Published: 04.29.2008
Denogean: Hoping there's no distress call on May Day
ANNE T. DENOGEAN
Tucson Citizen
Whenever talks turn to illegal immigration in our community, tempers flare hotter than a habanero pepper.
That's why I'm hoping that Tucsonans who participate in two sets of marches and rallies Thursday - one in support of legalization for all, the other calling for strict enforcement of immigration laws - will remember the "peaceful" in peaceful protest.
A coalition led by Derechos Humanos has organized its march and rally to coincide with May Day, International Workers' Day. The rally at Armory Park will call for an end to deportation and immigration raids, an end to border deaths, an end to free trade agreements and an end to the militarization of America.
If previous rallies are an indication, organizers can expect the event to be attended by thousands.
In response, conservative radio personality Jon Justice, host of The Jon Justice Show on KQTH-FM (104.1 FM), has organized what he expects to be a smaller but equally passionate gathering of counterprotesters at El Presidio Plaza Park.
They'll march in support of enforcement of immigration laws by federal and local officials, the construction of a border fence and other border security measures.
It could be a highly explosive mix if all parties don't behave responsibly.
On April 10 2006, a rally in support of immigration reform in Armory Park turned ugly, and then violent, when a small group of counterprotesters trampled on and burned a Mexican flag. One of those who participated in the 2006 flag desecration is planning a similar show at this year's May Day rally.
Tucsonan Roy Warden sent out an e-mail to local media, pledging to burn up to a half-dozen Mexican flags and fly his own version of the Mexican flag. On his flag, the eagle in the center, representative of Mexico's Aztec heritage, is replaced by a pile of excrement.
A young Mexican-American I spoke to at the 2006 rally had great insight into the actions of the flag-burning provocateurs.
"They want to get everybody riled up and make us look like animals, like we can't control ourselves," Jose Rodriguez said.
Unfortunately, a few people took the bait. They tossed a plastic water bottle, water and a stick at the flag-burners. Police arrested the violators. A large crowd pursued the police out of the park and a near-riot ensued. Some people ended up with a face full of pepper spray.
Isabel Garcia, Derechos Humanos co-chair, said the coalition has an "exclusive use" permit for the park and expects police to keep flag-burners outside the park's boundaries. But she remains concerned about the potential for an eruption.
During last year's May Day rally, Warden set up across the street from Armory Park to spew his vitriol. Though organizers begin every march with instruction on nonviolent protest, it's impossible to control the actions of masses of people. The organizers had to set up a wall of peacekeepers as the march passed by Warden.
"It's a scary thing every time because these people want to incite violence, " Garcia said.
She's also worried that counterprotesters from Justice's rally will get "whipped up" and try to disrupt the coalition's rally.
Justice, who doesn't give out his legal name for the safety of his family, said he carefully planned his march and rally to avoid crossing paths with the coalition event.
"We are doing a counterprotest to have another voice be heard, but at the same time I'm not looking to start a revolution,"Justice said.
"The legal U.S. resident, the legal U.S. citizen, the taxpayer - it just seems that they across the board feel strongly about illegal immigration and having our laws enforced . . . But on days like May 1, it's the pro-border rights group that have the larger voice."
He said he won't tolerate hateful or racist speech, nor condone desecration of the Mexican flag at his event.
"If anyone tries to burn a Mexican flag during ours, I'll put it out myself . . . I won't stand for that," he said.
Sgt. Fabian Pacheco, a Tucson Police Department spokesman, said the department will handle Thursday's events as it "deals with all other protests and demonstrations."
The message of both of these events represent the extreme viewpoints of the immigration argument.
I believe most Americans fall somewhere in the middle. They want our borders secured and our immigration laws enforced but are not opposed to comprehensive and compassionate reform of those laws.
If folks stopped calling each other names or questioning each other's patriotism long enough to really listen to each other, they might find that compromise is not the impossibility it seems.
But if that's too much to ask, I'll just pray for Thursday's events to come to an end without the need for police intervention and pepper spray.
Anne T. Denogean can be reached at 573-4582 and adenogean@tucsoncitizen.com. Address letters to P.O. Box 26767, Tucson, AZ 85726-6767. Her columns run Tuesdays and Fridays.

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/83806.php



additional information
IF YOU GO
• What: The May 1st Coalition march and rally for immigrant and worker rights.
• When, where: Starts with 8 a.m. march Thursday from the Southgate Shopping Center (1-10 and Sixth Avenue). The rally follows at 11:30 a.m. at Armory Park, 220 S. Fifth Ave.
• What: The Jon Justice rally and march.
• When, where: Justice will broadcast his morning show live from De Anza Park, 1000 N. Stone Ave., from 6 to 9 a.m. Thursday. The march starts at 9. A rally follows at 9:30 at El Presidio Plaza Park, 160 W. Alameda St.