Thread: Stockton may pare down march for immigrants' rights

City action may pare down march for immigrants' rights

By Jennifer Torres
Record Staff Writer
April 26, 2008 6:00 AM

STOCKTON - A march in support of immigrant rights planned for Thursday might be curtailed after city officials told organizers they would have to pay for police service should participants stray from sidewalks and onto streets.

The march would be Stockton's third consecutive May 1 demonstration. Luis Magaña, one of its organizers, said the committee planning the march does not have the roughly $2,000 needed to pay for police - and didn't have to pay in the past.

He said members would try to fundraise, but he believes the city's stance is politically motivated.

"They don't want to identify with the immigrants," he said.

City Attorney Ren Nosky and other officials said their concerns are for safety and fairness.

"If it overflows into the street, then for safety reasons, we have to bring in police intervention or close the street altogether," Nosky said. "Last year, he agreed to stay on the sidewalk and that didn't happen, and that's not necessarily his fault."

On May 1, about 1,000 people marched from South Lincoln Street to De Carli Square, at some points stalling traffic.

The crowd was far smaller than in 2006, when an estimated 10,000 supporters marched to a rally at Weber Point.

At a City Council meeting Tuesday, Magaña asked members to consider waiving or lowering the fees required.

"This year is the third time Stockton celebrates this collective effort to get immigration reform," he said through a translator.

Bobbie Bivens, president of the Stockton chapter of the NAACP, spoke in support of the march.

"The NAACP does believe that it's an issue related to civil rights, to human rights," he said. "I would ask the city to ... at least make it affordable."

Mayor Ed Chavez responded.

"Last year, the march grew to rather large numbers, and what was committed to was not adhered to," he said. "It required the need for police services to be brought in to provide for the safety of the marchers and the community at large."

Pete Smith, a spokesman for the Stockton Police Department, said the march committee was presented several options for walking routes - at least one of which would not require police services.

The planned route - from 609 S. Lincoln St. to Weber Point via Weber Avenue and Center Street - would require about $2,000.

"We want to do it legally," Magaña said. If necessary, he said, the march could be scaled back and follow a route roughly around Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza. "It's not much, but it's something."

Contact reporter Jennifer Torres at (209) 546-8252 or jtorres@recordnet.com.

http://tinyurl.com/4ddsou

More than likely, the City caught flack because I KNOW FOR A FACT, they charge every other demonstration for police. I used to live in Lodi, and attended many marches and/or protests for many different causes in Stockton, the organizing group ALWAYS had to pay.

We want to do it legally

Now you're cookin. Legally is best. Like the rest of us.

Originally Posted by USA_born

We want to do it legally

Now you're cookin. Legally is best. Like the rest of us.

actually, if the REALLY "wanted to do it legally", they would go back to their own country and apply to come here legally

The march would be Stockton's third consecutive May 1 demonstration. Luis Magaña, one of its organizers, said the committee planning the march does not have the roughly $2,000 needed to pay for police - and didn't have to pay in the past.

$2000 is probably a fraction of the cost to close streets and provide police presence.

Why should the American tax-payer foot the bill so people (including those in our country illegally) can protest on a communist holiday?

Some place (Chicago?) was seeking donations for 10 buses at $750 each to bus marchers to the march because they lacked funds. (Did they contact ICE for buses? )

Funny how La Raza, MECHA, MATT and other pro-illegal immigration organizations are never around when funds are needed.

Their reliance on American tax-funds must end.

It is quite insulting and patronizing to immigrate to a country and expect it to adapt to the very things one left behind. This is the behavior of a conqueror, not an immigrant."
Thomas Lifson

"When in Mexico the U.S. State Department reminds U.S. citizens to avoid participating in demonstrations and other activities that might be deemed political by Mexican authorities. The Mexican Constitution prohibits political activities by foreigners, and such actions may result in detention and/or deportation."
U.S. State Department

Here in the sanctuary city of Fresno, they can have their march AFTER all the businesses have been let out. It works out great, nobody is around to see them. They are not allowed to stop rush hour traffic in downtown. After 5:30 pm, Fresno downtown is a ghosttown. If there is a baseball game that night, I am pretty sure the Triple-A fans would gladly bump some protester off to the side.

He said members would try to fundraise, but he believes the city's stance is politically motivated.






As far as these people are concerned, nothing is ever REALLY about anything other than a means to screw them over, pick on them, discriminate, persecute, blah, blah, blah.

Why don't they just get the hell over themselves?