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  1. #1
    Senior Member JohnDoe2's Avatar
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    Immigration reform protest snarls downtown S.F., 23 arrested

    Immigration reform protest snarls downtown SF, 23 arrested

    04.04.14 - 3:22 pm | Francisco Alvarado


    SFPD escort protester Mayra Lopez away, shortly before placing her in a police wagon.Photo by Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez

    Today [Fri/4] at 11am, the SF Bay Coalition for Immigrant Justice held a protest and rally to urge President Obama to halt all deportations and keep his promise of comprehensive immigration reform.The protest included a group of 23 people, some of which are undocumented immigrants, which took part in a peaceful act of civil disobedience.

    All 23 protesters — 15 women and eight men — were arrested; cited for failure to diperse, failure to obey a traffic officer, and blocking an intersection; and booked at the police substation in the Tenderloin before being release, according to the San Francisco Police Department.


    More than 30 SFPD officers flanked the march as activists, clergy, and community organizers gathered at One Post St. and made the short but spirited short walk to 120 Montgomery St., a building that houses the San Francisco Immigration Court.


    Video of two of the arrests.
    Rev. Debra Lee, a United Church of Christ pastor working with Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights, said, “We are here… because everyday we see people in our congregations who come to us because their family has been thrown into crisis by the federal government.”

    Other clergy members who were arrested include Rev. Richard Smith of St. John Evangelist Episcopal Church, and Rabbi Mike Rothbaum, of Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice. “We work with with people of other faiths because part of the power of the coalition [is that] although we have different faiths, we come together around a common belief that the migrant should be treated with dignity.” Lee told the Guardian.


    The protesters march downtown. Photo by Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez.

    Rothbaum delivered a powerful address standing atop a parked pickup truck. Rothbaum held up a black-and-white photo of members of his family being sworn in as US citizens. In the image was his aunt, a Polish Jew. “I would like to remind President Obama that his father was a wandering man from Kenya,” he said. “That my aunt and his father are no different from the people being held in this building.”


    All three clergy members were arrested for taking part in the act of civil disobedience. Others arrested include Akiko Aspillaga, a native born Filipina who came to the US at the age of 10 with a visa. But because of a mix of complications with the employment of her mother and misinformation, Aspillaga and her parents lost their visas. Nevertheless, Aspillaga is now a graduate student at San Francisco State University’s school of nursing. However, because she is undocumented, she cannot receive federal grants or loans and depends on scholarships, and her mother to pay for tuition.


    Another was Mayra Lopez, a City College of San Francisco student born in Mexico. “We are here to demand President Obama to stop deportations. There has already been 2 million deportations.” Lopez had a picture of Alex Aldana, who is currently being held in a San Diego ICE detention center: “He is one of the people we are fighting for [in addition] to stopping separations of families.”


    Even if both women are undocumented, face arrest, and a risk of being turned over to US immigration authorities, they felt the risks were worth it. “I feel like the moral imperative right now, with families being torn apart and all the pain our community… Everything is worth it,” Akiko told the Guardian, “There is a possibility of me being deported but we’re standing up for something we believe in.”


    After
    all the speakers addressed the crowd of about 300 people, the group of 21 sat in a tight circle on a banner that read, “Deporter in Chief.” And parodied President Obama’s “Hope” campaign poster with a pair of handcuffed hands replacing the president’s picture.


    Once the group of 21 blocked traffic on the intersection of Sutter and Montgomery, SFPD officers began moving people off the street and onto the sidewalks. Then, one by one, each member of the group had their hands zip-tied behind their back and loaded into one of three SFPD vans.


    This protest was part of a national day of action in favor of immigration, and it precedes an even bigger mobilization tomorrow in San Jose.
    NO AMNESTY

    Don't reward the criminal actions of millions of illegal aliens by giving them citizenship.


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  2. #2
    Super Moderator Newmexican's Avatar
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    So, where were the busses?

  3. #3
    Administrator Jean's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Newmexican View Post
    So, where were the busses?
    Won't see those under this administration. Those arrested will be out shortly if not already.
    Support our FIGHT AGAINST illegal immigration & Amnesty by joining our E-mail Alerts at https://eepurl.com/cktGTn

  4. #4
    Senior Member JohnDoe2's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jean View Post
    Won't see those under this administration. Those arrested will be out shortly if not already.
    They were released before the article was written.
    All 23 protesters — 15 women and eight men — were arrested; cited for failure to diperse, failure to obey a traffic officer, and blocking an intersection; and booked at the police substation in the Tenderloin before being release,
    NO AMNESTY

    Don't reward the criminal actions of millions of illegal aliens by giving them citizenship.


    Sign in and post comments here.

    Please support our fight against illegal immigration by joining ALIPAC's email alerts here https://eepurl.com/cktGTn

  5. #5
    Administrator Jean's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JohnDoe2 View Post
    They were released before the article was written.
    Thank you JohnDoe2, obviously didn't read the entire article. They were released then quickly which we knew would happen.
    Support our FIGHT AGAINST illegal immigration & Amnesty by joining our E-mail Alerts at https://eepurl.com/cktGTn

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