment in American immigration history. These demonstrations, which erupted across the United States in 2006, mobilized millions of people—Latinos, immigrants, and allies—who opposed the legislation’s harsh measures. The legislation sought to criminalize undocumented immigrants and those who provided them assistance. These protests not only defeated H.R. 4437 but also laid the groundwork for the resilience that helped thwart the sweeping deportation plans of President Donald Trump a decade later.

This legacy of resistance has proven critical during the Trump presidency, which is marked by an agressive attempt to implement even more mass deportation methods and further xenophobic immigration policies. Trump’s administration sought to expand deportations, eliminate protections like DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), and target sanctuary cities. However, the infrastructure of resistance built during and after 2006 blunted these efforts. Advocacy groups, many born out of the H.R. 4437 protests, mobilized communities, provided legal aid, and organized mass opposition. Cities and states resisted federal efforts to conscript local authorities into immigration enforcement, with many reaffirming their status as sanctuaries. The protests against H.R. 4437 were a pivotal moment that reshaped the trajectory of immigration activism in the United States. They not only halted the immediate threat of punitive legislation but also sowed the seeds of a movement that would defend immigrant communities in the years to come. This enduring spirit of resistance was instrumental in mitigating Trump’s deportation agenda, safeguarding millions of families from the devastating impact of mass removals. Through unity and resilience, the legacy of 2006 continues to shape the fight for immigrant justice in America.