Thread: VT: Pro-Immigrant rally draws sizable crowd

Bleeding Heart Report Alert!
Immigrant rally draws sizable crowd

By Lauren Ober
Free Press Staff Writer
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps ... 7108130014
August 13, 2007

Kitty Juarez and Sarina Martinez-De Osaba marched up Main Street chanting "Si, Se Puede!"-- "Yes, we can," in Spanish-- under the late afternoon sun.

The two Burlington 6-year-olds had never met before Monday's march for immigrant rights, but they became fast friends, sharing the duty of holding a neon green sign proclaiming "Nadie Es Ilegal"-- "No One is Illegal."

Kitty and Sarina were some of the younger activists in the estimated crowd of 200 that marched from Lawrence Barnes Elementary School in the Old North End to the University of Vermont to rally for immigrants' rights and a living wage for all Vermonters. Monday was a national day of action for immigrants' rights, with rallies celebrating May Day, an international workers mobilization day, occurring across the country.

The rally, organized by Immigrant Rights Vermont, a local immigrant advocacy group, as well as the International Socialist Organization, the Peace and Justice Center and student groups from UVM and St. Michael's College, drew immigrants and their allies who snaked through Burlington's streets to makeshift drum beats and megaphone chants.

In addition to showing solidarity with immigrants nationwide, rally organizers called on Burlington to become a "sanctuary city," where immigrants would not be turned over to immigration officials for lacking proper documentation.

Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss helped kick off the rally with a commitment to exploring the possibility of Burlington's becoming a sanctuary city. Kiss said he was in discussions with the city attorney about the feasibility of providing that kind of amnesty.

"I hope we can move forward as a sanctuary city in the United States of America," Kiss said. "We're building a better world, and I'm proud of the efforts we're making here today."

Kiss marched along side immigrants and students, many of whom took the opportunity to bend the new mayor's ear about the rights of undocumented and low-wage workers.

Luis Yat, one of the organizers from Immigrant Rights Vermont, said he was pleased with Monday's turnout. Yat, who is originally from Guatemala, spent much of the rally spacing out fellow demonstrators and ensuring that their rally signs were visible as they wended their way through the streets.

"This touches a lot of different people," Yat said, referring to the diverse mix of immigrants in the Burlington area. "We are looking to share land with all of you."

With puppets and signs decrying recent national immigration policy proposals, the protesters focused on the idea that no one is illegal. Professor Helen Scott, an English literature professor at UVM and member of UVM United Academics, came to the rally to express that immigrants deserve to be treated equally and deserve to be heard.

"You can't criminalize immigrants and continue to exploit people who are building the country," Scott said. "It's the immigrants who are revitalizing many communities."

Just one counter-protester, John Stockwell of Burlington walked the route. Dressed in desert military fatigues and carrying signs that read "Support Minutemen!" and "No Green Card? Deport!," Stockwell trudged up Main Street proclaiming he wasn't against immigrants, he just felt they needed to come to this country legally.

"I don't have a problem with them if they come through a legal port of entry. Do it legally. Don't sneak across the border," Stockwell said.

As the rally wound down, Kitty's 4-year-old brother still had energy to burn. As the adults around him tired from an hour's worth of chanting, Dito Juarez, dressed in a leather fringe vest waving a purple protest sign, kept up his soulful chorus.

"Si, se puede!," he called out. "Si, se puede!"

Have a question, comment, story idea? Contact Lauren Ober at 660-1868 or lober@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com.

Lets see what happens in the next election for mayor in Burlington....

Lots of people don't voice their opposition to illegal immigration openly but they sure do when they vote !!

Originally Posted by USPatriot

Lets see what happens in the next election for mayor in Burlington....

Lots of people don't voice their opposition to illegal immigration openly but they sure do when they vote !!

Lets hope they do oppose at the polls! This goes for the country as a whole!
Lets get the traitors out of office!!!

It is rather ironic that the illegals are hell bent on destroying there chance of being here. When you see these protests and they are all done in the spanish language it just proves the point that these people are not assmulating. If they had any intent of assimulating they would protest in English. But, hey why do that. For heaven's sake look how far no speekee Englee has got them. Pretty damn far.

Another pandering politician that needs to be removed.

His term expires 06/30/2008.

Get him out, Vermont.

Originally Posted by Paige

It is rather ironic that the illegals are hell bent on destroying there chance of being here. When you see these protests and they are all done in the spanish language it just proves the point that these people are not assmulating. If they had any intent of assimulating they would protest in English. But, hey why do that. For heaven's sake look how far no speekee Englee has got them. Pretty damn far.

Well think also calling mostly all Americans racists because we want our laws enforced too ain't looking pretty for them!

It is rather ironic that the illegals are hell bent on destroying there chance of being here. When you see these protests and they are all done in the spanish language it just proves the point that these people are not assmulating

Also proves to me they don't care about immigration or problems with it or solving any other issue for any other group but their own. Heck....if "illegal immigration" isn't about just them.....then why don't we hear from others? I doubt many legal immigrants or other illegals are all fluent in Spanish either. They're just talking to themselves for just themselves.