Hundreds protest at Arizona Capitol for tougher immigration
Hundreds protest at Arizona Capitol for tougher immigration laws
Lynh Bui and Beth Duckett
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 16, 2007 01:58 PM
Chants of "close our border!" and "USA!" rumbled the state Capitol Saturday as an estimated 300-plus protesters gathered to support tighter immigration laws.
It was one of many marches taking place across the nation as legislators have been working to pass a new immigration enforcement bill in Washington.
The bill hangs in limbo as Senators fight over its hefty cost and sizeable provisions, which include hiring thousands of new enforcement agents and putting up miles of border fencing.
The rally today began at Camelback Road and 23rd Avenue as a procession of motorcyclists rode to the capitol brandishing American flags.
Dressed in red, white and blue, capitol participants clutched signs that read, "Where's the fence?" and "Recall all traitors!"
Attendee Tom Dodson of Tempe said politicians have been arrogant by not expressing the will of the people to close the borders.
"A country is not a country without a border," Dodson said. "Immigrants should go through the front door."
Danny Smith, co-founder of the American Freedom Riders, said, "this invasion threatens our world."
"It threatens our economy, our retirement system and our health system," Smith said.
The march came on the last legs of a three-day protest in Washington called March for America.
Started by Let Freedom Ring America - an organization that supports securing American borders - the D.C. march Saturday was expected to attract thousands to the U.S. Capitol and Washington Monument.
In May, an estimated 15,000 people marched in the same area in support of legalizing undocumented immigrants, regaining ground in a movement that some thought was wilting.
Much like the march Saturday, the May protesters pressed for immigration reform, but emphasized finding a way to legalize immigrants instead of deporting them.
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