Rally at Capitol
Capitol marchers hopeful for reform
President's promise to revisit immigration issue inspires participants

Download a PDF of this storyBy Thelma Guerrero-Huston and Dennis Thompson Jr. • Statesman Journal
May 2, 2009

By Thelma Guerrero-Huston and Dennis Thompson Jr. • Statesman Journal • May 2, 2009


Excited about recent news that President Obama plans to push for comprehensive immigration reform this year, more than 2,000 immigrant supporters rallied and marched around the state Capitol on Friday.

Rally participants included members of numerous unions, churches and scores of students from colleges and universities across the Willamette Valley.

Marlen Torres, 27, a graduate of Western Oregon University and the event's lead organizer, said the high student turnout partly was because of President Obama's call to young voters to get involved to help bring about change.

"He's given us inspiration," Torres said about the president. "He has a different perspective. He's not old politics."

About a dozen or so counter-protesters also attended the rally.

As at previous gatherings, supporters waved U.S. flags, carried signs that read "Protect Due Process," "Unite Families" and "Equal Rights for All," and chanted "Yes, we can!" in English and Spanish.

Other chants involved reminders to Obama to make good on his campaign pledge to include a legalization component for the nation's estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants in his reform package.
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Advocates also called for an end to workplace raids, deportations and exploitation of workers.

"As a union, one of our top priorities is to protect the rights of workers: the right to fair compensation and the right to be treated with dignity and respect on the job," Linda Burgin, president of Service Employees International Union Local 503 and a speaker at the event, told the crowd.

"Our current immigration laws are a virtual invitation to those who seek to exploit immigrants to pad their own pockets," she said.

During his speech, Jeff Stone, executive director of the Association of Oregon Nurseries, told rally-goers that the time has come to fix the nation's immigration system.

"Do not pass to our children what we have an opportunity to do," Stone said. "We are stronger now. We are focused on working together, putting aside our differences."

Oregon House speaker Dave Hunt, D-Clackamas County, also addressed the crowd.

"It is time for the hatred and the bigotry to end," the speaker said. "It is time for us to end the war in this country over immigration. It is time for all sides of this issue to come together peacefully to implement solutions that work."

The speeches were followed by a march that snaked its way through several downtown Salem blocks.

As the march passed by Willamette University, college students came out of buildings to watch the procession. Some joined the march.

Before the march began at 1 p.m., police had to break up an argument between four immigrant supporters and two people opposed to illegal immigration.

A number of law enforcement officers were present at the event, including authorities from Salem, Marion County, Woodburn and Oregon State Police.

Officials were there to make sure protesters and counter-protesters didn't clash and to keep an eye on potential gang activity.

At one point, a Salem gang enforcement officer approached a cluster of about 20 youths, many of whom were wearing dark blue shirts. After a few minutes of conversation, the youths moved on.

After the rally, police responded to two disturbances near the McDonald's on Capital Street NE, said Salem Police Lt. Dave Okada. Both were minor incidents, Okada said.

Participants began arriving at the rally well before its 11 a.m. start. Some came by cars. Others arrived in First Student buses, rented each year to help transport supporters to the rally, said organizer Francisco López.

"They're paid for by donations, foundations, churches and private dollars, not public funds," he said.

Noemi Ramos, 14, a freshman at South Salem High School, was at the rally to show her support for all immigrants.

"Everyone is equal and everyone should get equal rights," she said.

Baldo Cervantes, a 50-year-old machinist from Beaverton, said he was at the rally because "we want help for the illegal workers so they can work legally."

Two middle-aged women who oppose illegal immigration repeatedly circled through the crowd, toting a sign reading, "U.S. Constitutional rights are for U.S. citizens, not for illegal residents."

Rob Lambert, 48, of northeast Salem, questioned how people who sneak across the border illegally could rally to make demands.

"I can see where these people are coming from, but I disagree with how they're doing it," he said. "These people sneaking across the border aren't starting out on a good foot."

Don Blair of Keizer agreed.

"We do have proper rules and laws for immigration," he said. "We're a nation of immigrants. I consider these people burglars. They've broken into our house and now they're trying to stay."

This year's turnout of more than 2,000 protesters was twice that of last year, but much less than the 10,000 who came out for the first rally in 2006.

López, who put this year's attendance at 3,000, blamed the lower turnout on swine flu fears.


tguerrer@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6815 and dmthomps@Statesman Journal.com or (503) 399-6719

Oscar Ramos of the group CAUSA leads marchers away from the Capitol at the start of a rally Friday in support of immigration reform.
Rally reaction

"Living illegally is like living in prison," Baldo Cervantes said. "America offers a lot of work for Mexicans, and I think we have a good reputation for hard work. We want to do the best we can for America. We love America. We love the freedom. But living here illegally isn't free."



Melissa Wrighthouse, 24, of northeast Salem described herself as half-American, half-Mexican and fully U.S.-born. She attended the rally with her daughter Bianca, 7.

"They never should have taken away driver's licenses," Wrighthouse said. "Do you want to get in a wreck with someone who doesn't have a driver's license or insurance? I sure don't."

She also supported immigration reform. "We want to pay taxes. We want to help," Wrighthouse said. "How are we supposed to pay taxes if we don't have immigration reform?"



Noemi Ramos, 14, a freshman at South Salem High School, said she was attending to support Latinos.

She said new restrictions on Oregon driver's licenses have affected some of her relatives.

"They can't go anywhere anymore. They can't drive to get to their jobs," she said.

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