The March - April 10 - News Reports : AZ IMC

100,000 march for immigrant rights
Massive crowds highlight economic, political might

Daniel González, Mel Meléndez, and Pat Flannery
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 11, 2006 12:00 AM

A crowd of more than 100,000 marched and rallied Monday in Phoenix in support of legalization for millions of undocumented immigrants, exceeding organizers' expectations and adding momentum to the nationwide movement that included similar marches in cities across the country.

The boisterous but peaceful crowd was so huge it filled wide boulevards with a river of humanity that snaked more than two miles from the state fairgrounds to the state Capitol, making it by far the largest political demonstration in the city's history.

The march's dominant theme, Somos America, We Are America: Today We March, Tomorrow We Vote, was calibrated to demonstrate the political and economic might of immigrants at a time when federal lawmakers are in the midst of a momentous debate over what to do with the estimated 11 million to 12 million undocumented immigrants in the United States.

Demonstrators waved American flags and chanted pro-American slogans. The marchers sought to cast themselves as hard-working Americans who contribute to the nation's economy and show they are fed up with the way many conservative lawmakers in Congress and the state Legislature have attempted to vilify them as lawbreakers who take jobs from Americans, drive down wages and drain public services.

"We want to demonstrate that we are contributing to this country, and we are helping develop this nation in every aspect," said golf course maintenance worker David Santos, 24, an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala, who wore an American flag bandana on his head, and another American flag around his shoulders.

In addition to thousands of undocumented immigrants, the crowd included many legal residents and U.S. citizens. Many said they shared the goal of pressing Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform, allowing undocumented immigrants in the United States to gain legal status and eventually citizenship, and rejecting punitive measures that would turn undocumented immigrants into criminals.

Raul Yzaguirre, former head of the National Council of La Raza, said the rallies are an important show of force, but their impact remains to be seen. "There's an opportunity, a diminishing opportunity, to revive" the immigration-reform bill, Yzaguirre said. "I think that the march can help that along. But it's a small chance."

Impressive, massive

Wearing white T-shirts to represent unity and peace, the marchers waved American flags and carried signs with slogans like "God Bless America" and "I wasn't born here, but I belong here" as they chanted "Sí, se puede," Spanish for Yes, it can be done.

Organizers had urged demonstrators to carry only American flags to avoid the backlash ignited by a large demonstration on March 24 and a series of smaller student marches the week after, when Mexican flags were commonplace.

In contrast, the Mexican flag was virtually non-existent on Monday.

Phoenix resident Shane Lee, 30, who owns a landscaping business, marched along Grand Avenue in support of his workers. He guessed more than half of his workers likely are undocumented.

"They are such great workers that you can't help but be a little angry over bills that want to criminalize them," Lee said.

Organizers, who had hoped for a crowd of between 50,000 and 100,000, estimated Monday's event drew between 200,000 and 250,000. City officials put the number at more than 100,000.

Democracy and politics

Along the route, demonstrators were met by a handful of anti-illegal-immigration activists.

On the corner of Adams Street and Third Avenue, two Mesa residents advocated for stricter immigration reform by holding signs that said, "No Amnesty" and "Close the Border Now."

"We have no problem with immigration as long as it's legal," said Steve Campbell, 47. "So we thought we'd exercise our right, as Americans, to protest."

Six Phoenix police officers separated the two anti-illegal-immigration activists from the river of protesters walking toward the Capitol. Some protesters "booed" them, while others kissed the American flag.

The march and rally in Phoenix was just one of dozens of events that took place across the country as part of a National Day of Action timed to coincide with the beginning of a two-week Easter recess, when members of Congress were back in their districts. Organizers in some cities are calling for a nationwide economic boycott on May 1 and possibly more marches to keep pressure on Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform, which still faces a battle in an election year.

The Senate vowed last week to continue hammering out a bill when they return after a compromise bill unraveled at the last minute.

But Yzaguirre said the demonstration shows that immigrants are beginning to "feel their voice" and will force politicians to take notice. "This is irreversible. We've crossed the line, we've revived hope, we've stimulated optimism in our community."

March meaning

Marchers began to arrive at the Capitol by 1:30 p.m. to cheers from bystanders lining Washington Street. Many danced to Mexican music blaring through speakers on a podium at 17th Avenue and Washington while police watched through binoculars from rooftops of at least a half-dozen government buildings.

At the rally, speakers brought home the "Today we march, tomorrow we vote" theme.

Speakers included U.S. Reps. Ed Pastor of Phoenix and Raul Grijalva of Tucson, state lawmakers, Latino student leaders, union representatives, religious leaders and a handful of immigrants who told their stories.

All urged demonstrators to register to vote, and carry the momentum forward in voting out representatives who opposed their interests. Several speakers were even clearer: target Republican conservatives.

Some conservative Republican lawmakers defied the protest, walking around the Capitol with homemade signs. Glendale Rep. Jerry Weiers' sign read: "Border security isn't racism. It's smart."

Speeches continued for more than an hour before former state lawmaker and onetime Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Alfredo Gutierrez closed the rally.

"We shall arm ourselves, and in America, the only weapon that counts is the vote," Gutierrez said. "Be prepared to defeat those who humiliate us and defend those who stand with us."

Reporters Yvonne Wingett and Chip Scutari contributed to this article.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0411marchsafety0411.html

Organizers, police keep huge crowds quiet and orderly

Judi Villa, William Hermann and Michael Kiefer
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 11, 2006 12:00 AM

Seth Coates stood alongside the path of demonstrators in downtown Phoenix, holding a sign that read "No benefits for illegals."

A man in the crowd ran up to him with a Mexican flag, to taunt him. But before things could escalate, an elderly Latina woman on the sidewalk grabbed the guy with the flag.

"Just walk," she told him.

A heavy police presence, coupled with the determination of organizers to keep Monday's march peaceful, resulted in an orderly demonstration, even as throngs of people converged to support legalization for undocumented immigrants.

About 1,500 officers, mainly from Phoenix police Department and the state Department of Public Safety watched for problems and directed traffic.

"I expected it to go peacefully all the way down," Phoenix police Officer Joe Trujillo said as he watched the crowd near City Hall.

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon estimated the crowd at more than 100,000, and credited "a lot of good planning" by police and organizers, who have worked for weeks ensure there were no problems.

"I can't tell you how grateful I am for the planning that has been able to get this many people in this small a space," Gordon said. "The whole community planned this, and that has made the difference."

Near City Hall, a couple of demonstrators threw empty plastic water bottles at hecklers, but police prevented the situation from escalating. DPS officers also quelled a few arguments at the Capitol.

No arrests were made.

"It was a huge event and went without a hitch, and we are very happy," Phoenix police Detective Tony Morales said.

However, fire officials are trying to determine whether a fire set outside the Central Christian Spanish Church around noon Monday was related to the protest. A nursery window was broken and the church near 19th Avenue and Indian School Road was spray-painted with graffiti.

In Tucson, counterdemonstrators burned two Mexican flags, riling a crowd of about 12,000 that had gathered at the city's Armory Park. Police fired pepper spray and arrested six protesters, four for assaulting police officers.

In Phoenix, there were no such problems as officers monitored the crowd from the ground, rooftops and helicopters.

"It was completely peaceful and will do some good," said Tamara Fuster, 34, of Tempe, who participated in the march.

Throughout the day, the crowd clogged streets along the march route, forcing road closures and traffic delays.

Many protesters wore white T-shirts and waved American flags.

"I want to be legal," said Carlos Najera, 18, an undocumented immigrant who attends Glendale High School. "Who doesn't?"

Monica Gonzalez, 13, of Phoenix, carried a cardboard sign: "Please don't send my mommy back to Mexico."

"My mother's an immigrant and I don't think it's fair," said Monica, who was born in the United States. "If it weren't for the immigrants America wouldn't be anything."

At Third Avenue and Adams Street, Steve Campbell stood in the path of demonstrators, holding a cardboard sign that read, "Close the border."

But as the marchers neared, Campbell willingly moved to a spot just yards away, and they passed by peacefully.

"Everybody should stand up for what they believe in," said Campbell, 45, of Mesa.

"They are standing up for what they believe in. We are doing the same."

At the end of the day, Morales said organizers had "followed through on what they promised," a peaceful march.

"We were holding our breath for a while," Morales said, "but the marchers were polite and courteous, and they got their message across. The manner in which they conducted themselves speaks volumes for their cause."

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0411marchbiz0411.html

Businesses cope with day's effects
Some make do; some shut down

Jonathan J. Higuera
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 11, 2006 12:00 AM

The impact of Monday's march reverberated throughout the day on construction sites, in restaurants, at carwashes, hotels and resorts, the many Valley businesses that rely on immigrant labor.

From fast-food restaurants in Gilbert to manufacturing shops in Glendale to construction sites ringing the Valley, employers reported production and service slowdowns, and in some cases just chose to close for the day.

It wasn't business as usual, but there was business.

Some employers shut down and marched with their workers, others pulled in crews to pick up the slack. And most expressed happiness that the disruption was just for one day.

"This may be the closest we actually get to the movie A Day Without A Mexican," said Julian Nabozny, owner of five McDonald's franchises and a marcher in Monday's protest.

Many building sites in the area's mighty construction industry came to a virtual standstill. And two-hour waits for lunch were reported at restaurants along the Camelback Corridor.

At Glendale Arena, where construction is in full force for the 223-acre Westgate City Center, production slowed to a crawl with a thinned-out workforce.

"We're treating it like a rain day," said Duane Lindstrom, a project manager for Perini Building Co., general contractor for the Westgate project. "But it's better than a rain day, because they will be back tomorrow and we won't have all the mud and water to deal with."

About 60 percent of his 170 workers were absent, Lindstrom said.

Home builders appeared to be affected more heavily than commercial construction. Some work sites in the West Valley and south Phoenix, normally buzzing with activity, had skeletal crews doing just enough to avoid a shutdown.

"I knew it was going to be like this and it may be this way again May 1," said Terry Hester, a supervisor at Kay Construction, which is building homes near 91st Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road. He was referring to another march being proposed for early May.

About five members of Hester's 35-person team showed up to work.

"When everybody is gone it doesn't affect the work as much as when one crew is gone, because they would be holding up the others," he said about work at the site coming to a virtual halt. "This way it stops all production and all lines of it."

In some instances, businesses closed down, having anticipated the lack of workers or customers willing to brave traffic and crowds.

And some business owners took the opportunity to show support for their employees who were marching in support of legalizing undocumented workers.

Los Olivos Car Wash owner Coletta Spurling shut down for the day and walked the 2 1/4-mile march route with 40 of her employees.

"I lost some money, but it doesn't matter to me," she said. "It's not about money. It's about human beings. My employees thanked me for marching with them."

At Rubio's Baja Grill at Loop 101 and Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard, the entire kitchen staff was at the march, according to a staff member. Lunch customers lined up from the counters to the door.

Steve Chucri, president of the Arizona Restaurant and Hospitality Association, which represents about 2,000 members, mostly restaurants, said the march and subsequent lack of workers to cook and serve meals affected all classes of restaurants around the Valley, from fast-food to sit-down. But it didn't cause shutdowns, he said.

"I don't want to mislead you. It wasn't just your typical day in the restaurant business," Chucri said. "We certainly felt it. But there were no surprises. They (marchers) did it with enough advance notice to prepare."

The lost revenue didn't thrill Rick Schmidgall, owner of Legends Furniture, a wholesale furniture-maker in Glendale, which closed Monday. But it allowed him to show support for his 200 workers so they could attend the march.

"We had some work Saturday, but we paid them overtime," Schmidgall said. His office even provided its workers white T-shirts, with the company's name on it.

"It's a small price to pay to help employees who have been great to us."

But not all industries had disruptions. Many hotels reported business as usual.

"Quite frankly, we had everything ready to go if we needed to, but we didn't need to," said Ann Lane, spokeswoman for the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch. "It was just like any other day."

Reporters Stephanie Paterik and Kate Nolan contributed to this article.

Reporters Monica Alonzo-Dunsmoor, Sarah Muench, Susan Carroll and Matt Benson contributed to this article.