Thread: AZ Immigrant rally draws 900 supporters, 100 opponents

http://www.azfamily.com

Immigrant rally draws 900 supporters, 100 opponents

11:34 AM Mountain Standard Time on Monday, September 4, 2006

By The Associated Press

PHOENIX -- By late morning today, about 900 immigrant-rights supporters came to the Arizona Capitol in a peaceful demonstration of what they called government inaction on fixing America's broken immigration policies.

One hundred advocates for limiting immigration also came to the rally.

The event drew significantly fewer participants than this spring's immigrant rallies in Arizona, the largest of which drew 100,000 marchers on the streets of Phoenix in April.

At today's rally, immigrant supporters chanted "We are America," and carried signs with slogans such as "American at Heart, Immigrant by Necessity."

Although some advocates for limiting immigration shouted "Go back home," and walked through a crowd of immigrant supporters, there were no exchanges or confrontations between the two sides.

Rally organizers say immigrants should be recognized because they contributed significantly to the economy.

Advocates for limiting immigration say the government has sold its people out in not adequately confronting illegal immigration.

http://today.reuters.com

Immigration activists clash at Phoenix rally
Mon Sep 4, 2006 4:08 PM ET



By Tim Gaynor

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Supporters and opponents of liberalized immigration laws bellowed at each other through bullhorns at a rally in Phoenix on Monday as pressure on the U.S. Congress to break a deadlock on an immigration overhaul gathered pace nationwide.

About a thousand supporters of a Senate bill offering millions of illegal immigrants a path to citizenship gathered outside the Capitol building in downtown Phoenix, chanting, "We are America" and waving U.S. flags.

They were met by scores of angry opponents of the measure, toting placards urging authorities to "stop the criminal alien invasion" and "secure the border," who jabbed fingers at protesters and tried to shout down keynote speakers.

"These people are illegal aliens. They need to be incarcerated, fined and sent home," said activist Carol Hands, as she stood amid protesters shouting through bullhorns.

Capitol police officers watched the groups in bright morning sunshine, although there was no violence and no arrests.

Plans to overhaul U.S. immigration laws have proved highly contentious, with opponents and supporters of a resolution favorable to immigrants divided both on the streets and in Congress.

The Senate approved a measure calling for tighter border security and a shot at citizenship for many of the estimated 11 million to 12 million illegal immigrants that was backed by President George W. Bush, while a House measure focused just on security.

CARDINAL URGES END TO DEADLOCK

The rally in Phoenix was one of several over the Labor Day weekend as pressure mounted on Congress to break the impasse when members return from recess on Tuesday and ahead of Congressional mid-term elections in November.

Speaking at a Labor Day Mass at Los Angeles Cathedral, Cardinal Roger Mahony criticized lawmakers in Washington for dragging their heels over reforms.

"I say to members of Congress, you do not have the right or the luxury to let four weeks go by and refuse to deal with immigration reform," Mahony said.

Mahony has emerged as one of the leading advocates for illegal immigrants in the United States, said he sent letters on Monday to Bush and congressional leaders urging them to break the impasse.

Calls for a swift resolutions to the impasse were echoed by mostly Mexican immigrants at the rally in Phoenix.

"We love this country, and we want a better deal," said Mexican construction worker Jose Avardo, 30, as he attended the protest with his wife and two children. "We want Bush to see us and bring us in from the shadows," he added.

The current round of protests kicked off with a march in Chicago on Friday. So far, its numbers have fallen well short of those seen in the first round on May 1, when protesters filled the streets of cities from California to New England.

It culminates on Thursday with a march through Washington that organizers hope will attract a million participants from across the eastern United States.

I just listened to Channel 12 in Phx's coverage, before the rally was to begin and they were saying the organizers expected 10,000 people. As you can see they actually only got 900. Make of it what you will.


I just got back from Tucson's Labor Day event which is an annual picnic sponsored by the local labor unions. They had the little communist doing folk songs about Shanti Sellz and Daniel Strauss. Raul Grijalva and Isabele Garcia (who I heckled during her talk) were walking around, and many tables of political candidates (only the invited ones) were set up. The Mexican flag burner Roy Warden did a counter protest, but never burned a flag because the police told him he could only do it in a BBQ grill and he didn't have one where his little roped off area was.

All in all the event didn't deal as much with current issues as giving a forum for the candidates to mingle with potential voters. Jim Peterson who is running against John Kyl was even there.

The pro illegal alien groups have very very low numbers. Looks like they cannot muster because of the high profile immigration crackdowns.

W

"Speaking at a Labor Day Mass at Los Angeles Cathedral, Cardinal Roger Mahony criticized lawmakers in Washington for dragging their heels over reforms.

"I say to members of Congress, you do not have the right or the luxury to let four weeks go by and refuse to deal with immigration reform," Mahony said. "


How dare illegal's and religious idiots demand anything from America. We don't owe them anything, so their cries for reform are an insult. All illegal's should be rounded up and sent home. They have broken the law by entering this country illegally, therefore, they should not receive a right to immigrate into this country for any reason. Only those who have applied and followed the laws for immigration should be considered as potential immigrants.

The Catholic church wants the illegal's for the money they will make for them. The majority of Mexican's are Catholic. The bottom line is the almighty dollar and nothing more.

"Speaking at a Labor Day Mass at Los Angeles Cathedral, Cardinal Roger Mahony criticized lawmakers in Washington for dragging their heels over reforms.

"I say to members of Congress, you do not have the right or the luxury to let four weeks go by and refuse to deal with immigration reform," Mahony said. "


How dare illegal's and religious idiots demand anything from America. We don't owe them anything, so their cries for reform are an insult. All illegal's should be rounded up and sent home. They have broken the law by entering this country illegally, therefore, they should not receive a right to immigrate into this country for any reason. Only those who have applied and followed the laws for immigration should be considered as potential immigrants.

The Catholic church wants the illegal's for the money they will make for them. The majority of Mexican's are Catholic. The bottom line is the almighty dollar and nothing more.

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