Thread: 2 immigration rallies Thursday remain peaceful

Published: 05.01.2008
2 immigration rallies Thursday remain peaceful
BLAKE MORLOCK and SHERYL KORNMAN
Tucson Citizen
About 200 get-tough on immigration advocates rallied Thursday talking about patriotism, waving flags and brandishing signs that read "stop the invasion" and "Pledge in English Only."
They started at De Anza Park, at North Stone Avenue and East Speedway Blvd., and walked to Presidio Park downtown where they held a brief rally hosted by talk radio personality Jon Justice.
Justice organized the event to show the community that pro-immigrant-rights voices do not dominate the debate.
He told the crowd that standing up for a stronger border is patriotic and the right thing to do for all involved.
"There are people dying in the desert," Justice said. "The most humane thing we can do is put up a wall 100 feet high and say, 'Come in the right way, people.'"
A few miles away, another group - carrying images of the Virgin of Guadalupe and activist Cesar Chavez - promoted immigrant rights and condemned racism and the war.
About 300 people gathered at the Southgate Shopping Center, 3300 S. Sixth Ave., then headed north on Sixth Avenue to Armory Park downtown, where a rally organized by Coalición de Derechos Humanos was planned for 11:30 a.m.
Some of the marchers were high school students, some carried posters that read, "Citizenship, yes. Deportation, no. Today we march, tomorrow we vote."
Police escorted the marchers to the park.
Miriam Ramirez, 29, was among those at Southgate. The illegal immigrant from Sonora, Mexico, said she worked for a hotel here as a housekeeper for two years until she was fired in November.
Ramirez said she's been living in Tucson for 10 years, working steadily.
She's now works cleaning houses or taking whatever work she can get. Her three children - ages 15, 13 and 12, all here illegally - worry every day that they might be deported.
She said 35 family members living in Tucson illegally have returned to Sonora in the first few months of this year because of the state's new employer sanction law.
"I want to stay here," she said in Spanish.
Sergio Jimenez, 34, carries the sign, "Immigration laws destroy families."
Three of his family members have been deported to Sonora while a young child, born in Tucson, was left behind. The child is suffering from being separated from his parents, he said.
Jimenez worked as a construction worker, but, on the advice of event organizers, would not say if he is here illegally.
Juan Lopez, 36, of Tucson carried a placard bearing a photograph of farmworker hero Chavez. Lopez, who works as a roofer, said he's marching for the rights of immigrant workers and campesinos (farmworkers). He pointed to Chavez's image and said, "For that reason, I carry this."
Tucsonan Gretchen Nielsen, 75, said she's marching because "I see the connection between immigrant rights and war. The government is trying to cover up their crimes by scapegoating immigrants."
Sixth-grader Teresa Cabballero, 13, said she marched today for "human rights." She walked with her sister, Clarisa, 17. Both attend Cesar Chavez Learning Community Inc. charter school.
Teresa Cabballero carried a flag with the emblem of Chavez's farmworker rights movement.
"People think we are taking their jobs. We're just here to learn like everybody else. Racism shouldn't be here. Most people don't like Mexican-Americans and African-Americans. We're going to be marching for all of our rights," she said.
Clarisa Cabballero brought 2-year-old son Massiel Cabballero, also carrying a Chavez flag.
But Nina Samuels, a Tucson stay-at-home mom, said she waited three years in Lima, Peru for her chance to come to America legally.
"I came here legally and with my head held high," Samuels said. "They should come here legally, too."
Roy Tucker, 56, at De Anza Park earlier Thursday said stopping illegal immigration is a matter of fairness.
"The Mexican government doesn't let people cross into their country illegally," the University of Arizona engineer said.
Charles Bridges, 60, said securing U.S. borders is a matter of national security.
"Most people don't realize the 9-11 hijackers were here illegally," the UA technician at De Anza Park said. "We don't know who is coming into the country illegally."
Occasional passers-by honked in support of the group's message, and a motorcycle officer gave them a thumbs up.
Radio personality Justice, told the crowd that their effort was "for the troops and patriotism."
"They (American military members) should be able to come back to a country they can be proud of," Justice said.
He also urged marchers to be peaceful and not be confrontational with others during the march.
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/frontpage/84107.php

Sergio Jimenez, 34, carries the sign, "Immigration laws destroy families."

No Sergio Your actions destroy your families!!!!!!!!!!! :evil