LOS ANGELES — Thousands of people across the country protested Friday against legislation cracking down on illegal immigrants, with demonstrators in such cities as Los Angeles, Phoenix and Atlanta staging school walkouts, marches and work stoppages. Congress is considering bills that would make it a felony to be illegally in the United States, impose new penalties on employers who hire illegal immigrants and erect fences along one-third of the U.S.-Mexican border. The proposals have angered many Hispanics. The Los Angeles demonstration led to fights between black and Hispanic students at one high school, but the protests were largely peaceful, authorities said. Chantal Mason, a sophomore at George Washington Preparatory High, said black students jumped Hispanic students as they left classes to protest a bill passed the House in December that would make it a felony to be in the U.S. illegally. (AP) Students from Huntington Park High School march in a demonstration Friday, March 24, 2006, to… Full Image ‘It was horrible, horrible,’ Mason said. ‘It’s ridiculous that a bunch of black students would jump on Latinos like that, knowing they’re trying to get their freedom.’ In Phoenix, police said 10,000 demonstrators marched to the […]