Thread: Marchers Rally Against Ordinance

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Published Sunday, July 23, 2006
Sunday, July 23, 2006

Marchers Rally Against Ordinance

By Kevin Bouffard
The Ledger

AVON PARK -- About 100 people rallied and marched through downtown Avon Park on Saturday protesting a proposed municipal ordinance that would crack down on illegal immigration.

About a dozen people also gathered in front of City Hall in support of the proposed ordinance.

"I thought if everyone got together we would have power," said Patricia Austin, an Avon Park resident who organized the rally and a petition drive that collected more than 300 signatures.

The events came two days before the Avon Park City Council is scheduled to take a final vote on the ordinance. Both anti- and pro-ordinance supporters waived posters and U.S. flags, but the numbers and intensity favored the protesters.

"I may be illegal, but I do understand English," said a poster carried by Rosina Bautista, 36, of Avon Park. "The things you are saying are hurting my family. Stop the racism. We're people, too."

Many Hispanic children carried posters pleading for their families.

"My daddy works really hard to give me a better life," said one carried by Victoria Trejo, 8, who said her father picks oranges.

"Please don't separate me from my daddy," said another carried by Miguel Garcia, 8, of Avon Park.

His mother, Kathy Garcia, said her husband has applied for permanent residency but has not yet received his green card. In addition to many U.S. flags, the rally featured recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, in Spanish and English, and patriotic music, including Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" to emphasize that opponents of the ordinance did not favor illegal immigration, Austin said.

"What we are here for is to try to help everybody become legal," Austin told the group.

Every sign from the pro-ordinance side mentioned illegal in one context or another.

"I just believe people should come here legally," said Alan Fleming, 43, of Sebring, who added his family came legally from England when he was a boy.

A commercial painting contractor, Fleming objected that illegal immigrants first come here to work in agriculture, but many later take jobs in construction industries from legal residents.

Jon Tolar, 39, an electrician from Avon Park, agreed.

"I support mass deportation," Tolar said. "Everybody says these people are here to support their families. If I robbed a bank and got caught, can I tell the bank I did it to support my family so can I keep the money?"

The emotional battle over the ordinance has spilled into the city's neighborhoods.

Roberto and Tonya Rodriquez of Avon Park said they were awakened by gunfire outside their home about 3 a.m. Friday.

Several .45-caliber bullets hit their house and truck parked in the front yard, said Tonya Rodriguez, who is white. Her Mexican-born husband is a legal resident who works as a pipe layer.

"I believe we've been targeted because he's Hispanic," she said.

Both attributed the incident to rising tensions between the Hispanic and non-Hispanic communities since the ordinance was proposed in June. Tonya Rodriguez expressed anger at the Avon Park police, who repeatedly referred to her husband as "amigo" and initially claimed the truck had been shot up away from their home, implying Roberto Rodriguez had been involved in criminal activity.

"By the time they left, I thought we were the criminals," she said.

Saturday's rally marked the second protest of the week against the ordinance. On Monday about 100 people, mostly school-age children, marched through downtown chanting, "Hell, no, we won't go."

A prayer service organized by local ministers is scheduled for 6 p.m. today at Donaldson Park across from City Hall.


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Oh Spare Me!

Really.........no tears here. No sympathy. Plus......think they can do anything and not toss the kids in? That avenue is burnt out as well.

His mother, Kathy Garcia, said her husband has applied for permanent residency but has not yet received his green card.

I have one question for someone that knows more about the law than I. What is required to apply for a green card?