Hundreds Attend Immigration Rallies in Morristown
http://www.1010wins.com/pages/730235...ntentId=729957
Posted: Sunday, 29 July 2007 7:28AM
Hundreds Attend Immigration Rallies in Morristown
MORRISTOWN, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- About 500 people gathered here Saturday to rally for and against immigrants' rights, in a town that earlier this year applied for entry into a federal program that would give its police officers authority to enforce immigration laws.
The rally was organized by anti-immigration groups who say federal authorities have been lax in using immigration laws to curb illegal entries into the country and in finding and deporting people who are here illegally.
Launching into fiery speeches from a stage, anti-immigration protesters blamed illegal immigrants for drug smuggling, taking jobs from U.S. citizens, murders and diluting American culture.
``I will never accept English as a second language,'' said Daniel Smeriglio, from Voice of the People USA, a Pennsylvania activist group. ``You disgrace us.''
Across the street, about 150 people gathered in support of immigrants, shouting, chanting and holding signs saying ``Working people have no borders'' and ``Immigrants are not criminals.''
A team of 140 state, county and local officers wearing riot gear with helmets, batons and pepper spray were on hand. They arrested a man and woman for storming a stage and trying to destroy amplifiers as well as several others for fighting, Police Chief Pete Demnitz said.
Morristown, a suburban town about 30 miles west of Manhattan, would be the first New Jersey municipality in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement program if accepted.
It would give city officers authority to check the immigration status of people and the power to bring civil immigration charges that are handled in federal immigration court.
The 2000 Census found that nearly one-third of the town's 18,544 residents were born in other countries, but does not give a figure of how many may be illegal.
