Rally assails U.S. immigration policy

Posted by Lara Brenckle/The Patriot-News
September 01, 2007 22:10PM

The nation's debate on immigration came to the steps of the state Capitol Saturday with one side warning of an ongoing "invasion of illegal aliens" and the other urging an end to hate.

About 200 people, many holding American flags, gathered for a 2½-hour rally on the Capitol steps, organized by Voice of the People of Hazleton and Americans for Immigration Control of Washington, D.C.

Organizers said their aim is to bring attention to what they believe is the United States' failed immigration policy.


Frank Scavo, chairman of Voice for the People, said, "This is to bring attention to the residents of Pennsylvania and across the world that the U.S. is closed for illegal immigrants."

The list of speakers included a man whose niece was killed by an illegal immigrant and Joey Vento, the Philadelphia cheesesteak purveyor whose "speak English when ordering" sign at his business sparked a nationwide outcry.

At Third and State streets, about 20 supporters of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania held a counterdemonstration, holding red or blue signs with slogans like "No Hate in Our Town" and "Respect All Workers."

In July, a federal judge struck down legislation introduced by Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta that would have imposed penalties on companies that hired or landlords that rented to undocumented individuals. The ACLU filed a lawsuit to fight the plan.

At a news conference in the Sunken Gardens Saturday morning, representatives from a host of human rights groups pleaded for acceptance of illegal immigrants and to send the message, according to Harrisburg City Councilwoman Linda Thompson, that "hate has no place in Harrisburg."

The event led to two verbal skirmishes among protesters and counterprotesters, but the contingent of more than two dozen Capitol Police quelled them quickly.

For more on this story, see The Sunday Patriot-News.

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