Thread: Migrant rally a bad idea, activist says

http://www.azcentral.com/news/columns/a ... s0327.html

Mar. 27, 2006 12:00 AM

If you thought Friday's march for immigration rights was a terrible idea, you're not alone. Elias Bermudez, head of the group Immigrants Without Borders, is right with you.

"I was not in favor of having this march," said Bermudez, who through his group and his radio show on KIDR-AM, has organized several rallies and protests.

Bermudez said the march from St. Agnes Catholic Church to the offices of Sen. Jon Kyl made no sense. He was against it from the start. But other board members overruled him and joined in the coalition that planned the trek up 24th Street.

The crowd, estimated by police at 20,000, ended up snarling traffic for hours.

"That is not the message we want to send," Bermudez said. "It doesn't serve our cause to do something to antagonize . . . We cannot exercise our rights trampling upon the rights of others."

Organizers didn't anticipate the crowd. But Bermudez said he was worried about control even for the anticipated few thousand.

He organized a January rally at the state Capitol that coincided with Gov. Janet Napolitano's State of the State address. He had 100 security people on hand to manage the crowd of 4,000 or so.

"To move even 1,000 or 2,000 people from St. Agnes to Kyl's office is an undertaking in itself," he said.

The main catalyst for the protest was a House bill that, among other get-tough measures, would make it a felony to be in the country illegally. While Bermudez is opposed to the bill, he didn't agree with marching to Kyl's office. "Kyl has been an ally . . . he's proposing immigration reform," Bermudez said. And the bill in question is a House measure. "It's not even in the Senate," he said.

But the march he didn't help organize grew into something beyond control. Bermudez said he was astounded at the crowd that showed up at the church Friday morning.

"We didn't spend a single penny on advertising," he said. Just a few fliers were handed out. But the rally was talked about on Phoenix's Spanish-language stations. National hosts "Piolín" and "El Cucuy de la Mañana" talked it up as well, Bermudez said.

That would be like a rally promoted not only by Howard Stern, but also by popular local radio hosts like Beth and Bill, Dave Pratt and Bruce Jacobs. Or Barry Young.

Bermudez said two Phoenix police officers, whom he had worked with before at other rallies, sought him out Friday to discuss the changing logistics of the march. "We made the decision on the spot," Bermudez said.

The plan had been to keep marchers on the sidewalk. But officers told Bermudez, "We need to go on the street, or else we'll never finish it."

Still, even though Bermudez didn't agree with the method, he can't dismiss what occurred. About 20,000 people, mostly here illegally, came out of the shadows and took over a city street. Many, he said, had received permission from their bosses to take the day off with pay.

"Finally, people were empowered to come out and say, 'We're not going to take this anymore,' " Bermudez said.

"It's like the Spanish saying," Bermudez said, "Aqui estamos. No los vamos."

Translated, that's: "We're here. We're not going anywhere."

Bermudez will make that cry literal soon. He's planning an April 10 rally, part of a national movement.

But, Bermudez said, it won't include a march. This time, the people will not be going anywhere.

"Finally, people were empowered to come out and say, 'We're not going to take this anymore,' " Bermudez said.

O yeah, Bermudez? Well, that's what the Americans are saying now that we witnessed your stampede on American cities!