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SAN FRANCISCO
10,000 resume the battle cry
Immigrant rights marchers turn out in big numbers; archbishop denounces enforcement-heavy House bill
Delfin Vigil, Chronicle Staff Writer

Monday, April 24, 2006

A coalition of Bay Area religious leaders including San Francisco Archbishop George Niederauer joined forces with about 10,000 protesters Sunday in denouncing a House of Representatives bill that would make illegal immigration a felony.

Calling for a more humane approach to immigration legislation, as is proposed in bills the Senate is to resume debating this week, Niederauer and the other leaders gathered near the steps of the Mission Dolores Basilica for an interfaith prayer service with mostly Latino Catholics. At the same time, protesters gathered in nearby Dolores Park for San Francisco's largest immigrants' rights rally so far this year and prepared to march to the Federal Building.

"It's time for the government to stop picking on our immigrants," said the Rev. Norman Fong of Chinatown Presbyterian Church.

Rabbi Stephen Pearce of San Francisco's Temple Emanu-El told of his grandfather's arrival in the United States.

"He learned three things: One, the streets were not paved with gold; two, they were not paved at all; and three, he had to pave them," Pearce said.

The Rev. Gloria del Castillo, pastor of Good Samaritan Episcopal Church in San Francisco, and Buddhist representative Kyin Yee Daw also showed support for Niederauer as he read a joint statement.

Immigration reforms the leaders proposed include "giving undocumented workers and their families a just path to lawful permanent residence and citizenship" and "allowing families torn apart by immigration to reunite."

In an interview after the prayer service, the archbishop spoke about the House bill, which passed in December and has spurred protests across the country since March.

"Some of the recent legislation coming from the House has been very shortsighted and even mean-spirited," he said.

In addition to cracking down on illegal immigrants and beefing up border security, the House bill calls for fencing 700 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border.

"A country has a right to protect its borders, but if that's the only concern, then your country will turn into a fortress," Niederauer said as the blocks-long crowd of political protesters slowly joined the religious leaders and their followers for the march.

Several worshipers gathered at the Mission Dolores Basilica said they decided to participate in Sunday's march because of the archbishop's encouragement.

"I wanted to participate in the past few rallies but I was a little afraid to," said Mercedes Martinez, an immigrant from El Salvador who lives in San Jose and works as a housecleaner. "But now that the church has come out to support us, I feel more comfortable and safe marching with my son."

Martinez and her 7-year-old boy merged with the larger crowd, where flags from nearly every Latin American country waved along with Filipino, Korean and U.S. flags, though American and Mexican flags predominated.

Protesters carried signs reading "Free people not free trade," "Deport racism," and "We are not aliens -- we are from the same planet."

Others wore yellow armbands marked "immigrant," and many more wore T-shirts bearing the image of Latin American revolutionary Che Guevara. Dancers in Aztec clothing moved up the street next to protesters, marching to the beat of snare and bass drums.

Many shouted "Sí, se puede" ("Yes, we can") and other slogans in Spanish and English. Distinguishing this rally from others this spring was the volume of pamphlets distributed about activism and the proposed federal legislation, participants said.

"This march is a little more focused," said Francisco Herrera, who sang songs outside of the Mission Dolores Basilica and introduced the archbishop to the crowd. "I was the master of ceremonies at the 120,000-strong march in San Diego two weeks ago. That was a spiritual high.

"But now the focus is on informing people about legislation. Congress is back in session tomorrow so we are sending a message today."

E-mail Delfin Vigil at dvigil@sfchronicle.com.