Thousands in Phoenix protest Arizona's immigration law

[pampango]

Source: LA Times

Under a broiling desert sun, thousands of protesters on Saturday morning slowly marched five miles to the state capitol here to rally against Arizona's controversial new immigration law. There was no official crowd estimate, but the march is one of the largest demonstrations since Gov. Jan Brewer signed SB 1070 into law on April 23. The law makes it a state crime to lack immigration papers and requires police to determine the status of people they stop and suspect are in the country illegally.

Demonstrators for Saturday's protest against SB 1070 came from as far as Rhode Island and Louisiana. They streamed down the broad boulevards in a several-blocks long procession of white shirts, American flags and umbrellas to protect against temperatures expected to reach the high 90s. Dennis DuVall, 68, drove down from the Arizona city of Prescott, 100 miles north. "It's my civic duty," said DuVall, a retired bus driver. "It shows commitment. People are willing to come out and walk five miles in 100 degrees. It's important."

The diverse crowd included a number of families like the Baezes, who drove from San Diego on Friday night. Juan and Guadalupe Baez, their six children ranging in age from 2 to 18 and Guadalupe's mother all wore matching white T-shirts that Juan, a 43-year-old trucker, had designed. On the back were the words: "We are hard workers, not criminals! We believe in USA justice. Arizona's SB 1070 is not justice."

"It's good to come here to help people," said Baez, who emigrated from Mexico illegally 24 years ago but was legalized in the amnesty signed by President Reagan in 1986. He is now a U.S. citizen. Passage of the Arizona law shocked him. "I thought the government is more noble, more fair here," he said. Another family pushed a toddler who held a placard that said, "Mommy, why is my skin color a crime?" Several banners targeted President Obama, with whom many Latino activists express disappointment for failing to push immigration reform. "Obama ¿Donde Esta la Reforma?" asked one.


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-arizona-protest-20100529,0,1128081.story

[bluestateguy]

1. But, but, look over there, behind the tree! It's 50 angry white men with boobs at a Tea Party!

24 hour round the clock comprehensive news coverage is required!

[UTUSN]

16. Nailed. n/t

[Omaha Steve]

2. K&R!

[pinboy3niner]

3. An extimated 10,000 protested the anti-immigrant law

Thousands march in Phoenix to protest immigration law
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/05/29/20100529immigration-protest-phoenix0529-ON.html

From the story, 10,000 are also expected at the pro-SB 1070 rally in Tempe:

"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."

[EFerrari]

5. A lot of people drink this weekend. I hope nobody gets stupid.

Or, stupid and violent.

[pinboy3niner]

8. Having the events in two different cities is probably for the best

But there probably will be counter-demonstrations in Tempe, and I also hope that things will stay calm.

[rurallib]

4. (from the article) "It is widely popular in Arizona"

it has never ceased to amaze me how quickly American are willing to give up their constitutional rights(or someone else's preferably). Those who think that the loss of civil liberties will be confined only to a minority are as usual sadly mistaken.
And as happened in Greece and Rome and on down the line throughout history, those with the power and the money will once again screw the common man.
Our constitution is a beautiful document so long as it is truly followed. But that is for the most part is voluntary. Once pieces start to get torn, it is so hard to repair.

[MODem75]

6. Looks like the redneck idiots showed up with their guns.

[EFerrari]

7. This is what the anti march is looking like:

[pinboy3niner]

9. Now, THAT is impressive!

Thanks for sharing.

[EFerrari]

11. I just realized the DBacks are here. There was supposed to be a march

from downtown to the park beginning at 4pm but I'm not finding anything yet. Maybe up later. The two people keeping the Chronicle open may be at dinner. lol

[EFerrari]

13. 500 people outside AT&T Park, Giants v DBacks.

http://www.kcoy.com/global/story.asp?s=12566192

Not bad for a holiday weekend. Looks like they plan to protest all weekend.

[Jefferson23]

10. + 1 million n/t

[EFerrari]

12. Dear wonderful Dolores Huerta is in Phoenix. Our local Spanish ch

briefly interviewed her. She looks YOUNGER every year. lol

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[UTUSN]

15. 7,000 'baggers in Tempe (no leeway) while the 10 to 20 thousand could have been 50,000

Meanwhile, Faux runs stories about "dueling" protests, making them sound EQUAL. Like when they pit ONE global warming scientist vs ONE hoaxer and perpetrate the scam that scientific opinion is equally divided.

Why exactly is it convenient to blur crowd estimates?!1 Photos of crowd density and extent ought to be really easy.


**********QUOTE********

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100530/ap_on_re_us/us_immigration_protests

Thousands march to protest Ariz. immigration law

.... Police declined to estimate the size of the crowd, but it appeared at least 10,000 to 20,000 protesters, some bused in from around the country, braved 94-degree heat. Organizers had said they expected the demonstration to bring as many as 50,000 people. ....

The law's opponents also gathered at capitols in states including Texas and Oregon, and about 300 people protested at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City... ....

In San Francisco, about 500 people gathered Saturday night outside AT&T Park, where the Giants were playing the Arizona Diamondbacks. ....

About 7,000 supporters of Arizona's law gathered Saturday evening at a baseball stadium in suburban Tempe... ....

********UNQUOTE********

[Kali]

17. suburban Tempe?

stadium is downtown, Tempe is an old city and it certainly HAS suburbs, but it is hardly all suburban especially compared to others in the area:wtf:

[totodeinhere]

18. It is always earlier to get a crowd that is opposed to something to demonstrate.

The supporters already have their law and so many of them might not feel the need to protest. But every poll I have seen shows majority support in Arizona for the law.

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/polls-arizona-immigration-law-remind
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/05/05/majority-of-arizonans-favor-new-immigration-law/

[EFerrari]

21. The teabaggers went to DIABLO stadium!

Lol

[alp227]

19. Nice! I went to a little street-corner protest this weekend in my hometown. n/t

[EFerrari]

20. They had 500 people outside the Giants/Dbacks game last night.

That was pretty good.

[alp227]

22. Better of all the Giants beat D-backs 12-1 last night! WOO!

But I went to one in San Jose, not SF. We marched around street corner crosswalks. It was in a neighborhood with a significant Hispanic population; a lot of people honked at us in support. I've heard that next week the San Jose City Council is going to vote on a resolution condemning SB1070.

[EFerrari]

23. I saw a carful of mariachis pull up to that march -- they covered it on Ch 14.

That was hilarious! I didn't know there was going to be one here this time. Thought all the action was in AZ. At least it was a cool day for you guys.

[pinboy3niner]

24. So WE have Dolores Huerta and mariachis

THEY have Sheriff Joe (I wonder if that teabagger rapper showed up, too).

Sounds to me like we win on the merits, the morals, AND the entertainment! :)