Thousands march in Phoenix to protest immigration law
Thousands march in Phoenix to protest immigration law
392 comments May. 29, 2010 12:48 PM
The Arizona Republic
Thousands of people began a slow march from Steele Indian School Park to the State Capitol shortly before 10 a.m. Saturday to protest Arizona's new immigration-enforcement legislation.
The march, which is scheduled to wind through downtown Phoenix on its way to the Capitol, is being conducted with a heavy police presence.
As the crowd estimated at more than 10,000 left the park, the sea of protesters stretched half-a-mile along Third Street, from Indian School to Osborn roads.
Another rally - this one in support of the law - is scheduled in the evening in Tempe.
But it was opponents of the measure who dominated Phoenix Saturday morning with an event that was expected to draw a large crowd from throughout the Valley and out of state.
The throng of people banged drums, chanted slogans asking President Barack Obama to intervene and waived American flags as they made their way toward downtown Phoenix. Organizers were scattered throughout the protesters picking up trash and providing water to the marchers as the day got progressively hotter.
Shortly before 12:30 p.m., the first of the protesters reached the Capitol after the long march from central Phoenix. A stage is set up in the middle of the Capitol complex where speakers will address the crowd in a post-march rally.
Justin Akers Chacon, 38, a college professor from San Diego, said he came to Phoenix Friday night with more than 100 people who slept on sleeping bags in a downtown warehouse provided by organizers.
"There was a seriousness and confidence that we're all here for the right reasons," he said.
Arizona's immigration law makes it a state crime to be in the country illegally. It states that an officer engaged in a lawful stop, detention or arrest shall, when practicable, ask about a person's legal status when reasonable suspicion exists that the person is in the U.S. illegally.
Derek Dauma, who lives near the park, stood along Third Street watching the protesters and holding a sign that read "Respect U.S. Laws."
"The system in general is broken. Employers are not being punished for hiring illegal immigrants," said Dauma, 37. "People coming here illegally is unfair to the people who've waited years and years."
Supporters of the law like Dauma were vastly outnumbered by the protesters, but David Kimball said he came to counteract the beating Arizona is taking.
Kimball, a north Phoenix resident, said the language in the bill isn't perfect, but it's a start to solving the illegal-immigration problem in Arizona.
"It's creating dialogue," he said. "Most protesters haven't read the bill. They don't have a clue"
Despite the large crowds protesting the legislation, polls have consistently indicated the majority of Arizonans support the measure.
Sandra Castro, an organizer with Puente and senior at ASU, said the crowds so far were larger than expected and protesters were being bused in from Texas, Los Angeles and Seattle.
Eric Ruder, 40, flew in to Tucson from Chicago after learning of the protest online last week and said the influx of protesters from around the country shows the nation's interest in Arizona's legislation.
"The criminalization of immigrants is a scary direction that this country is heading in," Ruder said.
But for some protesters, the Arizona legislation hits particularly close to home.
Marlene Vazquez, 18, said she came to the country illegally 16 years ago with her family. They stood together at the park Saturday morning concerned about the impact the legislation could have on their lives.
Like many opponents of the bill, Vazquez is concerned that it will lead to police targeting Hispanic-looking residents in an effort to root out illegal immigrants.
"There's no way that they're not going to racial profile," she said. "How does someone look illegal?"
As Vazquez spoke, crowds were forming in corners of the large park, listening to mariachi bands and organizers calling out instructions on bullhorns.
Sarahi Uribe, a member of the National Day Labor Organizing Network, said the group is participating in the Phoenix march to send a message to Washington, D.C.
"We have a very clear demand that President Obama stop senate bill 1070," she said.
Residents in the area were warned to expect traffic and transit delays in connection with the protests.
Metro light rail is warning passengers to expect unknown delays. Metro will be running three-car trains every 15 minutes and will position supervisors and maintenance crews along the 20-mile track to help people work the ticket machines and to fix any potential mechanical glitches.
The Phoenix Public Transit Department will detour several bus routes starting at 10 a.m. because of the protests of SB 1070.
Buses affected are Route 0, Route 1, Route 3, Route 7, Route 8, Route 10, Route 12, Route 15 and Route 17.
Some bus-stop locations around Central Station will be moved during the event. Service may be delayed until the march ends.
There are no traffic restrictions in Tempe where supporters of the law are scheduled to gather at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe at 6 p.m. About 10,000 people are expected to attend the "Stand with Arizona" rally. The group is promoting a "buycott" of Arizona to counter boycotts prompted by the new law.
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