Hope to find more and better coverage of what exactly happened tonight, but here's what's out there now.

http://nctimes.com/articles/2006/05/...4_015_1_06.txt


Thousands rally on 'Day Without Immigrants'

By: MARK WALKER - Staff Writer

NORTH COUNTY ---- Immigration protests turned hostile Monday in parts of Vista, where officers called in backup from all over the county and protesters threw rocks and bottles in the crowd.

Most immigration protests and rallies throughout North County were peaceful Monday. But as night fell, the protests grew more disruptive in parts of North County.


In Vista, officers in riot gear and with dogs were lining streets in Vista Village late Monday night and ordering the crowd to disburse or face arrest.

An estimated 1,000 people crammed the streets late into the night, forcing law enforcement officers to shut down Santa Fe Avenue. More protesters were reported on Vista Village Drive, where sheriff's deputies requested backup from other law enforcement agencies.

As the night continued, there were mixed reports about whether violence had broken out. Just before 10 p.m., reports of gunshots near a McDonald's restaurant were heard on a police scanner, but Sheriff's Department spokesman Capt. Glenn Revell and an employee at the restaurant said they had not heard any shots.

Around 10:20, about 150 deputies and officers from surrounding cities lined Santa Fe Avenue on foot and in their cars near the Krikorian theater complex in Vista Village. Revell said the officers were there in "response to a what could be a serious incident." It appeared to involve the throwing of rocks, bottles or other objects.

Earlier in the day, thousands of white-shirted immigration rights protesters took part in demonstrations from coastal to inland North County Monday in a show of their social and economic clout, capping a series of protests with a candlelight vigil and speeches at Escondido's Grape Day Park.

Called "A Day Without Immigrants" by some organizers and "The Great American Boycott" by others, Monday's North County events also included rallies in San Marcos and Vista and street marches in Oceanside and Fallbrook.

The demonstrations were peaceful during the day, with at least one small local counter-protest and no arrests, reports of violence or major service disruptions.

But as night fell, the protests grew more disruptive in parts of North County. In Vista, an estimated 1,000 people crammed the streets late into the night, forcing law enforcement officers to shut down Santa Fe Avenue in the Townsite neighborhood to traffic. More protesters were reported on Vista Village Drive, where sheriff's deputies requested backup from other law enforcement agencies.

As the night continued, there were mixed reports about whether violence had broken out. Just before 10 p.m., reports of gunshots near a McDonald's restaurant in were heard on a police scanner, but sheriff's department spokesman Capt. Glenn Revell and an employee at the restaurant said they had not heard any shots.

Around 10:20, about 150 deputies and officers from surrounding cities lined Santa Fe Avenue on foot and in their cars near the Krikorian theater complex in Vista Village. Revell said the officers were there in "response to a what could be a serious incident." It appeared to involve the throwing of rocks, bottles or other objects.

In Townsite, the protests appeared to involve no more than a lot of honking cars.

In Escondido, police reported that windows in two of their cars were broken during the protests, though police said they did not see the windows being broken and no arrests were made.

Throughout the day in North County, numerous Latino-owned small businesses shut their doors to give workers a chance to take part in the demonstrations and show support for a movement spurred largely by proposed federal legislation that would declare all illegal aliens to be felons.

Major employers reported that while some workers had made arrangements to stay away on Monday, there were no massive walkouts. Meanwhile, North County school officials reported as many as 10,000 more absentees than normal, but many of the students stayed away from the public protests.

Monday's action followed immigration protests last month that began in Los Angeles and served as a rallying cry that later brought thousands of mostly student protesters to North County streets over a period of several days.

The message


Carrying U.S. and Mexican flags, protesters such as Roberto Lopez said they needed to take to the streets to show the region and the nation that they are serious about immigration rights and serious about their desire to be treated with respect.

"I've been paying taxes for 18 years," said Lopez, who joined in a march and more than 5-hour rally at Vista's Wildwood Park. "I'm here to stand with my people."

Juan Cuevo, a chef at a La Costa resort, was equally resolute about his support for immigrant rights and against strict criminal enforcement against illegal aliens.

"I've been an American citizen since 1986," said Cuevo, who came to the Vista park with his wife and 5-year-old son. "I hope they listen to us."

The same sort of message was delivered in Escondido Monday morning, where dozens of white-shirted protesters held signs and a large American flag as they greeted passing motorists at Valley Parkway and Broadway.

"I'm pleading with people to legalize them and have some heart," Oceanside's Grace Montoya said of the estimated 3 million illegal aliens in California and another 8 million or more across the rest of the nation.

Bonifacio Corral took the day off from his landscaping job in support of the protest and show of immigrant strength.

"Everybody is coming for work," said the 51-year-old Corral, who came to North County illegally in 1974 to earn money harvesting avocados and now is a legal resident. "The country needs workers."

One protester said many illegal aliens stayed away from the public demonstrations in fear of arrest by immigration agents.

But no such actions took place and Lauren Mack of the U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement office in San Diego said the agency no longer conducts random sweeps. Those operations only occur "where there is targeted criminal activity," she said.

Escondido's vigil


A small crowd of about six dozen demonstrators gathered in Escondido's Grape Day Park beginning in the early afternoon. As schools and work let out, families wearing white T-shirts, some carrying Mexican or U.S. flags, filed through downtown streets toward the park to join in the demonstration, which included more than 2,000 people by early evening.

In contrast to the student demonstrations in March, Monday's daytime gathering was a family affair, with a mix of prayer, music, traditional dance presentations and a candlelight vigil.

Clad in white, Fidel Arellano showed up with his wife and three school-age children, all of whom had stayed home and refrained from doing any shopping.

"It's a big sacrifice for us not to go to work and be here," said the 35-year-old construction worker, adding that his boss was supportive of him taking the day off, but also withheld his $200 daily pay. "But we have to support each other."

Demonstrators hoisted American and Mexican flags as community leaders led them in chants of "Si se puede," (It can be done) and "U.S.A."

Throughout the evening, waves of vehicles circled the block waving flags and honking their horns. Some waved flags and signs of support. Others heckled the 10 counter-protesters who stood at the entrance to the park holding signs denouncing illegal immigration.

Along the western edge of the park, participants lined up to sign pre-printed letters urging California's senators to support legislation that would offer undocumented workers a path to citizenship.

Another 75 people filled out voter registration cards, according to volunteers. And organizers said they hope to register 10,000 Latino voters before June's primary election.

Isabel Moreno, 22, who came to Grape Day with her sister's children said she registered to vote because the demonstrations over the last month have made her "more interested in doing things for my people and my family."

"We want equal rights for all Latino people," Moreno said.

Vista rally


A massive display of Latino solidarity took place at Vista's Wildwood Park, where a thick wall of demonstrators crowded along the adjacent East Vista Way holding banners and flags.

The daylong rally, organized by the Coalition for Justice, Peace and Dignity, a local Latino advocacy group, was billed as a cultural event, featuring entertainment interspersed with politically charged speeches.

About 250 people, from toddlers to grandparents, were gathered in the park by the 11 a.m. start time. Volunteers wearing red "Security" shirts formed a perimeter. By early afternoon, the number had swelled to an estimated 2,500, according to event organizers and law enforcement officers.

While dance troupes and musical acts entertained, a steady stream of passing vehicles blared their horns.

Around 12:45, several hundred people left the park and marched south on Vista Village Drive. But after a few blocks, they reversed course and returned to the rally.

Vista Mayor Morris Vance took advantage of the gathering near City Hall to encourage attendees to volunteer for city committees.

"The Latino population in Vista is underrepresented," he told the crowd, which responded with applause.

Later in the day, a handful of counter-protesters gathered on the opposite side of East Vista Way holding signs, including a large one that read "You lose your rights when you enter the United States Illegally."

"I think it's a pretty sad day in America," said Jeff Schwilk, leader of the San Diego Minutemen, an anti-illegal immigration group.

Fallbrook


Ray Carney, a blogger and anti-illegal immigrant activist, had protesters march past his West Mission Road home.

The protesters stopped in front of his home and used a bullhorn to chide him.

"I laughed and chuckled," said Carney. "I think the whole effort was stupid and not going to accomplish a damn thing."

Celia Saucedo drove two hours from Indio in Riverside County to Fallbrook to participate in the march organized by her sister, Irma Echeverria, a Fallbrook resident.

Echeverria works as a housekeeper and her employer, who didn't want to give his name, came along to show his support. He sat in his car watching the marchers assemble. Echeverria has worked for him for about 15 years.

"What she's for, I'm for," he said. "She's a terrific housekeeper and does a fine job. They've got the right to do what they can do."

An estimated 125 people took part in the march, which began at El Tigre Foods on South Mission Road. As they waved American flags, passing motorists honked their horns.

Veronica Loerra, a Fallbrook resident and third-generation Californian, took a personal day from her job as a migrant services aide at Lincoln Middle School in Vista to take part.

"Our country is made up of immigrants," she said. "These people aren't asking to be citizens, just for the right to work. I am here to support that. We're trying to make a difference."

She also kept her seventh-grade daughter home from Potter Junior High School so she could bring her to the event.

"She's witnessing history," Loerra said.

San Marcos


A "We are All Immigrants" rally staged at Cal State Marcos drew a small turnout of about 150 students and professors.

A stage with posters such as those reading "We are not criminals, just workers"; "Don't put me down, give me a hand," and "It's not a felony to feed your family," featured more than a dozen speakers.

The central message was the challenges faced by all immigrants, such as student Juana Molina, who said she had to work three jobs to put herself through school and waited 14 years to gain permanent residency status.

"Please be aware of what's at stake for many, many people," she said.

Freshman Mayra Turchiano urged the city of San Marcos become a "sanctuary for undocumented workers.

"There is nothing illegal about coming to the U.S. in search of a better life," she said.

Her comment, however, displays the divide in the immigration debate. Anti-illegal immigration activists would agree with her if the immigrant enters the country legally.

Housekeeper Julia Ramirez brought her 6-month-old infant son and said the ongoing debate will decide her boy's future.

"We don't want him to be discriminated against," she said. "We just want him to have the opportunities to study and get a good education."

Oceanside march


A group of about 60 marchers of all ages started out about 10 a.m. in the North River Road area near Camp Pendleton and headed toward the coast.

When the group got to Oceanside High School, it ballooned to about 300.

"A lot of them were young people," said Oceanside Police Sgt. Leonard Mata.

The group paraded down to the Oceanside pier, turned around and walked back to the high school. A small group went into several nearby neighborhoods before marching back out toward where they started.

In Sacramento, Washington


In Sacramento, where the Legislature was shut down by vote of majority Democrats, state Assembly Republican Leader George Plescia, R-San Diego, called the boycott misguided.

"While the Democrats are out on the street protesting today, Republicans are in the capital," said Plescia, whose district includes a portion of North County. "We think it is irresponsible that the Democrats have closed the Legislature when we have so many important issues to address."

State Assemblywoman Mimi Walters, R-Irvine, whose district includes a portion of Oceanside, said lawmakers who supported the walkout should lose their salary for the day.

"It is hard to understand how our legislators can justify boycotting our own state's businesses," Walters said.

What's next


This morning, the central question is what now? What are immigrant rights' organizers next steps? What effect did Monday's actions have in Washington, where lawmakers are under intense pressure to reform immigration laws and take drastic measures to stop the flow of illegal aliens?

Although those questions cannot be readily answered, protest organizers say they plan more action in the coming weeks.

Yesenia Balcazar of the Coalition for Justice, Peace and Dignity in Vista, said Monday's events were an "awesome thing. We're making history."

The next step, she said, is an ongoing campaign to encourage Latinos to vote, write letters to Congress and volunteer locally.

"We have to build bridges in the community," she said.

Staff writers Craig Tenbroeck, David Fried, Brenda Duran, Teri Figueroa, Quinn Eastman, Adrienne Aguirre, Patti Magee, Edward Sifuentes, Paul Sisson, Jo Moreland and Paul Eakins and City News Service contributed to this report.

Contact staff writer Mark Walker at (760) 740-3529 or mlwalker@nctimes.com.

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Comments On This Story

Note: Comments reflect the views of readers and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff.
Legal wrote on May 01, 2006 10:42 PM:"It was a great day. Traffic was noticeably light on the freeways. Makes you wonder why the traffic has gotten so bad in the last few years. Could it be...??? As a LEGAL RESIDENT ALIEN (one who obeyed the immigration law and followed the rules for many years in order to get here) I resent the attitude of "expecting entitlement" just because they WANT IT, rather than doing like the rest of us who followed the law to enter and live here. Realize that you either obey or law or you don't. It's black and white. Am I an idiot for immigrating here the legal way? I don't think so. Do you?"

Labor Day wrote on May 01, 2006 11:03 PM:"Let's make May 1st the official Labor Day like most countries around the world!!!! To all of you offended by the recent immigration issues. Since the grape picking season is about to begin in the Coachella valley and you claim to be able to do the back breaking work immigrants do, I propose you take two or three months vacation from your regular jobs to work in the dessert fields in 100 to 120 degrees temperature and proudly take those jobs back. I personally “been there done that” and no way in hell I’m going back. DO IT OR SHUT UP!!!!!!! "

pedro boss wrote on May 01, 2006 11:37 PM:"I belive in the right to our local mexican brothers and sister to work. But pay taxes and foot your bills in wellfare and our resources. We have all the freedoms in the states. But is it the same for me in Mexico...hell no. Go back to your roots before you protest. I belive we can fix the problems with a open mind and a willingness to work together."