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Bring Mexican Flags
April 5th, 2006 @ 10:00pm
Samantha Hayes reporting

Thousands of Utahns will march again this weekend over Immigration reform.

However this time, some Latinos will be leaving the Mexican flag at home.

In an open letter, Representative Chris Cannon urged protestors to consider how they are expressing themselves.

There are protestors who say the Mexican flag is a symbol of pride, others who say the issue is American Citizenship - and only American flags should be seen.

While protesting a very controversial issue, Utah students created a bit of controversy themselves: Walking out of class, and waving Mexican flags.

It prompted this statement from Utah Representative Chris Cannon:

"Marching through the streets carrying the flags of other nations, burning flags, chanting racial slurs, and otherwise demeaning those of differing opinions are not the kinds of "protests" that contribute to a meaningful debate.."

You may have seen a commercial from the local Colonial Flag store:

"I am proud of my Samoan heritage, and I am proud to be an American."

"My name is Victor… I am proud to be a Mexican, and I am proud to be an American."

Paul Swenson, Colonial Flag: Its okay to hold your flag in one hand for your heritage and the U.S. flag in the other."

Some Latinos say waving the Mexican flag has become misunderstood.

Josie Leos: "I'm supportive of the Mexican flag because it is who we are its part of our heritage and pride but a lot of people don't understand."

But Josie Leos, and others in the community are preparing signs - rather than flags- for a Sunday March downtown.

Many Latinos say through making these posters they hope to send a visual message to the U.S. government and to the public. Their goal is to do it in a non-offensive way.

Organizers are asking participants to only bring USA and Utah flags as a sign of respect.

Tony Yapias , Proyecto Latino De Utah: "Basically we want to have a positive message about our march that we are going to be having Sunday."

Demonstrations are planned for Sunday and Monday- where thousands of people- many with opposing views- will be gathering in the same place.