Eugene Mulero
The Arizona Republic
May. 7, 2006 12:00 AM


Several hundred people rallied outside the Mexican Consulate on Camelback
Road in Phoenix on Saturday afternoon in the Valley's first major counterprotest
in the immigration debate.

Organizers said the rally was a chance to speak out on the issue after
witnessing weeks of nationwide demonstrations by undocumented immigrants and their
supporters.

Police would not offer a crowd estimate, but organizers said the rally
attracted nearly 300 people. Many waved American flags, sang the national anthem in
English and held up dozens of signs with messages like, "While we slept, the
United States was stolen," and "This is your country. Protect it." Motorists
driving by the crowd honked occasionally to show their support.

The Minutemen border watchdog group, which held its own smaller rally outside
the Phoenix Capitol last week, was on hand recruiting volunteers. The groups
United for a Sovereign America and Mothers Against Illegal Immigrants passed
out brochures and collected signatures, which they said would be forwarded to
elected officials.

J.T. Ready, who recently lost a City Council race in Mesa, was the event's
main organizer. Through Americans First, a group he formed during his political
campaign, Ready called on supporters to protest against the "illegals," the
Mexican government and the federal government's lax border patrol.

"I speak 'American.' If they want to speak Spanish, I know a great place for
that," Ready said from a makeshift stage outside the consulate.

Mike Harris, a GOP candidate for governor, was at the event. He told the
crowd that if elected, he would deport immigrants who break the law.

People at the rally had varying reasons for showing up.

Phoenix resident Liz Jimenez blamed media and elected officials for
portraying undocumented immigrants in a positive way, when she said most of them are
criminals.

"Buffalo" Rick Galeemer, a Vietnam War veteran, said that if the federal
government didn't spend money on immigration, he would have more benefits.

About a dozen individuals hiding their faces and wearing sunglasses held up
signs calling the Minutemen racists. One of the counterprotesters said she hid
her identity because the Minutemen had threatened her life.

Ready and his supporters denied those accusations and criticized them for not
showing their faces.

Edmundo Hidalgo of Chicanos Por la Causa said the nation's immigration
policies need to be improved, but he also praised Ready's group for exercising
freedom of speech.

"We're not against any group," Hidalgo said. "We're trying to resolve the
immigration issue."

Arizona has been depicted as one of the main gateways for illegal immigration
from Mexico. It's estimated that Arizona is home to about half a million
undocumented immigrants.