Thread: More Than 50,000 Protest for Illegal Immigrants in Denver

http://www.rockymountainnews.com

Thousands protest immigration crackdown

By The Associated Press
March 25, 2006
More than 50,000 people gathered downtown Saturday as part of a national protest against a crackdown in immigration laws, including federal legislation aimed at criminalizing illegal immigrants and building more walls along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Protesters also came out to urge the state Senate to reject a resolution supporting a ballot issue that would deny many government services to illegal immigrants in Colorado.

The large crowd surprised police officers, who were expecting only a few thousand people at Civic Center Park next to the Capitol and Denver city and county buildings, said Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson.

But the crowd, mostly made up of families and older people, was respectful and the four-hour rally ended without incident, he said.

Speakers during the rally ridiculed the Republican party telling participants that "they're not on our side and they're pitting Americans against us."

"This is the standing point of a new beginning," said protester Eli Chairez-Clendenin, 36, of Denver, who immigrated to Colorado in 1974. "We're not going to be intimidated or afraid to speak our mind. We're going to be who we are."

The Senate on Monday will begin debating on legislation would make it a felony to be in the U.S. illegally, impose new penalties on employers who hire illegal immigrants and erect fences along one-third of the U.S.-Mexican border.

Lisa Duran, of Denver-based Rights for All People, called the federal proposal inhumane because it would make 1.6 million children felons and would kill more people who are trying to cross the border.

Illegal immigrants want legislation that would protect illegal immigrants, unify their families, and would address future flows of immigrants, Duran said.

For Arvada resident Elsa Rodriguez, a trained pilot who came to Colorado in 1999 from Mexico to look for work, she said she just wants to be considered equal.

"We're like the ancestors who started this country, they came from other countries without documents, too," said Rodriguez, 30. "They call us lazy and dirty, but we just want to come to work. If you see, we have families, too."

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_3639576

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Article Launched: 03/25/2006 12:53 PM MST

local
Tens of thousands protest bill
Immigration bill sparks Denver gathering
By Kirk Mitchell and Annette Espinoza
Denver Post Staff Writers


If there was any doubt about the large volume of migrant workers in Colorado, a crowd of more than 50,000 Latino demonstrators proved it today.

Throngs of people marched in front of the State Capitol on Colfax Avenue and packed Civic Center, waving signs that said “No on H.R. 4437,” a proposed federal law that would make illegal immigration a felony, and chanted “Si se puede,” or “yes we can” (unite).

“It's just incredible,” said Polly Baca, former state legislator and executive director of Latin American Research and Service Agency. “You can see that a day without these people working would be devastating for Colorado's economy.”

But U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., said the crowd would have been much smaller or could have been quickly dispersed had Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers shown up with buses and started checking identification.

“When the rest of America looks at these demonstrations they'll agree it's getting more difficult to control illegal immigration,” Tancrado said. “We'd better do something about this.”

Farm, construction and hotel workers from Pueblo to Fort Collins drove to Denver for the mass demonstration, Baca said. Many people walked from as far as 20 blocks, pushing baby strollers and waving large red, white and green Mexican flags.

The large turnout stunned even the organizers.

A grass-roots campaign to get people to participate in the demonstration has been weeks in the making, with announcements on Spanish-language radio stations and at churches such as Centro Nueva Vida, 6738 E. Colfax Ave.

“The Time is Now Rally” organizers began meeting eight days ago. At its first meeting, the organizers anticipated two dozen, by last Wednesday they thought it would be a couple of hundred. They never imagined it would be more than that.

"Our goal is to get mass awarness to the people of Colorado and to the immigrant community on current immigration issues and to call for action," said Ida Sandoval.

Illegal immigration has also been in the spotlight in Colorado with bills in the Legislature including one that would make it a felony to transport illegal immigrants. On Monday and Tuesday, more than 80 illegal immigrants were arrested after highway accidents during a snowstorm.

“My people come not because they are bad people but because they are hungry,” said Maria Zayas, who was a migrant worker for 20 years before becoming a U.S. citizen. “If we leave, the U.S. would go down.”

Joel Canales said undocumented immigrants are worried about HB 4437 because it will prevent them from working. “They're just looking for a better life for themselves,” said Canales, who is a U.S. citizen but has several relatives who are illegal and work in the United States.

The bill, which recently passed the House, would turn 11 million undocumented workers in the U.S. into criminals. Tancredo said the bill would give the U.S. power to enforce the law.

Staff writer Kirk Mitchell can be reached at 303-820-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com.

Many people walked from as far as 20 blocks, pushing baby strollers and waving large red, white and green Mexican flags

Guess they didn't get the word about carrying American flags this time so it'd look better on camera.

Defend Colorado NOW can send me TWO petitions, instead of one. I'll fill them easily after this demonstration!

added to homepage

Topics: illegal immigrants are already criminalized, laws, Congress, Senate, Guest Worker Program, Protests, Marches, Marching, unrest

Over 150,000,000 Americans favor deportation for these illegal aliens!

http://www.alipac.us/article-1118-thread-1-0.html

50,000 protest in Denver and no one hardly notices. I will see if I can find some pictures.

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http://www.denverpost.com/frontpage/ci_3640147#

Article Launched: 3/26/2006 01:00 AM


March for immigrants
50,000 back those in country illegally
By Kirk Mitchell and Annette Espinoza
Denver Post Staff Writers
DenverPost.com

An estimated 50,000 people marched in front of the state Capitol on Saturday and packed Civic Center, waving Mexican flags and signs urging Congress to defeat a bill that would make illegal immigration a federal felony.

With prompting from speakers using microphones, the crowd chanted "Sí, se puede," or "Yes, we can," a saying popularized by César Chávez, the late human-rights activist and farm labor leader.

"It's just incredible," yelled rally participant Polly Baca, a former state legislator, as a large Mexican band played music at "The Time Is Now Rally."

"You can see that a day without these people working would be devastating for Colorado's economy," she said.

Farm, construction and hotel workers from Pueblo to Fort Collins drove to Denver for the mass demonstration, which police and organizers estimated at 50,000 people.

Many walked 20 blocks to Civic Center, pushing baby strollers and waving large red, white and green Mexican flags. Passing motorists honked their horns.

Rally participants were in a festive mood. They carried balloons and bought ice cream from "paleteros," or ice cream vendors.

There was no violence or arrests, Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson said.

"We need to fight for our rights," Lordes Cruz, 24, of Denver said. "We work to have a better future for our families."

Enrique Loera of Commerce City said a law banning illegal immigrants would only hurt the United States.

"We are not criminals. All we want is a decent life for our families," Loera said.

The large turnout stunned the event's organizers.

A grassroots campaign to get people to attend the demonstration began nine days ago. Announcements on Spanish- language radio stations and in churches such as Centro Nueva Vida urged people to come.

On March 17, the group met and anticipated two dozen people would attend. By Wednesday, they thought a couple of hundred might show up.

"Our goal is to get mass awareness to the people of Colorado and to the immigrant community on current immigration issues and to call for action," said Ida Sandoval, one of the organizers.

Speakers during the rally ridiculed the Republican Party, telling participants that "they're not on our side and they're pitting Americans against us."

"This is the standing point of a new beginning," said Eli Chairez-Clendenin, 36, of Denver, according to The Associated Press. "We're not going to be intimidated or afraid to speak our mind. We're going to be who we are."

The groups that sponsored the rally included the American Friends Service Committee, Rights for All People, Service Employees International Local 105, Front Range Economic Strategy Center and the AM radio station La Buena Onda.

Also Saturday, hundreds of thousands of immigrant-rights advocates from across Southern California marched in protest of the federal legislation. Rallies Friday drew throngs of protesters to major cities across the nation.

Demonstrators streamed into downtown Los Angeles for what was expected to be one of the city's largest pro-immigrant rallies. The crowd was estimated at 500,000, police said.

Illegal immigration has been in the spotlight in Colorado, with bills being proposed in the legislature, including one that would make it a felony to transport illegal immigrants. On Monday and Tuesday, more than 70 illegal immigrants were arrested after six accidents during an early spring snowstorm.

House Bill 4437, which recently passed the U.S. House, is being debated in the Senate this week. It would turn 11 million undocumented workers in the U.S. into felons. Under current law, it is a misdemeanor to enter the country illegally.

The bill also would make it a crime to shield or support an illegal immigrant. It would require the Department of Homeland Security to build a fence along 698 miles of U.S. border with Mexico. It does not contain a guest-worker program.

A vocal supporter of the bill is U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo. While he wasn't at the rally, Tancredo said in a telephone interview that the crowd would have dispersed rapidly had Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers shown up with buses and started checking identification.

He said the demonstration only reinforced the need to pass the bill.

All these folks who are here illegally know they can protest brazenly," Tancredo said. "It's really a mockery of our immigration system. I can think of no better reason to pass 4437."

But those at the protest said Tancredo was naive about the impact of losing the migrant worker pool.

"My people come not because they are bad people but because they are hungry," said Maria Zayas, who was a migrant worker for 20 years before becoming a U.S. citizen. "If we leave, the U.S. would go down."

Seth and Jessica Willey were among the thousands who marched Saturday.

"The Republicans are making enemies en masse," Seth Willey said. "... They are using racism and bigotry to distract America."

Others urged caution as legislators debate the topic.

"Congress is going a little too far this time," said Hilda Berganza, 18, who said her parents came to the U.S. from Guatemala. "In God, we are all created equal."

President Bush on Saturday called for legislation that does not force America to choose between being a welcoming society and a lawful one.

“America is a nation of immigrants, and we're also a nation of laws,” Bush said in his weekly radio address.

Bush sides with business leaders who want legislation to let some immigrants stay in the country and work for a set period of time. Others, including Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, say national security concerns should drive immigration reform.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Staff writer Kirk Mitchell can be reached at 303-820-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com.

Article Launched: 03/26/2006 1:00 AM MST
http://www.denverpost.com/frontpage/ci_3640050


Police surprised by huge turnout
By Annette Espinoza
Denver Post Staff Writer

Denver police said they expected at most only a couple thousand people at Saturday's protest against proposed changes in federal immigration law at Civic Center park.

They never anticipated the 50,000 people that police say actually showed up.

"It caught everybody off-guard," said Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson.

Traffic traveling through intersections surrounding Broadway and Colfax Avenue came to a screeching halt around noon as thousands of protestors walked to the rally that began at 10 a.m. in front of the Greek Amphitheater in Civic Center park. The rally stretched to the west steps of the state Capitol.

Jackson said police have not seen a crowd this large since the Denver Broncos' last Super Bowl win in 1999. He was equally amazed with how peaceful it was. No one was arrested.

"It was a very respectful protest group," Jackson said. "They were very compliant with safety issues. They respected the community."

The rally was organized less than two weeks ago.

Spanish-language television and radio stations helped get out the word, according to rally volunteer Ida Sandoval.

Sandoval said she worked with police before the event to ensure that the protest would be safe. While the crowed was much larger than expected, there were no skirmishes.

Police officers from other districts in Denver helped with security and made sure everything went smoothly.

Jackson did not say how many police were at the event, but it did not appear that there were a lot of officers on hand, considering the size of the crowd.

Staff writer Annette Espinoza can be reached at 303-820-1655 or aespinoza@denverpost.com.