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.

By Paul Giblin and Mary K. Reinhart
Tribune

April 11, 2006

In an unprecedented display of support for immigrant rights, more than 100,000 mostly Hispanic protesters marched Monday from the Arizona State Fairgrounds to the Capitol in Phoenix.

At one point, the crowd of illegal immigrants and their supporters filled the entire 3 1 /2-mile route from start to finish, curb to curb. By the time the first marchers reached their destination point, others were just leaving to begin.

The event was spirited, festive and largely peaceful. It coincided with about 100 marches nationwide as part of the National Day of Action intended to pressure Congress to enact sweeping changes in U.S. immigration policy.

Demonstrators waved thousands of U.S. flags and chanted “U-S-A” and ‘‘Si se puede,’’ Spanish for ‘‘It can be done,’’ sometimes encouraged by onlookers on rooftops and balconies.

Only a scattered few carried Mexican flags, which had sparked tensions at smaller demonstrations last month.

“Today, we commit ourselves to create an electoral earthquake in America,” said former state senator and political activist Alfredo Gutierrez.

“We promise nothing less than to recapture the ideals that created America. We are America. We shall achieve our dream. We will never relent. Today, our armies of voters begin to march. And tomorrow, we vote,” said Gutierrez, one of the featured speakers.

Speaking mostly in Spanish, a series of civil rights leaders, federal and state lawmakers, union organizers, students and immigrant workers encouraged marchers to continue the push for immigration reform.

In general, the protesters support a guest worker program for immigrants and a path to citizenship for the 11 million to 12 million illegal immigrants already in the United States.

Demonstrators carried signs that read: “We are not criminals,” “We pay taxes too” and “We didn’t come here to destroy the American dream; we want to participate in it.”

Entire families, ranging from elderly men hobbled over canes to babies riding strollers, made the three-hour trek under unusually cloudy skies.

Phoenix police estimated the crowd exceeded 100,000, while event organizers said the figure may have swelled to 200,000. Organizers had hoped for 100,000. In any event, the crowd far exceeded the 20,000 who marched in central Phoenix last month and was the largest demonstration in the West.

Marchers banged snare drums, strummed guitars and blew trumpets. Some church groups sang hymns and teens shook makeshift rattles made from water bottles filled with stones.

Ice cream vendors, balloons and a sea of white shirts with slogans made for a carnival-like atmosphere.

“This is so beautiful,” said Diana Rodriguez of Tempe as she walked along Grand Avenue. “We’re here to support our families and ourselves.”

Rodriguez, former student body president of Mesa Community College and a firstgeneration American, said thousands of Latinos take advantage of free programs there to learn English. Antiimmigrant legislation, she said, is borne of fear and politics.

Construction worker Efrain Medoza, 27, said he braved crossing the border from Hidalgo, Mexico, to Mesa to find work five years ago. He supports a program that would grant legal status to undocumented immigrants such as him.

Juan Carlos Ayala, 29, a U.S. citizen born in California, marched in support of equal rights for Hispanics. Ayala said Hispanic workers often are paid less than whites for the same work.

“They see us as a different kind of people. Just because I’m brown doesn’t mean that I’m not American,” said the Phoenix resident.

Authorities closed most parking areas near the Capitol to accommodate the slowmoving crowd. Both the Arizona Senate and House, which are in the middle of their sessions, adjourned early to avoid the crowd.

There were a few reports of marchers and counterprotesters throwing water bottles at one another, but no reported injuries or arrests by early evening, according to Phoenix police.

More than 2,000 police and firefighters from across the state patrolled the event. They took a high-visibility tack. Some rode horses, others rode bicycles and blackgarbed sharpshooters took roof-top positions.

“This was a huge event and basically it went off without a hitch,” said Phoenix detective Tony Morales. “The manner in which (demonstrators) conducted themselves speaks volumes for their cause.”

In a statement after the march, Gov. Janet Napolitano said, “I believe that we must never lose sight of the fact that immigration reform and control of our international borders is, first and foremost, the responsibility of the federal government.”

The governor has advocated proposals such as a border fence and deploying the National Guard at the border, moves that the protesters largely oppose.

Sen. Jake Flake, R-Snowflake, watched as speakers took the stage and examined the thousands of marchers who clustered on the Capitol grounds.

Speakers touted the day as historical, but Flake said, “I don’t think it will change anything.”

Marchers listening to Flake, the father of Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., shook their heads. Some walked away from him.

Former Army medic and Iraq War veteran Tomas Chavez, 34, who was not a U.S. citizen when he joined the military, said it’s important for the demonstrators to keep up the fight.

“I hope they register and vote and make a difference. Otherwise, it’s for nothing,” said the Mesa resident who treated nearly 400 injured personnel in Iraq.

The massive protest may only be the beginning of a modern civil rights movement.

May 1 is the Mexican Labor Day holiday. This year, activists are urging Hispanics to engage in a general work stoppage and to boycott all purchases. Most plan to stay home with their families.

Cayetano Escalante, who marched with about 70 of his co-workers from Pipeland Dynamics on Monday, said he hopes the “union of the people” will give the immigration movement strength.

Contact Paul Giblin by email, or phone (480) 970-2331.
Contact Mary K. Reinhart by email, or phone (480) 898-6867.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=62944

Students leave class for rally
By Blake Herzog, Tribune
April 11, 2006

Predictably, East Valley schools in heavily Hispanic neighborhoods saw higher absentee rates in the wake of Monday’s pro-immigration reform march.

Not so predictably, younger children were in some cases more likely to not be at school.

Sandi Kuhn, principal of Lowell Elementary School in Mesa, said 285 out of 800 students were gone Monday, as opposed to the daily average of about 40 to 60.

Kuhn said students were sent home Friday with a letter from Mesa Unified School District Superintendent Debra Duvall encouraging parents to send their children to class on Monday, and Kuhn didn’t think there was much more school officials could have done to stem Monday’s absences.

“It’s a personal choice, and we can’t pretend to stand in the place of parents and tell them what to do,” Kuhn said.

District spokeswoman Kathy Bareiss said 18 of the district’s 80 schools, all on the west and south sides of Mesa, reported above-normal absences by late Monday afternoon, with more than 400 students absent from one junior high school.

Lowell had the highest number by far of any elementary campus.

The highest number of absences reported by any high school was 250, Bareiss said. She would not name the other schools.

At least one elementary school saw many parents picking up their children at lunchtime, Bareiss said, adding, “We appreciate the efforts of those parents, because they had kept their kids in school for the majority of the day.”

Terry Locke, spokesman for the Chandler Unified School District, said it appeared Galveston Elementary School had the highest absence rate at just higher than 20 percent, or 215 out of about 1,000 students.

Chandler High School reported about 14 percent of students absent. The district’s average is about 5 percent. The Tempe Union High School District and the Scottsdale Unified School District did not report high absenteeism. About 100 students at Tempe’s Fees Middle School held a 20-minute demonstration at the school’s flagpole at the start of the day, before picking up an “unexcused tardy” slip and heading to class. Principal Rey Cruz said he had talked the students out of staging a full-blown walkout last week.

“I asked them, ‘Would you get your message across by being at school or being absent?’ “ he said.

Additionally, 114 Fees students were absent Monday.

Several other Tempe Elementary School District campuses reported bigger spikes in absenteeism, with the other three middle schools each reporting more than 200 students gone, said district spokeswoman Monica Allread.

Contact Blake Herzog by email, or phone (480) 898-6816

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=62947

Economic impact of march isn’t clear yet
By Tony Natale, Tribune
April 11, 2006

The dishes are still piling up at the Blue Adobe Santa Fe Grille in Mesa. That’s because nearly all of the restaurant’s dozen employees, including waiters, dishwashers, greeters and cooks, took Monday off to participate in the march for immigration reform.

“We barely stayed open for lunch,” said José Leyva, coowner and head chef at the Mexican restaurant at 144 N. Country Club Road, Mesa.

Leyva said only two employees were available to handle the crowd during the busy lunch rush, and maintenance duties, such as washing dishes, had to be delayed until the workers return.

“I’ve heard that a lot of restaurants and other places had to close,” Leyva said.

One that nearly closed was the El Bravo Mexican Restaurant.

“Normally, three of our employees make 300 tortillas each day,” said Lorraine Othon, owner of the restaurant at 8338 N. Seventh Street in Phoenix.

“They didn’t come to work Monday, so we didn’t have any tortillas at all to serve our customers. For us, that’s unusual.”

The Tribune found that another Valley restaurant was forced to close its doors altogether after employees failed to report to work: Carl’s Jr. at Osborn and Hayden Roads in Scottsdale.

No one answered the telephone at the closed Carl’s Jr. The economic impact of the Latino National Boycott — a movement to persuade potential buyers to avoid spending money on Monday — won’t be measured until later, said Joseph Ortiz, communications director for the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

He said unlike the national boycott planned for May 1, information about Monday’s effort was limited to specific cities such as Phoenix and was primarily directed at Latinos through radio stations and the Internet, Ortiz said.

“It asked Latinos to avoid buying goods and services for one day,” Ortiz said. “The goal was not only to demonstrate solidarity, but to show the purchasing power Latinos have in the Valley and Arizona.”

He said the maximum effect of a successful boycott by Latinos of goods and services — such as avoidance of restaurants, service stations, retail shops and other direct, customer buying shops — could reach as high as $28 million a day.

Contact Tony Natale by email, or phone (480) 898-6541

Deanna Dent / THE STATE PRESS

Seven-year-old Mario Rodriguez and his 9-year-old sister, Cielo Rodriguez, were among the marchers to the state Capitol Monday in protest of legislation that they feel is unfair to illegal immigrants.

A historic day in Phoenix brought as many as 200,000 people on a three-mile march for immigration reform under the banner "We are America."

"Sí se puede" was the most predominant chant in the crowd. The Spanish phrase means "Yes we can." Monday's march was part of the National Day of Action, and 45 organizations from across the state participated. Event organizers said 200,000 people attended, most wearing white shirts to show their peaceful intentions.

Similar events were held across the country to protest House Resolution 4437, known as the Border Security Bill, which would make illegal immigration a felony and expedite deportation processes. Bulmaro Martinez came with his wife and two children from Mesa. With an American flag in hand, Martinez came to protest because he wanted a greater opportunity in America.

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

Early Monday, a group of 30 Hispanic women of all ages gathered outside a west Phoenix clothing store and warehouse. They are saleswomen and cashiers, but they had Monday off so they could march.

Inside the giant store filled with trendy tank tops and western wear, Ana De Anda raced around, directing employees to load thousands of bottles of water and hundreds of pro-immigrant T-shirts to hand out to marchers.

This would be the first time that Ana and her sister, Theresa, closed the doors of their family business, La Perrona Botas y Ropa. Since 2003, through every holiday, and even the day their father, Jose de Jesus, died, the girls stocked displays and rang up sales.

But Monday was the march. The Somos Americamarch.

Ana wanted to walk in solidarity with her employees and customers, who she guesses are largely undocumented. Ana hoped the march would be peaceful, and that her voice would carry along with the thousands to Washington.

"I want to support all the people who come and buy from us," said Ana, 30, dressed in jeans, a white T-shirt and a Tiffany necklace. "I want them to know that we're standing next to them. We have what we have because of our customers."

Daughter of immigrants
Done loading, she stepped outside and asked a security guard to close the large warehouse garage door. As the large metal door rolled to the cement floor, a pair of signs appeared in Spanish.

"La Perrona closed its doors today, April 10, to support all of the Hispanic community."

Ana hopped into her SUV and joined a caravan of several vehicles filled with her employees and sister to the state fairgrounds.

Ana is the daughter of undocumented immigrants. Jose de Jesus and Rosa Maria crossed north separately in the early 1970s, met, married, and settled in Los Angeles. Ana and her five siblings were born in California and thus are American citizens. The parents opened clothing stores and managed to raise their children on a modest income.

Ana's father became a legal resident, and then a U.S. citizen, after the 1986 amnesty; her mother became a citizen in 2001. Ana believes legalization of the estimated 11 million to 12 million undocumented immigrants living in this country is just around the corner.

Like many of her employees and customers, Ana said her father "always believed, papers or no papers, if you do things right, you can succeed."

Speaking as she drove to the march, she wiped away a tear. Her father died just 10 months ago.

"He also believed in supporting the Hispanic community. I know he's watching us."

Moving to Phoenix

By noon, the number of employees with Ana at the state fairgrounds had grown to 50 from 30. They passed out the T-shirts and thousands of bottles of water. In the shadows of giant banners of American flags and Cesar Chavez, she yelled, "Agua gratis! Agua gratis!" Free water, free water.

Ana's dad moved the family to Phoenix in 1995 after they lost their stores during Los Angeles' deep recession. He put all of the store merchandise in a truck and sold it at swap meets, selling fashionable tops and pants at low prices. Ana's father and the family worked hard, and today they have six Valley stores.

A good feeling

On Grand Avenue near Taylor Street, Ana uses her long acrylic nails to dial up her boyfriend and other friends to talk about the march as she walked. Some around her chant "Sí, se puede." Many carry American flags. Looking around as the crowd continued through downtown Phoenix, she said, "It's beautiful."

Even before everyone reached the capitol, she felt the lawmakers in Washington would surely hear her and others now, with such a massive march.

"I'm a part of something big," she said. "The government will see that we all are standing together."

Marchers collect clout in Congress
Hard-liners to rethink immigration reform

The Arizona Republic
Apr. 12, 2006 12:00 AM

Mass demonstrations by Latinos nationwide and the threat of economic boycotts will pressure Congress to adopt immigration reforms that are less draconian than Republican hard-liners want, but it is unclear what influence the protests will have on midterm elections.

Though the marches had a secondary goal of registering new voters and empowering the Latino electorate, there was no immediate sign of huge registration gains.

Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., predicted Tuesday that the heavy, peaceful turnout of hundreds of thousands of demonstrators in Phoenix and other cities nationwide will "keep the focus on a possible compromise in the Senate" and could spur the House to retreat from declaring illegal immigration a felony. advertisement

"The political realities are that those who are pushing a compromise . . . have a bit of momentum on their side," Renzi said. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for example, "is feeling a little wind at his back" in continuing to press for compromise, he said.

McCain vowed Tuesday to keep working toward a new Senate agreement that would allow eventual legalization of millions of immigrants now in the United States illegally. His bipartisan bill with Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., remains at the core of the stalled compromise, and McCain said he and other senators involved in last week's negotiations "remain totally committed to returning to this issue when the Senate returns from recess."

Legislative compromise

On the local level, state Rep. Ben Miranda, D-Phoenix, who addressed marchers at a state Capitol rally Monday afternoon, said he sensed a softening of political resolve among some Republicans, both nationally and locally, who opposed citizenship for undocumented immigrants working in this country for years.

"It (the march) put a face to the immigrant," Miranda said.

Miranda expects the positive reaction to "move the middle toward a more compassionate view of immigration."

"Now, it's up to the Republican Party whether they want to lose a whole generation of (future) immigrant voters or not," he added.

Upon returning to work later this month, the Senate Judiciary Committee plans to vote on last week's compromise, allowing the full Senate to resume its debate. The House passed a bill last December that would make it a felony for immigrants to enter the country illegally, a move that was a primary target of recent protests.

It now seems clear that whatever legislation emerges from both chambers will not contain that punitive component.

"There's some meanness in the (House) bill," Renzi said, though he voted for it because it contained his proposal for a $50 million test project that would use high-tech surveillance and enforcement to stem illegal immigration in Cochise County.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., issued a joint statement Tuesday saying they will push for a bill without the felony provision. Aides to Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., main author of the House bill, said Tuesday that the congressman had tried to remove the felony provision but was blocked by partisan maneuvering.

Sensenbrenner spokesman Jeff Lungren said protesters also had misplaced concerns about humanitarian-aid workers being targeted in the bill, which never was intended to make such efforts a crime.

Sensenbrenner and Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., and Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., the other main authors of the House bill, have pledged to work with church groups and other aid agencies to address concerns that the legislation could open them to criminal prosecution.

Effect on parties
Apart from influencing the political dynamics of the immigration debate, the marches have spurred growing discussion of what it all means for the fall elections.

Ed Patru, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, suggested that "immigration doesn't have that much effect on congressional races" except in a few Southwestern border areas.

"When you look at congressional races, it's taxes, homeland security, the war on terror, health care, jobs - those are issues that resonate," Patru said.

But Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman Bill Burton said there is a growing recognition among voters nationwide that action is needed. With the GOP deeply divided on the issue, he said, "I don't know that the Republicans have a good answer. Across the board, voters are dissatisfied with the way things are going. The lack of action on immigration just underscores all the other problems."

Democrat Jim Pederson, who is challenging Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., believes the issue will drive more voters, including Latinos, into the Democrats' camp because conservatives have been "villainizing an entire community of people."

"They (Latinos) have been trending Republican over the last several years," Pederson said. "On this issue, I think they could come back into the fold."

But Jaime Molera, a Republican political consultant advising Kyl, said the senator spent years courting the Latino vote and "has a very strong track record" of responding to concerns of the Hispanic community.

Molera does not expect Kyl to suffer Election Day repercussions for opposing automatic citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

"The marches show that depending on how Republicans handle immigration reform, we'll either have a huge opportunity or a huge problem (in November)," said Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.

And Molera conceded: "The Republican Party in this state could be in trouble if it's not more aggressive in working with Latinos. It's potentially a very powerful voting bloc."

Voter registration

Nobody is sure how much more powerful it became after Monday's march. State and local election officials said no new registrations had been turned in Tuesday.

Tucker Bounds, spokesman for the Republican National Committee, suggested that whatever gains are made in Latino voting power, neither party could yet stake a claim to their allegiance.

Both parties will intensify their recruiting, and Bounds reiterated a message brought to Phoenix two weeks ago by GOP National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman: that the GOP's pro-business, family-values platform can attract Latinos.

"It could be hasty to assume Latino voters will be voting exclusively on the immigration issue," Bounds said.

Republicans count about 30 seats nationwide as tossups, and Democrats count 40 plus.

Patru thinks immigration is likely to be an issue in only a few districts.

Topmost is southeastern Arizona's 8th Congressional District where Republican Jim Kolbe is retiring.

Republic Washington reporter Mike Madden contributed to this article.

The Arizona Republic
Apr. 12, 2006 12:00 AM

Adriana Mendias was back behind the counter at Los Olivos Hand Car Wash on Tuesday morning in her purple company shirt, greeting a steady stream of regulars paying for their Express wash or Complete Works special.

Gone was the white T-shirt and purple Los Olivos hat she and a few dozen co-workers wore in the massive immigration rights march through Phoenix on Monday afternoon.

It was back to business, a brisk business that scrubs, polishes and details as many as 600 cars a day at the corner of Third Street and McDowell Road on the edge of downtown Phoenix.

There was little time for Mendias or her co-workers to reflect, but a newspaper article on the march was taped to the counter alongside the six-day weather forecast and an offer of free Diamondbacks tickets. The section on owner Coletta Spurling's decision to close the carwash for most of the day Monday and march with her employees was highlighted.

"I thought it was a very, very nice experience," Mendias said between customers. "Hopefully, they listened to us."

Mendias and the other Los Olivos workers say they weren't marching for themselves because they are legal. Spurling's son, Sean, says his mother requires that of employees.

Mendias, 20, said for her the march was about fighting for "all my people."

She would like amnesty for all immigrants here illegally but realizes that is unlikely. Any protection that allows a large group of immigrants to quickly get a green card or work permit would be an improvement from the current situation, she and others at the car wash said.

"We expect something to really happen," said Maribel Bueno, 26, the newly named manager of Los Olivos.

Immigration reform is expected to remain a long, tough political battle, something that won't simply materialize from a series of high-profile marches around the country.

If supporters hope to keep up their momentum and shake things up economically, they need to stay together, said Dawn McLaren, research economist at Arizona State University's W.P. Carey School of Business.

That's difficult when it's largely a grass-roots effort involving people who have day jobs they can't abandon at will, she said.

"The group is not as cohesive as a labor union," she said. "Whereas the labor unions can get together and share resources, this is just a group of separate people that have found a voice that is nice and loud together.

"Although it's nice to have that voice, the impact is more social than it is economic."

The local economic impact from Monday's march is negligible, McLaren said, because it was just a single day and didn't extend to all industries or all parts of the Valley.

"If you think about it, there's one day when we have everything shut down; it's called Christmas," she said.

That's not to say businesses didn't feel a pinch on Monday. Durant's restaurant saw sales slide by 50 percent, said Russell Hoag, partner and general manager.

"I think people were afraid to come downtown," he said.

At the Subway at Seventh Street and McDowell, lunch business was off about 40 percent, manager Becky England said.

The biggest problem: marchers parked in the strip mall's already overcrowded parking lot.

The sandwich shop recouped most of the lost business when the march ended and people stopped by for dinner, she said.

Los Olivos isn't tallying its losses. The carwash was open for only two hours before the march and didn't reopen until Tuesday morning. Two lines of cars six and seven deep waited their turn first thing in the morning. Business has been at a record-breaking pace the past week or so, Bueno said.

The carwash obviously gave up a lot of money, but that was never a concern, Sean Spurling said.

"You can put that right there," he said, pointing to a reporter's notebook. "We don't care. We did it for our workers."

Longtime customer Jaron Norberg, a retired Arizona Public Service Co. executive, isn't surprised. He said owner Coletta Spurling concerned about her workers. "A lot of these kids have worked here for a long time," he said.

Norberg recognizes there are issues on both sides of the immigration debate but said, "I have to think that reasonable thinking people can sit down and work out some kind of plan that allows these people (undocumented workers) to be contributing members of society - in the open."

Customer Hilary Cope who works in financial services, didn't weigh in on the larger immigration debate but found it admirable that Spurling marched with her workers.

"She was willing to lose some money to make her feelings known," Cope said.

Reporter Barbara Yost contributed to this article.

http://www.prensahispanaaz.com/index.asp?id=6959

somos américa

Convirtiendo en un verdadero himno la frase “Somos América” (We Are America), decenas de miles de personas participaron en la megamarcha del pasado 10 de abril, realizada en el centro de Phoenix, y convocada por varias organizaciones defensoras de los derechos de los inmigrantes.

Los manifestantes, se calcula casi 250 mil, hablaron fuerte y claro para exigir al gobierno norteamericano una reforma migratoria humana y justa, que permita regularizar su status migratorio a casi 12 millones de inmigrantes que viven ilegalmente en el país.

“Aquí estamos y no nos vamos, y si no echan nos regresamos”, gritaron a los cuatro vientos, mientras marchaban de la 19 avenida y McDowell al Capitolio Estatal.

http://www.prensahispanaaz.com/index.asp?id=6964

Los oportunistas de la marcha

Intentan aprovecharse de la histórica concentración con fines siniestros.
No hay lente de una cámara fotográfica o de video que pudiera abarcar la totalidad de la “marea blanca”.

Reporteros, camarógrafos y fotógrafos de los medios se ubicaron en todas las posiciones disponibles, pero fue difícil captar completamente el despertar del gigante de habla hispana por las calles de Phoenix, Tucson y las principales ciudades de Estados Unidos.

Inclusive los periodistas y autoridades que observaron abordo de helicópteros, tuvieron que volar lo más alto posible para apreciar mejor las millas y millas repletas de inmigrantes que salieron a las calles. Tal vez la única forma de lograrlo habría sido el satélite, que sí tiene el alcance suficiente para detectar con alta tecnología la presencia masiva de una comunidad valiente que gritaba “Aquí Estamos y no nos Vamos”, “Sí se puede”, “Somos Americanos” y “U-S-A, U-SA”, entre otras consignas.

El pueblo se manifestó, movilizándose de manera histórica, civilizada, ejemplar y sin precedentes.
En Phoenix, ciertos medios tratan de manipular minimizando las cifras con propósitos que hacen sospechar la mala intención. Es preciso destacar que la multitud desfiló desde el Coliseo Memorial, localizado en la 19 y McDowell, hasta el Capitolio Estatal, podría haber sumado a por lo menos 200,000 o hasta un cuarto de millón de personas, de acuerdo a versiones oficiales. Como si ya lo tuvieran premeditado, desde temprano propagaron como un rumor por el internet en el portal azcentral.com del Arizona Repúblic (así lo reportaba momentos después en español la 740 AM, dando como un hecho real) que apenas habrían participado 120,000 manifestantes, adelantando esa “web” en inglés la citada cifra sin ninguna base científica, como suelen hacerlo con estrategia previa en los fraudes electorales. La radioemisora en español solamente repetía ingenuamente lo que aseguraba su fuente informativa.

Imposible ocultar la exitosa marcha del Día de Acción Nacional Pro-Inmigrantes este 10 de Abril del 2006. Nadie podrá tapar el sol con un dedo.

Sin duda, la movilización de millones de marchistas a lo largo y ancho de Estados Unidos, ha sido un contundente triunfo, lo cual es por demás tratar de manipularlo, pues las imágenes de la televisión -repito- eran insuficientes, ya que las cámaras de video tenían que irse moviendo para captar el desarrollo del grandioso evento, siendo uno de tantos como sean necesarios, hasta persuadir pacíficamente a los polìticos del Congreso para que acuerden una reforma migratoria justa en beneficio de alrededor de 20 millones de indocumentados Ahora los expertos también calculan que no son nomás 13 millones de inmigrantes sin papeles, sino que podrán llegar a unos 20 millones. Es como si vives en Texas, California o Arizona y, viendo por donde sea a paisanos mexicanos, mexico-estadounidenses y demás latinos, y aún así se dice que solo significan un 25 por ciento de la población en general. En fin.

Es difícil restarle mérito al reciente acto tan trascendental de la comunidad de habla hispana, esperándose un mayor impacto el próximo 1 de mayo, cuando dentro y Fuera de Estados Unidos (porque también allá en México ya se preparan) se lleve a cabo el boicot económico. Tampoco será posible que se apoderen del movimiento algunos seudo-líderes arribistas y ciertos medios oportunistas, que buscan capitalizar a su provecho, viendo como un vil negocio, esta causa popular.

Esto viene a cuento porque representantes de varios medios de comunicación se mostraron muy inconformes con la desmedida ambición de personeros sin escrúpulos, que intentan apropiarse del logro alcanzado por los mismos inmigrantes, que son los únicos protagonistas de la victoriosa lucha.

En Phoenix, hay cerebros visibles a quienes se les respeta por su honorable conducción del movimiento, desde hace muchos meses atrás, destacando uno de ellos, Elías Bermúdez. Pero durante la ceremonia, no faltó quien, principalmente sujetos de camisetas amarillas, cometieran algunos sacrificios para que no surgiera la violencia y todo terminara sin incidentes. Se les aplaude que mantuvieron bajo cotrol a los contados provocadores anti-inmigrantes.

Sin embargo, trataron de manera pésima a madres con carriolas, haciéndolas a un lado, y hasta desconocieron a los representantes de medios en español.

Cabe mencionar que quien esto escribe vivió en carne propia el rechazo en varias ocasiones, cuando arribistas al espacio donde fue instalado el pequeño templete, en el patio del Capitolio Estatal, entraban y salían con solo decir que eran del periódico La Voz o del Arizona Republic, asícomo otros que solo buscaban figurar, y que ni siquiera se les veía cumpliendo con una función específica o responsabilidad seria en la organización.

El despertar del gigante, venciendo al fantasma del miedo y la apatía, se debe precisamente a la necesidad de los mismos inmigrantes y su indiscutible entusiasmo de protagonizar su propia defensa ante las leyes pretendidas por políticos fascistas. Pero ahora resulta que seudo-activistas y medios oportunistas pretenden manipular a su conveniencia los resultados, minimizando el fuerte efecto de la marcha, e intentando apoderarse del mérito que les corresponde exclusivamente a los inmigrantes.

Ellos, los miles y millones de marchistas, son los verdaderos protagonistas, pues rebasaron todas las expectativas.

Luis Lim García, para cualquier aclaración 602-487-3810.

http://www.prensahispanaaz.com/index.asp?id=7019

Realizan estudiantes marcha ejemplar

Javier Arce

Dejaron las aulas por un día para defender su causa. No eran los miles que se esperaban, pero acudieron al llamado con el objetivo de ser escuchados.

Eran más de 300 estudiantes los que se reunieron en el Indian Steele Park de la 3 calle e Indian School para manifestar sus ideas.

Las expresiones artísticas y culturales fueron preámbulo de la caminata, al realizarse en el corazón del parque un performance prehispánico.

Al ritmo de tambores y sonidos de viento se relizó una Danza Azteca dejándose sentir un espíritu universitario.

“Inmigrantes desde 1492” era el lema que se leía en una pancarta, mientras bailarines con atuendos aztecas danzaban como parte de un ritual sagrado.
A la par, decenas de estudiantes daban los últimos retoques a sus respectivas pancartas preparándose para salir a las calles.

Pese a que no era el gran número de estudiantes que se estimaba, el compañerismo y la buena vibra se dejaba sentir igual entre la juventud entusiasta que reunida, planeaba la ruta a seguir.
“Nos informaron que en muchas escuelas como la César Chávez encerraron a los estudiantes y no pudieron venir, nos da lástima que las escuelas hayan tomado esa reacción”, dijo el estudiante universitario Carlos García.

Inicia el “Rally”

Al grito de “El pueblo, unido, jamás será vencido” iniciaron su travesía en punto de las 11:25 horas.

Un nutrido contingente de patrullas escoltaba la marcha, mientras los gritos de protesta se dejaban escuchar a lo largo de la Indian School, rumbo al Oeste.

El ruido de los helicópteros se confundía con el agitar de las banderas y los curiosos salían de sus negocios para observar la caminata, algunos para apoyarla y otros simplemente para verla.
La calle Central, rumbo al sur, se convirtió en la ruta a seguir por todo el estudiantado que, alegres y con muchas energías, gritaban a los cuatro vientos.

Miembros de la organización estudiantil Águila se encargaban de que sus compañeros marcharan por arriba de la banqueta para evitar algún disturbio o molestias con el tráfico.

Si alguien se salía del camino se escuchaba inmediatamente el altavoz de la patrulla, recordando que la marcha era por arriba de la banqueta.

Los claxon de los carros que circulaban por la zona, imprimían un toque de solidaridad hacia los jóvenes, quienes agradecían con gritos y aplausos el detalle.

El primer contratiempo

Fue a la altura de la Thomas y Central donde los estudiantes pararon por primera vez.

La causa fue que algunos oficiales de policía intentaron disuadir la marcha sin motivo alguno.
Ese no fue factor para que el estudiantado bajara las pancartas y, sin ningún medio mas que el diálogo, lograron convencer a los agentes para que la marcha siguiera su curso.

Los puntos de abastecimiento nunca faltaron y los jóvenes tuvieron en todo momento botellas de agua para mitigar la sed.

“Educación un derecho, no un privilegio”, “Estudio y trabajo es lo que pedimos”, “Fin al racismo”, “Viva Aztlán” y “Brown Pride” eran algunos de los mensajes que se leían en las más de 70 pancartas que coloreaban el recorrido.
“We are the future!, We are the future!” coreaban todos al unísono, mientras caminaban por la Central, captando la atención de las personas que se encontraban en su hora de lunch, en los restaurantes, o fumándose un cigarrillo en las afueras de los edificios.

“Show me your ID”

Sin razón alguna, oficiales de la policía que viajaban a bordo de una patrulla le pidieron a Eduardo Limón, un estudiante que marchaba al frente del contingente, que se identificara.

Sin caer en lo que muchos consideraron una provocación, él accedió amablemente y les proporcionó su ID, cuyos datos fueron ingresados a la computadora de la patrulla. Aunque dicha acción causó extrañeza en los presentes no pasó a mayores y luego de que los oficiales le regresaran la identificación a Limón la caminata prosiguió sin problema alguno.

El segundo contratiempo llegó a la altura de la 3 avenida y Roosevelt,a eso de las 12:30 de la tarde, donde oficiales de la policía trataron de desviar el curso de la marcha.

El contingente tuvo que parar aproximadamente 5 minutos mientras policías y estudiantes dialogaban acerca del recorrido.

Finalmente la marcha se reanudó por la 3 avenida hacia el sur donde se hizo una pausa, esto con el motivo de que los estudiantes se refrescaran con agua.

“Descansaremos 15 minutos, no queremos que haya deshidratados ni gente desmayada, todos a tomar agua”, se escuchaba por una altavoz mientras dos pickups, llenos de botellas de agua repartían el líquido vital.

Se une el pueblo

Era cerca de la 1:00 de la tarde cuando el “Rally estudiantil” tomó la Washington rumbo al Oeste.
Allí, centenares de personas los esperaban con aplausos y gritos de apoyo, y rápidamente se unieron al contingente.

La marcha tomó fuerza y los gritos se hicieron más intensos para tomar la recta final rumbo al Capitolio.

Llegaron las primeras protestas por parte de los grupos antiinmigrantes pero ellos no respondieron a las provocaciones.

Contrario a ello, elevaron sus pancartas y continuaron su camino en total paz con el único objetivo de encontrarse con la marcha masiva.
En punto de las 1:30 de la tarde llegaron al Capitolio donde tuvieron una ensordecedora recepción.

Los estudiantes marcharon en círculo frente a las oficinas de gobierno alzando la voz para ser escuchados.

Un altavoz sirvió de conducto para que los jóvenes manifestaran sus ideas explicando el por qué vinieron a los Estados Unidos.

“No somos criminales” y “Si se puede” eran los cánticos más representativos en la explanada de gobierno cumpliéndose así el objetivo del estudiantado.

Un apoyo total y unánime por parte de la comuniodad presente recibiern los jovenes frente al capitolio, para que media hora más tarde arribaran al lugar los más de 200 mil manifestantes de la otra marcha.

1.- Los 4 bastones que simbolizan la paz para los estudiantes siempre se mantuvieron al frente del contingente.

2.- Creativas y coloridas pancartas fueron elaboradas a mano por los jóvenes.

3.- En dos ocasiones los oficiales de policía de Phoenix intentaron infructuosamente detener la marcha.

4.- Un gran número de jóvenes estudiantes alzaron la voz frente al Capitolio para manifestar sus ideas.

Gigantesca asistencia al Capitolio estatal
¡Esto ya no lo detienen!

Por Valeria Fernández
La Voz
Abril 12, 2006

Miles de arizonenses, sin importar su estatus legal en los Estados Unidos, marcharon bajo una sola bandera demandando la legalización de 11 millones de indocumentados que han encontrado su hogar en este país.

La suma exacta de los participante se desconoce. Sus organizadores afirman que llegó hasta 250 mil personas, en tanto que la oficina del alcalde estimo unas 125 mil. El Departamento de Policía local se abstuvo de hacer declaraciones al respecto. Lo cierto es que la suma esperada de 100 mil marchistas claramente se vio superada.

El eco de voces que gritaban “USA” y “Sí se puede” retumbó en los altos edificios de oficinas del centro de Phoenix. Las calles Grand, Van Buren, Washington y Avenida Siete, se convirtieron en un río de gente que vestía camisetas blancas y portaba banderas de Estados Unidos e innumerables carteles.

Fue necesario cerrar al tráfico automovilístico multitud de calles y el tránsito se convirtió en un verdadero caos. Asimismo, muchos de los comercios y negocios que se encontraban en la ruta de la marcha debieron cerrar sus puertas.

Por segunda vez en semanas Arizona hizo historia con otra marcha, y con eso se sumó a un movimiento nacional en más de cien ciudades para reclamar una reforma migratoria justa en el Congreso.

“El gigante no estaba dormido, estaba trabajando”, dijo Rommel Cantú, uno de los voluntarios en la marcha.

Varias personas se tomaron el día libre de su trabajo con o sin el apoyo de sus jefes, todavía con las camisetas blancas de algún restaurante o los cascos de su oficio en la construcción.

Las banderas norteamericanas predominaron en el evento, las había hechas de cortinas, y hasta de toallas. La gente respondió de forma obediente al pedido de organizadores que los urgieron a no llevar banderas de otros países que en pasados manifestaciones provocaron molestias al sector anglosajón.

“El mensaje es claro: Somos América también. Somos latinos, somos centroamericanos, somos sudamericanos, todos unidos somos América”, dijo Javier Guevara, un joven inmigrante de Morelos, México. “Espero que entiendan ahora que estamos aquí por necesidad, y sabemos que este país nos da las mejores oportunidades”.

La movilización contó con la participación de otros grupos minoritarios como los afro-americanos, aunque en pequeña medida.

“Yo quiero estar del lado correcto de la historia”, dijo Joel Leonard, director ejecutivo del “Black Leadership Forum”, una organización que representa a los afro-americanos. Leonard equiparó este movimiento con el de los derechos civiles que empezó a fines de los 50.

Cientos de iglesias, sindicatos y familias enteras se sumaron a la masiva protesta que fue organizada metódicamente por más de 40 organizaciones estatales.

Para los activistas la marcha fue un sueño vuelto realidad, mientras que para miles de inmigrantes fue el reconocimiento de que “no estamos solos”.

Resisten provocación

La marcha sorprendió hasta al Departamento de Seguridad y al mismo alcalde Phil Gordon por su organización y el respeto de sus participantes. La excepción fueron algunos incidentes aislados que provocaron la furia del público.

“Regrésenlos a México, mojados” gritaba Richard Lee Roberts, un veterano de guerra de Wisconsin, con una pequeño cartel improvisado.

En la esquina de la Avenida 15 y Washington dos hombres sostenían un letrero gigantesco que leía originalmente en inglés “Deporten a los Extranjeros Ilegales, háganlos criminales”, haciendo alusión a una ley que pudiera criminalizarlos.

Los legisladores en el Capitolio estatal, cuna de al menos 40 leyes antiinmigrantes y destino final de la marcha, brillaron por su ausencia.

Uno de los únicos representantes que se quedó fue John Allen, un legislador republicano con un cartel que decía: “Gobernadora yo los detengo, mientras usted llama a la Guardia Nacional”.

Hacia las 4 de la tarde, cerca de 2 mil estudiantes entre 14 y 18 años, que optaron por quedarse en el salón de clase y hacer el examen AIMS llegaron entre un mar de banderas agitadas.

“Nosotros no dejamos la escuela porque para nosotros es importante estudiar”, dijo Diana Rivera, una estudiante de 16 años de Cartwright High School. “Si estas leyes se aprueban pueden despedazar a mi familia y se van a tener que regresar a México”.

Otros jóvenes decidieron abandonar las clases y organizar su propia marcha a pesar de las amenazas en distritos escolares y pedidos de los activistas. La jornada estuvo marcada por una elevada ausencia en los salones escolares.

La próxima acción de protesta se planifica para el próximo 1 de mayo, donde se anticipa un paro nacional. Pero a largo plazo varios organizadores aseguraron que el siguiente paso será el registro de votantes.

“Estamos furiosos por lo que han querido hacerle a nuestra gente. ¡Ya basta! Vamos a votar, nos levantaremos de nuestras cenizas y vamos a sorprenderlos”, dijo Rosie López, activista del Foro Hispano.

Los números hablan

2,640 Incremento en el número de estudiantes ausentes en el Distrito Unificado de High Schools de Phoenix, comparado a un lunes normal.

362 Número de llamadas realizadas a la línea de información sobre tráfico citadino hasta las 5 p.m. Las primeras llamadas eran para solicitar señas para llegar a la marcha; las personas que llamaron después querían eludir las zonas problemáticas.

1,500 Número aproximado de oficiales en las calles. Cerca de 1,000 eran oficiales de la policía de Phoenix.

11 Número de respuestas médicas, en su mayoría problemas de poca importancia, debidos a la marcha.

2 Número de personas llevadas a los hospitales.

30 Veces fue entrevistado el alcalde Phil Gordon por medios de comunicación locales y nacionales. Comenzó a las 5 a.m. y su última entrevista estaba programada para las 8:08 p.m.

110-130 Número estimado de calles cerradas para dar paso a la marcha del lunes.

0 Número de arrestos

The initial newspaper reports in the Republic and Tribune said that 100,000 to 130,00 people marched. The State Press, La Prensa, and La Voz said that the police estimated that 200,000 to 250,000 people marched

wow!!!! police protection is sure expensive!!!! it cost $3 for every person that attended the march to have the cops protect us from ourselfs! (some estimates say 250,000 people marched and that lowers the cost to from $3 to $1.20 per person)

===========

Immigration march cost Phoenix over $300,000

The Arizona Republic
Apr. 15, 2006 12:00 AM

PHOENIX - Phoenix officials spent at least $309,000 to ensure public safety during the immigration march Monday that drew more than 100,000 people to downtown Phoenix.

That's about $3 per person.

"We invested the appropriate resources we believed were needed to provide for a safe and orderly event for the participants, the motorists and the general public," said David Ramírez, a city spokesman.

The marchers rallied in support of legalization for millions of undocumented immigrants.

There were no arrests or major incidents during the peaceful march that took participants from the state fairgrounds to the state Capitol, but police officers and firefighters were on standby.

A bulk of the money, at least $256,124, covered overtime costs for public safety crews and support staff, including eight temporary workers who answered more than 360 calls to the city's traffic information line.

The city also paid about $25,000 for barricades to close streets throughout the day of the march.

"We had to keep traffic moving around the march, and keep people from parking in neighborhoods," said Mike Frisbie, a city traffic engineering supervisor.

The cost of $3 per person was $3 too much for some residents.

"Any other group or organization would have to pay for their barricades and for the police overtime," said Donna Neill, a community activist. "You can't take my tax dollar and use it when our community are in such need in other areas like parks or senior centers. That money is gone. It didn't produce anything tangible."

Other costs related to the march:

• About $22,000 to serve 6,000 meals to public safety crews from the city and outside police agencies working the event.

• About $6,500 to print and distribute 30,000 fliers several days before the march to inform residents and businesses along the march route about the event and related street closures.

"It's our duty to provide public safety at every level," Assistant Fire Chief Bob Khan said. "And the city did that seamlessly."

Reach the reporter at monica.alonzo-dunsmoor@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-2478

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