A crowd of perhaps as many as 200 people marched along Pan American Highway in Douglas on Saturday carrying posters with messages like “Illegal is Not a Race” and chanting phrases such as “Stop 1070.”
 Demonstrators Saturday in Douglas carried signs to show feelings about the state’s illegal immigration law. |
The two-hour event, organized by a group called Douglas For Just Immigration Reform, was held to protest the law, which will allow police to question people suspected of being in the U.S. illegally.
Antonio Bustamante, a criminal defense lawyer who grew up in Douglas, told the audience that people around the world are watching, and places like San Francisco and Los Angeles have passed resolutions not to do business with Arizona.
He urged people to support the boycott until this “horrible apartheid law” gets repealed.
“The boycott is important because aside from votes for the other party - what the Republican supporters are most afraid of is losing money,” Bustamante said. “That’s what they love the most. We know they don’t love Mexicans. We know they do love money.”
Jennifer Allen, executive director of Border Action Network, a civil rights group based in Tucson, told the audience she thinks SB 1070 is not for Arizona, and that the law must be thrown out. She said the law must be fought both in the streets and in the courts.
“We have to push back. Our governor has got to know that legislation like this is bad for Arizona. It will kill our economy. It will fracture our communities. It will break our trust with the law enforcement officers that we have to have trust with. It will make us less secure, less safe,” she said.
“And it denies basic humanity, the fundamental rights of human beings that every single one of us has,” she continued. “Regardless of our legal status, regardless of the language we speak and regardless of the color of our skin, we all have fundamental human rights that this law works to undermine.”
Signs of opposition
Messages on protesters’ signs included:
• “Love Your Neighbor, Repeal SB 1070.”
• “Brown is Not a Sin.”
• “We Want Immigration Reform, Not Apartheid.”
• “Injustice in Arizona Is a Threat to Justice Everywhere.”
• “SB 1070 Is Racist.”
• “What Would Jesus Do?”
One girl, who was wearing green antennae on her head, had a sign that asked “Do I Look Like an Illegal Alien?” Another held a poster that stated “I Not Illegal, I Tan Easy” and she was using it to shade herself from the sun.
Ray Rios of Douglas carried a “Wanted” poster that offers a 100,000 peso reward for Gov. Jan Brewer for being “racist to Mexicans.” During an interview, he said, “Why did I make it? I think she is a racist. Even [former Gov. Janet] Napolitano, who was against immigration, didn’t do this.”
“Paztel” Arturo Cuauhtemoc of Nogales, who performed some traditional dancing during the event, told the audience that native people showed they had big hearts when the explorers arrived in the Americas in 1492.
“We didn’t ask, ‘Where is your passport, Christopher Columbus?’ We didn’t ask, ‘Where is your Green Card, Christopher Columbus?’” he said. “What we said was, ‘Are you hungry?’ ‘Are you thirsty?’ ‘Are you tired?’ ”
Earlier Saturday, some people reportedly blocked traffic at the port of entry for a period of time on the Agua Prieta side of the border, but there were discrepancies about how long the blockage lasted.
ALSO -
Palin visits
Gov. Jan Brewer enlisted the help of former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin on Saturday to defend a law on illegal immigration.
Brewer and Palin blamed President Barack Obama for the law, saying the measure is Arizona’s attempt to enforce immigration laws because the U.S. government won’t do it.
“It’s time for Americans across this great country to stand up and say, ’We’re all Arizonans now,”’ Palin said. “And in clear unison we say, ’Mr. President: Do your job. Secure our border.’ “
The former Alaska governor appeared with Brewer at a brief news conference in Phoenix. The event launched a website that Brewer said was an effort to educate America on border security and discourage an economic boycott.
Border smuggling
U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords on Saturday planned to announce the introduction of bipartisan legislation to impose tough new penalties on smugglers who use small, low-flying aircraft to bring illegal drugs into the United States.
“Drug smugglers with wings are posing an increasingly serious problem for anyone concerned about border security,” said Giffords. “These smugglers use small, low-flying aircraft to deliver their illicit contraband into our country. But because of a legal loophole, they cannot be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. My legislation will fix this.”
Comments
Sr. Citizen wrote on May 26, 2010 12:46 PM:
Sr. Citizen wrote on May 26, 2010 12:43 PM:
As a taxpayer, I resent the services rendered to illegals. How, for instance, do they get food stamps and health care? They do because I can name a half dozen in my area alone who are benefitting illegally.
THIS MUST STOP. ARIZONANS...SUPPORT THE LAW AND SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR before it is too late. "
Cheryl wrote on May 25, 2010 3:37 AM:
The poll shows currently: 2586 Votes in favor of the law and 1067 votes against it.
Any more questions on what the majority of people think? "
Peter Estrada wrote on May 24, 2010 10:24 PM:
Amerixican Against America wrote on May 24, 2010 12:39 PM:
American wrote on May 24, 2010 8:48 AM:
Mortimer wrote on May 23, 2010 12:58 AM:
Neil Carlson wrote on May 21, 2010 1:36 PM:
El Vato Loco wrote on May 21, 2010 9:28 AM:
Douglas Rez wrote on May 21, 2010 12:34 AM:
If I were here illegally and got stopped for speeding or drunk driving, I would have to accept the consequences. My father was once caught in a factory raid without ID and subsequently deported. He was working here illegally on a visitors visa. He didn't cry to the media about the great injustice that done to him or that he was racially profiled. He accepted his punishment for the crime he comitted. Years later he was able to immigrate legally And is now a U.S. Citizen.
You can't expect to brake the law and then complain about being caught or punished for it. The laws may be different tomorrow but it's still illegal to be in this country without the proper documention.
As for the boycotting, give me a break. We're only hurting ourselves by these ridiculous actions. I stand behind our law enforcement and our gov't. Nothing will ever be perfect, we can only hope to make the best of it. If you don't like it GET OUT AND VOTE! "
old timer wrote on May 20, 2010 2:01 PM:
place of birth, you break the law and one must pay the consequences.
Being in any country illegally will most likely get you some prison time, here law enforcement must adhere to strict enforcement guidelines and part of these guidelines is asking a person or persons for proper identification.
We must trust our law enforcement personnel in enforcing SB1070 without
race, color or place a birth. Lets give them more credit, I would rather trust a police officer here in the United States too do what is right then in any other country.
Yes I am from the United States with Mexican culture, and I am proud of it, but ignorance of the law and failure to obey those laws does not come from my gringo or Mexican cultures it comes from the respect I have for my country. I have done my time in service, 24 years in fact, so all those protesters
have the right to carry signs in our country BUT NOT IN THEIRS..
If they did not like the conditions in their country of origin, then why did they not protest for a better life. Maybe jail or even death was a deterrent. So after the protest they should get down on their knees and thank the good LORD that they live in this great country and no loner live in a country that does not provide jobs, housing, healthcare and decent food to eat. "
Change is here wrote on May 19, 2010 8:55 PM:
mexican AMERICAN citizen wrote on May 19, 2010 6:25 PM: