Long informative video at the link.
~~~
Opposing Immigration Groups Set To Rally Saturday

Bud Gillett
Reporting
Oct 12, 2007

(CBS 11 News) IRVING Irving police are dealing with two opposing protest groups, planning to stage rallies Saturday, at almost the same time. The two competing sides will come face-to-face at Irving City Hall.

The city plaza is expected to be packed with people who have opposing views on illegal immigration.

Part of the parade route runs along Rock Island Road; in preparation police began setting up barricades Friday.

The march is sponsored by ACCION America, a Hispanic rights group that objects the city's sharing of jail inmate information with federal immigration agents. ACCION staged a similar rally two weeks ago, but hecklers marred the event.

A group called Citizens for Immigration Reform is planning a counter protest. Their website says it objects to illegal immigration, not to any race of people.

"I'm Hispanic. We don't care what color your skin is. We have members that are all races," says Coalition for Immigration Reform member John Gorena. "Let's have more of us out there than the people who are breaking the law to be here."

Irving police plan to use barricades and other things to physically keep the competing groups more than 20 feet apart.

Irving Police Department spokesperson David Tull says the barriers will help reduce the risk of any physical confrontations. "By having them physically separated by a specific distance, that encourages them to keep it strictly verbal," he said.

Police say they will bill ACCION America for security for the march. Previously ACCION America had told CBS 11 News that they expect the city to pay for the march. The issue should be cleared up in the parade permit document that is still being processed.

http://cbs11tv.com/topstories/local_sto ... 94513.html