Thread: Thousands in Phoenix ready for immigration law protest

Thousands in Phoenix ready for immigration law protest

May. 29, 2010 09:35 AM
The Arizona Republic

Thousands of people were gathering in Steele Indian School Park Saturday morning to participate in a march protesting Arizona's new immigration-enforcement legislation.

Another rally - this one in support of the law - is scheduled in the evening in Tempe.

But it was opponents of the measure who dominated Phoenix Saturday morning in anticipation of the 10 a.m. march through downtown and ending with a rally at the State Capitol.

The event was expected to draw a large crowd from throughout the Valley and out of state.

Justin Akers Chacon, 38, a college professor from San Diego, said he came to Phoenix Friday night with more than 100 people who slept on sleeping bags in a downtown warehouse provided by organizers.

"There was a seriousness and confidence that we're all here for the right reasons," he said.

Arizona's immigration law makes it a state crime to be in the country illegally. It states that an officer engaged in a lawful stop, detention or arrest shall, when practicable, ask about a person's legal status when reasonable suspicion exists that the person is in the U.S. illegally.

Sandra Castro, an organizer with Puente and senior at ASU, said the crowds so far were larger than expected and protesters were being bused in from Texas, Los Angeles and Seattle.

Eric Ruder, 40, flew in to Tucson from Chicago after learning of the protest online last week and said the influx of protesters from around the country shows the nation's interest in Arizona's legislation.

"The criminalization of immigrants is a scary direction that this country is heading in," Ruder said.

But for some protesters, the Arizona legislation hits particularly close to home.

Marlene Vazquez, 18, said she came to the country illegally 16 years ago with her family. They stood together at the park Saturday morning concerned about the impact the legislation could have on their lives.

Like many opponents of the bill, Vazquez is concerned that it will lead to police targeting Hispanic-looking residents in an effort to root out illegal immigrants.

"There's no way that they're not going to racial profile," she said. "How does someone look illegal?"

As Vazquez spoke, crowds were forming in corners of the large park, listening to mariachi bands and organizers calling out instructions on bullhorns.

Sarahi Uribe, a member of the National Day Labor Organizing Network, said the group is participating in the Phoenix march to send a message to Washington, D.C.

"We have a very clear demand that President Obama stop senate bill 1070," she said.

Residents in the area were warned to expect traffic and transit delays in connection with the protests.

Metro light rail is warning passengers to expect unknown delays. Metro will be running three-car trains every 15 minutes and will position supervisors and maintenance crews along the 20-mile track to help people work the ticket machines and to fix any potential mechanical glitches.

The Phoenix Public Transit Department will detour several bus routes starting at 10 a.m. because of the protests of SB 1070.

Buses affected are Route 0, Route 1, Route 3, Route 7, Route 8, Route 10, Route 12, Route 15 and Route 17.

Some bus-stop locations around Central Station will be moved during the event. Service may be delayed until the march ends.

There are no traffic restrictions in Tempe where supporters of the law are scheduled to gather at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe at 6 p.m. About 10,000 people are expected to attend the "Stand with Arizona" rally. The group is promoting a "buycott" of Arizona to counter boycotts prompted by the new law.

http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoe ... 29-ON.html

as the time runs out, the aliens will get more hostile. ill bet you can buy a house for a song in AZ, as these parasite come to embrace the reality that the big con game is up. tik tok baby!

"We have a very clear demand that President Obama stop senate bill 1070," she said.

Demand, demand, demand. That's all we hear from illegals. I wonder what would happen if they returned home and demanded from the Mexican government. And I wonder when our own government will stop listening to foreigners and start listening to the American people that voted them into office.

Immigration rallies drawing crowds to Phoenix

Updated 5m ago |

PHOENIX (AP) — Organizers of a boycott of Arizona to protest the state's new immigration law called for a one-day suspension Saturday as they bused in people from across the country for a rally at the state Capitol.
Supporters plan a rally of their own at a Tempe baseball stadium, encouraging like-minded Americans to "buycott" Arizona by planning vacations in the state.

The dueling events are expected to draw thousands. In San Francisco, groups planned to protest at the Arizona Diamondbacks' major league baseball game against the Giants Saturday evening.

Critics of the law, set to take effect July 29, say it unfairly targets Hispanics and could lead to racial profiling. Its supporters say Arizona is trying to enforce immigration laws because the federal government has failed to do so.

The law requires that police conducting traffic stops or questioning people about possible legal violations ask them about their immigration status if there is "reasonable suspicion" that they're in the country illegally. Reasonable suspicion is not defined.

"Arizona has become the testing ground for the most draconian and anti-immigrant legislation in the country," said Pablo Alvarado, executive director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network.

Some opponents of the law have encouraged people to cancel conventions in the state and avoid doing business with Arizona-based companies, hoping the economic pressure forces lawmakers to repeal the law.

But Alfredo Gutierrez, chairman of the boycott committee of Hispanic civil rights group Somos America, said the boycott doesn't apply to people coming to resist the law. Opponents said they had secured warehouse space for 5,000 people to sleep on cots instead of staying in hotels.

They're calling on President Barack Obama to order immigration authorities to refuse to take custody of illegal immigrants turned over under Arizona's law.

Supporters of the law sought to counteract the economic damage of boycotts by bringing supporters into the state.

"Arizona, we feel, is America's Alamo in the fight against illegal and dangerous entry into the United States," said Gina Loudon of St. Louis, who is organizing the "buycott." "Our border guards and all of Arizona law enforcement are the undermanned, under-gunned, taxed-to-the-limit front-line defenders trying to hold back the invasion."

The Alamo in San Antonio is the site of the famous 1836 battle where an outnumbered band of Texas defenders staged a legendary stand before Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and his Mexican forces seized the mission. Texas gained its independence from Mexico weeks later in the victorious Battle of San Jacinto.

The Arizona law also makes it a state crime to be in the country illegally or to impede traffic while hiring day laborers, regardless of the worker's immigration status.
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