Immigration Rallies Take On More Civil, Deliberative Tone
April 6, 2006, 08:34 PM MST
By Jim Becker, KOLD News 13 Reporter

While it was billed as a teach-in about the immigration reform act, it looked and sounded more like a political rally.

Nonetheless, the message is clear.

There are a lot of people who feel they've been branded as criminals, and they're not going to take it quietly.

"It's amazing that they would say they don't know what they're talking about," said Tucson High School senior Marisela Rodriguez. "You go up to those kids. You don't know these kids. Go up to them. Know what they're saying. Know what is their problem."

Rodriguez is among a group of speakers, addressing a 'teach-in' at the University of Arizona on immigration reform.

"I think a lot of people are just taking a stand without really knowing what's happening," said David Gonzalez, a UA senior. "That's why I believe an event like this is really helpful."

"These student protests are also about rights, said Dr. Julio Cammarota, a professor of Mexican-American Studies. "It's about the right of people who have a historical political economic right to be in this land we call Aztlan."

One of the speakers, Arnold X, is an outspoken leader of the high school student rallies.

He tells the crowd at the UA there will be a student blowout Monday, April 10, to coincide with the anniversary of Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata's death, 87 years ago.

"We ask for your support," said X, "and those of you who are ignorant and don't support us, do me a favor. Stay out of our way.

The glass is full. It's just starting to spill over now, over the 514 years of oppression. Now everybody's saying 'ya basta', which means that's it. We're not gonna take this no more."

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