^aNew York University, New York, NY. E-mail: a.gonzales@nyu.edu

Abstract

This article discusses the Mega Marchas in Greater Los Angeles, a series of massive protests and actions that emerged in the spring of 2006 to oppose a draconian immigration bill passed in December 2005, by a Republican majority in the US House of Representatives. Using a neo-Gramscian framework, I describe the origins of the Mega Marchas, their dynamics and the decline of the movement that made them possible. Grounded in my analysis of 12 interviews with leading activists from diverse sectors, and hundreds of hours of participation and observation of political activities around the 2006 Mega Marchas, including meetings, conferences, press conferences, lobbying and strategy sessions, I argue that the 2006 Mega Marchas constitute a counter-hegemonic moment in the history of Latino social movements. Moreover, the article challenges the view that the Mega Marchas were organized spontaneously or by radio personalities. I end with a brief discussion on the current economic crisis and the Obama administration and their implications for the future of the Migrante Struggle.