But ours draws around 100 at its peak. See my thread in General Discussion for more info on our Save America Rally.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/m...9bigmarch.html


Thousands march downtown for immigration rights



UNION-TRIBUNE

April 9, 2006

An estimated 50,000 people marched through the heart of downtown San Diego Sunday afternoon demanding immigration reform, in one of the largest demonstrations in the city's history.
Chanting “Today we march, tomorrow we vote” and “Si se puede!” the stream of walkers made its way from a corner of Balboa Park to the County Administration Center on Pacific Highway.


The March for Dignity, Respect and Hope had been planned for two weeks by a broad coalition of Latino community groups, religious leaders and students.

The marchers included entire families, some with baby strollers, and workers, business owners and students. Some had ridden buses to the staging area, while others had car-pooled, some from as far away as El Centro.

Many of the demonstrators wore white as a symbol of peaceful protest and carried signs that read “We are Americans!” and “We march today, we vote tomorrow.” A large number of Mexican and American flags were part of the protest, which included an effort to encourage participants to wave American flags.

“The more American flags, the better this is going to be,” said Ben Monterroso, an organizer with Service Employees International Union Local 1877.

One marcher, dressed as Uncle Sam, carried a sign that said “If you love this country, mi casa su casa.”

Migrant advocates have expressed concerns that throngs of people waving Mexican flags might spark a backlash. Organizers of Sunday's event scrambled to find as many American flags as they could to distribute to marchers.

Samuel Barriga, 50, of San Marcos was given an American flag and a sign that read “Immigrant values are family values.” Barriga said he was participating in the demonstration because he feared his cousins, friends and neighbors could be deported if efforts to crack down on illegal immigration succeed.

“They want to treat us like criminals,” Barriga said. “We're not criminals. We're hard workers.”

People by the hundreds joined the marchers as they walked south on Sixth Avenue, turned west on Broadway, then north on Pacific Highway.

Police, who gave the crowd estimate of 50,000, closed many streets, including most of Sixth Avenue. Community volunteers served as security guards.

The walkers encountered no counter-protesters, though about 60 people gathered on the harbor front earlier Sunbday afternoon, waved American flags and carried signs calling for more stringent immigration laws.

The demonstration occurred on the eve of dozens of protests planned across the country on Monday.