Thousands of protesters attended rallies across the country in a renewed effort to
bring illegal immigration reform front and center for the White House. There were no reports of violence, but several arrests had taken place including Illinois Congressman, Luis Gutierrez and 40 others for civil disobedience outside the White House.
In San Diego the number of protesters at two rallies were far less than expected. At Chicano Park roughly 400-500 demonstrators watched the May Day festivities.
One San Diego resident, Leticia Singer said she came out to support the Latino community. “I’m originally from Mexico City, Mexico. I immigrated here legally 25 years ago,” she said. “I’m here to protest the new Arizona law because I think it is unjust.”
Keywords Singer uses are ‘immigrated legally.’ Most Americans don’t have a problem with legal immigration in fact they prefer those seeking to enter the country come through the ‘front door.’
Down the street another rally took place coined the ‘Pro American Rally.” These folks had fewer demonstrators as well as a different opinion on the immigration law in Arizona.
“We all have to do what we can to fight the illegal immigration,” said Lawren Sprague of San Diego. “I used to live in Arizona and they have some difficult issues with human trafficking and drug cartel violence.”
So why did she attend the rally this afternoon? “People need to get off the couch, speak up and use their platforms for citizen advocate rallies,” she said.
Back at Chicano Park, attendees were treated with traditional dancers and music. The crowds waved their Mexican and American flags and signs opposing the tough new immigration law in Arizona.
The Peace and Freedom Party posted this on their website regarding the May Day Rally at Chicano Park; “We are one people standing together against the oppression that is crushing all of us; legalization for all - without conditions; jobs, housing and livable wages for all; fund education and social services; not war; immigration rights for LGBT partners.”
However Congressional candidate, Mason Weaver had this to say about illegal immigration; “it’s okay to break into my house as long as you do the dishes. This is just wrong, come through the front door.”
Echoing a similar sentiment, Jay LaSuer who is running for San Diego Sheriff said, “I don’t want anymore hyphen-American. Either you support America 100 percent or find someplace else to call home.”
The Pro-America Rally organizer, Jeff Schwilk said the event went well. “We were able to get our message of legal immigration and pro-enforcement out to those who attended.”
Many of those who contend the Arizona law won’t pass muster once it hits the court system may be in for a surprise, according to Walter Moore a California attorney.
In 2001, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit ruled in United States v. Santana-Garcia, 264 F.3rd 1188, “that state law enforcement officers within the Tenth Circuit ‘have the general authority to investigate and make arrests for violations of federal immigration laws,’ and that federal law as currently written does nothing ‘ to displace . . . state or local authority to arrest individuals violating federal immigration laws.’ On the contrary, the Court said, “federal law ‘evinces a clear invitation from Congress for state and local agencies to participate in the process of enforcing federal immigration laws,’” Moore pointed out.
Also in 2008, the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey concluded, in Rojas v. City of New Brunswick, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 57974, that, “As a general matter, state and local law enforcement officers are not precluded from enforcing federal statutes. Where state enforcement activities do not impair federal regulatory interests concurrent enforcement activity is authorized. The Court accordingly held that a city and its police department had authority to investigate and arrest people for possible violations of federal immigration laws,” Moore said.
Moore insists there is case after case in courtrooms in a number of states that have upheld local law enforcement’s right to question folks about immigration status during lawful stops.
The nonsense making the airwaves coast to coast that Arizona Police and Sheriff officials will go door-to-door arresting illegal immigrants as they eat dinner are pure propaganda from the left. In fact, Arizona added some amendments to the new legislation to clarify certain aspects of the illegal immigration law.
As the May Day afternoon unfolded approximately 1,000 pro-amnesty protesters marched into downtown to show their angst with America’s lagging efforts when it comes to the immigration reform bill.
However, at the conclusion to the event, two “Pro-American Legal Immigration’ attendees were viciously attacked by the “Pro-Amnesty” supporters. The victims called police and filed a report stating that they were punched in the head and rocks were thrown at them. This was the only report of violence during the afternoon festivities.
One thing is certain the illegal immigration debate is sure to spark passion on both sides of the issue.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Comments
Americans are demanding and getting tougher law enforcement. The Mexicans are going nuts. They thought they had taken back the Southwest (Jorge Bush told them so). They were wrong. Adios illegals.
Why would anyone even consider negotiating with anyone that never gets around to keeping their word on any of the immigration laws of the past? What would be the point? This is like the people that got caught by their own rules while playing games as children. Every time they would get caught in one of their old rules they would start in on a big speech for a new rule. They never would pay up on being caught on the old rule. Just what are we still doing dealing with these liars?
These protests are about as useless as the Minutemen organizations who constantly beg for money to support themselves. All these people need to get jobs and do something useful.
This article is factually incorrect. Santa Cruz California - A large group of protesters demonstrating at a May Day rally for worker’s and immigrant rights downtown broke off into a riot vandalizing about a dozen businesses around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, police said.
Many in the group were carrying makeshift torches as they marched, breaking storefront windows and writing “anarchist graffiti” on buildings, according to Capt. Steve Clark. Many businesses sustained multiple broken windows including very large storefront windows at Urban Outfitters and The Rittenhouse building. Police believe at least 15 businesses suffered damage.
The violence was initiated from a group holding a rally at the town clock for May Day. Windows at Jamba Juice and Velvet Underground were left shattered and graffiti including anarchy signs were tagged onto buildings.
Because of the size and violent demeanor of the crowd, Santa Cruz police asked for help from all agencies in the county to break up the riot.
Continued
Because of the size and violent demeanor of the crowd, Santa Cruz police asked for help from all agencies in the county to break up the riot. At one point, protesters lit a fire on the porch of Caffe Pergolesi and blocked access to firefighters, officers said. Police were able to clear out the demonstrators before more damage was caused.
A large rock sat outside Verizon Wireless on the 100 block of Cooper Street, where vandals tried to break the window twice, according to Clark.
As reported in the Santa Cruz Sentinel
The Anarchist flags were flying high in that crowd, which is no surprise, since their Mexican hero Zapata was a devote Anarchist. There were a couple of water bottles thrown by the Mexican invaders, but that was about the extent of the violence.
Since I was the one of the last three to surrender ground at the Federal building, I can attest that the only conflict that happened at the end of that rally was that a man of African decent, who joined the "Pro-American" side of the street in the last 15 minutes of the event, responded to the cat calls of the remaining chicano activists when leaving by getting into one of their faces and exchanging hostile words. He appeared intoxicated, and he hadn't been there for the fist 3:45 of the event, so he wasn't actually part of the counter protest group. There were about 10 cops within 15 feet of the area, I suspect any actual criminal assault would have probably been seen by at least one of them. Ah well, disinformation works for both sides!
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