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Sunday, July 9, 2006

Protesters denounce Costa Mesa for policies on migrants
About 65 take part in march organized by OCC student critical of mayor.

By SAM MILLER
The Orange County Register

An immigrant-rights advocate who has called the mayor of Costa Mesa "racist" led a march Saturday against the city's immigration policies.

About 65 people joined Coyotl Tezcalipoca, an Orange Coast College student, at 19th Street and Placentia Avenue in Costa Mesa, chanting and waving protest signs.

At issue: the Costa Mesa City Council's decision to close its day-labor site last year and its plan to have police enforce federal immigration laws and help deport undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes.

One sign read: "Is this town mean-spirited?"

"That's silly," said Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor. "The focus of what we're doing is on major criminals. … It does not involve sweeps. It does not involve any focus on victims."

Mansoor said he voted to close the day-labor site not to target immigrants, but because cities shouldn't subsidize services that compete with private businesses.

That statement was disputed Saturday by the protesters, many of whom belong to the group Tonantzin Collective.

Tezcalipoca instructed the group to avoid profanity and discriminatory comments.

"Except maybe (to) those guys over there," Tezcalipoca said, motioning to a nearby counter-protester who held a sign that read "Secure our Borders."

Meanwhile, two other events reflecting the national immigration debate were taking place in Los Angeles: a conference led by the Hispanic rights advocacy organization National Council of La Raza; and a rally and march in Hollywood sponsored by the Minutemen Project, which supports strict immigration-law enforcement.

In Costa Mesa, the group marched to Triangle Square, walked along the outside of the mall, then headed up Newport Boulevard before returning.

The marchers carried signs that criticized the mayor's connection to the Minutemen – he is an honorary Minuteman – and President Bush's plan to have the National Guard patrol the country's southern border.

"We didn't cross the border, the border crossed us," they chanted.

A half-dozen police officers followed the march.

Drivers honked to support the protesters, and a few bystanders joined the march, taking signs handed to them by marchers.

A smaller number of observers showed disapproval. One driver hollered "Go back" before making a left turn, and three young men in a car yelled "Viva Bush" and shook fists at the marchers.

Protester Jason Ball of Westminster said the city's laws discriminate against the people who most need work.

"Scapegoating the poorest and the least powerful workers is ridiculous," said Ball, who also attends Orange Coast College.

Mansoor on Saturday said the city's policies make sense.

"I believe that the American people truly want major offenders deported. We're talking about gang members and sex offenders."