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By MARTIN ESPINOZA
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Despite the polarizing effect of Arizona’s crackdown on illegal immigration, many of the thousands who participated in Santa Rosa’s annual May Day march Saturday said it had reinvigorated their efforts to push for changes in national immigration policy.
Arizona’s law, signed a week ago by Gov. Jan Brewer, calls on police to check the status of people they suspect are in the country illegally.
“She did us a big favor, the lady from Arizona,” said Martha Berlanga, a family mentor for the Santa Rosa School District who participated in the rally. “No one was talking about immigration, now everyone is talking about it.”
Tens of thousands of people marched in May Day rallies across the country Saturday, and 3,000 to 4,000 turned out in Santa Rosa, according to estimates by police and organizers.
The mood was festive on the warm, sunny afternoon and American flags far outnumbered the green, white and red colors of the Mexican flags that dominated what is now considered the granddaddy of May Day protests, that of 2006.
The turnout was substantially greater than last year’s rainy May Day rally, which drew only a few hundred, but was far smaller than the 2006 immigration march, in which an estimated 10,000 people participated.
On Saturday, many called on President Barack Obama to act on comprehensive immigration bill this year.
During the rally, Donis Rosales, a 17-year-old student at Elsie Allen High School, held a sign that said, “Shame on Arizona.”
Rosales, who legally came to the United States from El Salvador in 2006, said the Arizona law violates “human rights” and unfairly targets Latinos. Rosales was accompanied by former City Attorney-turned Elsie Allen teacher Brien Farrell.
Damien Peters, a Santa Rosa graphic designer and events promoter, said it had been a long time since he’d participated in “something like this.”
Peters said he feared the Arizona law would lead to racial profiling and civil rights violations.
“America is a melting pot of cultures and nations,” said Peters, 35. “I don’t support any kind of racial profiling.”
Supporters of the Arizona bill say the new law was necessary because of the federal government’s unwillingness to address mounting problems illegal immigrants and the border drug war are causing in the state.
The annual procession began shortly after 1 p.m. at the the old Albertson’s shopping center in the Roseland neighborhood, took its usual route up Sebastopol Avenue, through Railroad Square, around the north end of Santa Rosa Plaza and onto Juilliard Park.
As the demonstrators passed Old Courthouse Square, their calls of, “Si se puede,” were answered by about 15 people across the street calling for tougher enforcement of immigration laws.
“Yes, you are criminals,” yelled Mike Dunnivant, 48, of Santa Rosa.
“Go home,” hollered Susanne Maybury, 48, also of Santa Rosa.
Both Dunnivant said he was an unemployed truck driver and Maybury said she could not find work in “house cleaning, secretary or receptionist work, anything.”
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Dear Concerned Citizen, God told me to love my brother and sisters, and whom are my brothers and sister? All you, Mexican, Chinese, Russian, Indians, Africans, etc. We might be different but at the end we are all humans and equal, and don’t be afraid of saying your name \Concerned Citizen.\
Are you interested in learning how you can help the UFW’s efforts? Carisimo offered some suggestions during the June 3rd press conference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tNaBQuha_A
Anyone who is interested in learning about the July 29 protests in Phoenix, Arizona, can watch the following video of a recent UFW press conference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-6wsPtG4xY
To Dois Rosales,
Welcome to the US thank you for coming legally you should be saying you are my American brother but no you refer to the undocumented brown skinned mexican people as your brothers and sisters. You took an oath and swore your allegence to out flag and country when you were granted citizenship, were you lying to us and god? I agree anyone here isn this country illegally should be deported until legal citizenship is granted but when you look at the numbers of european illegal aliens 30,000 you said versus an estimated 52,000,000 mexican illegal aliens come on now think about it this is not racism this is an ivading force. Yes our ancestors did invade this country and took it by force and I’m willing to defend it the same way they did! Stop playing the race card this is lame and getting old. If you are an American you are an American you are either with us or against us simple as that!
Stacey you are way wrong! Elsie Allen High School does not have a huge problem with gangs anymore. Thank God, my peers are changing their minds and staying out of trouble with those stupid gangstar (excuse my language) BS. I do admit EAH HAD, a problem. Now, it has gone way down, and our academic success is high now. 4th consequtive year the Elsie Allen Interact club places to be the best club among all other NORTHERN CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL in the community service. Read the news paper you will be reading stories that involve EA students. Did you read a kid attacked the POLICE OFFICER IN MONTGOMERY HIGH SCHOOL? Did you read ROSELAN PREP UNIVERSITY SENIOR STUDENTS ARE NOT READY FOR COLLEGE? GRANG PROBLEM HAS GONE DOWN IN MY ELSIE ALLEN. I INVITE YOU TO COME THIS MAY 16TH FOR OUR LOBO COMMUNITY FAIR, 1 PM-4:30 PM. ENTRANCE IS FREE.
@ “@RP Mom”,
I didn’t read what RP Mom posted from TR as anything like what you reacted to. My Dad was an immigrant, and both of my Mom’s parents were immigrants. TR wasn’t being anti-immigrant or even remarkably nationalistic, given the age in which he lived (wait until history judges us, from sufficient distance everyone looks like an idiot). The point of what TR said, which remains as true today as it was 100 years ago, is that immigrants who want to become Americans are always welcome. This Nation needs immigrants, and the world is full of willing and able potential immigrants who seek to take the oath of citizenship and mean every word of it. That is not “nationalism”, it is the essence of immigration.
Alexis de Tocqueville also said that once the people come to realize that they can vote themselves benefits from the public treasury, that is when democracy will end.
wr/Chuck
Teddy Roosevelt is wrong. Just because he was a President doesn’t make him infallible. Hell, I can’t WAIT to see what they teach my kids about George W. down the road.
Nationalism is dumb, and it’s an intellectual’s way of being racist. Having pride in your country doesn’t mean you have to shut out and put down other countries. American exceptionalism, as put forth by some of the foremost political thinkers (De Tocquville, Hacker) is founded on the principle that the U.S. was built by immigrants and worked our way towards where we are now.
US President Theodore Roosevelt’s ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907 – they thought logically back then and should today too!
~
“In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American… There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag…. We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language…. and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”
Theodore Roosevelt
1907
Every citizen needs to read this!
This thought process of wanting to “hoard” resources and jobs from neighboring countries is not 100% racisim. Its called Bilolgical Anthropology. Its quite natural to want to preserve what you have for YOUR future youth. I believe you Americans call it “dog eat dog”?
Racists see race in everything. This won’t change, so don’t even try. Drunk driving is a crime and if you break the law you pay. Ilegal entry into this country is a crime, should it be ignored?
As for the history of this Nation, no, we were not invited here. America was established by conquering the native inhabitants. America decalred war, fought and beat them and took the land. It belongs to America now. Until a bigger, stronger army comes along to conquer us, this is our land. We should be guarding our boarders better, all of them. That time will come and people will squeal about it then too…
The fact remains, this is our country and we will govern it the way we want, not the way another country wants.
People DO NOT want to share there resources. This goes back to preschool and sharing as a toddler. Is there something wrong with this? yes. Is it based on self preservation? yes. Is it ever going to change? Not unless we un-become human. No matter what people say I truly believe that most prefer tighter regulation than not.
FOR ALL THOSE PRO_IMMIGRATION:
remember what your parents said to you when you were young?
“You might not understand be upset at me now but someday you’ll thank me.”
Looks like this issue belongs to our federal government! Send your comments where they will be addressed by the people in power that can resolve this issue!
I think to say that this isn’t driven (at least in part) through racism is pretty naive, or at least pretty idealistic.
If it was purely economic, then why was there a strong push for immigration reform during the Clinton surplus years? Unemployment was down below 2% at the time and yet people STILL wanted to keep immigrants from coming in and “stealing jobs”
Only the strong survive.
scapegoating immigrants for an economic system that requires competition among workers is stupid, and wrong. sounds like someone is looking for guaranteed employment?
Dear Nope,
Way to go on putting immigrants in that nice little box of only working jobs that “the man” does not want to work or is too “lazy” too do. Maybe we can give them your job? I’m sure these immigrants deserve more credit than that.
I completely understand why citizens, especially born locals, are upset and looking for a tighter reform. There is nothing racist about this “movement” its a matter of legal vs illegal and the business practices of certain businesses and not paying into the system.
The truth is, there is a huge work force trying to come into a country where there is 9% plus NATIONAL unemployment rate. http://www.bls.gov/
Maybe after we handle our problems we can start taking on other countries problems, AS USUAL. Untill then its gonna be finger pointing i’m sure.
As for Elise Allen High School, there is a HUGE PROBLEM with gangs at that school. HUGE. I feel sorry for students attending that schools and a few others, because the element is throughout the school. And I feel for teachers there as well! REFORM because of the problems we are having. Kids and teachers deserve these changes for a brighter tomorow with our neighbor to the South.
We all have a different way of looking at the problems we face in America. But its true we need reform. And for Mary you are being a sissy! Silly I will work for these places and do whatever it takes to make money. I have a strong work ethic and a valued employee. But I am handicap so no I can’t do the field jobs because I cannot carry over 10lbs. Quit acting as though the jobs you describe are the only ones that have illegal’s working for them. Look at Burger Kings all over, wait McDonalds, Oh wait Jack in the box, Oh wait Carl’s JR even Sizzlers. I can go on and on, AMERICANS need employment and illegal’s are hired everywhere. I have the credentials to run all of these places but they are not looking to pay my wage requirement because they can get two employees for one. When INS is coming everyone clears the buildings. Remember the place in Larkfeild? They had all kind of illegal’s employed and after they were let go because they were not legal, there were quite a few jobs and the people that showed up were in the hundreds before the Job was advertized for 1 day. Huh imaging that! I also am fully aware that the Cartels are infested in America as well as Mexico. Get that problem handled and Mexican immigrants’ may feel safe in their own country. And that problem is for our military because it is seeping into AMERICA! The gang problem has a lot to do with this too. The drug problem from the cartel is big and we are supposed to be at war with these very issues. Why are we still making no progress? And why are we not handling that, these very problems that have been plaguing us for YEARS?
Maybe you don’t have a job because you have no work ethic, education or experience?
Just saying…stop blaming illegals for citizens not having a job. They do the work you either don’t want to do or are too lazy to do.
It’s not their fault you’re a terrible employee.
Everyone knows what the solution is but the consequences are grave.
Mexicans are here for jobs, enforce employer hiring of non citizens and they will not come. And they will not be sending remittances home. And the economy and social structure of Mexico will implode.
A failed state the size of Mexico, right on our border, would be a major problem that could not be fenced out.
So with a wink and a nod there is little choose but to continue with business as usual.
“Zuma” the vast majority do pay taxes, because the government talks out of both sides of its’ mouth. Yes/no, go/stay.
If you don’t have a SS#, you simply get an tax ID # and file your taxes. Most illegal aliens do file taxes, because their wages are so low they’ll probably get something back, and who can pass that up. If you drive down Seb Rd or look in La Voz, you’ll see tons of ads for tax preparers.
But, hey, don’t let the facts get in your way (cuz they haven’t so far).
And before you all go crazy and accuse me of being for sanctuary or whatever, the above statement merely provided a counter-arguement to Zuma’s assertion.
SO ALL YOU SISSYS READY TO TAKE ALL THE JOBS .THAT THESE PEOPLE TAKE FROM YOU !I THINK NOT I WANT SEE YOU IN THE EARLY MORN TO LATE EVE WORKING THE FEILDS!CLEANING BUILDINGS ETC OOPS WERE NOT THE PILGRIMS HERE WITH OUT ASKING IF IT WAS OK?SO NO ITS LETS PICK ON THOSE FOLKS WILL IT BE YOUR RACE NEXT OH LETS PICK ON THE WEAKER FOLKS. HEY WHY DONT WE JUST GIT RID ANY ONE WHO WE FEEL IS USLESS OH SO MANY CHOICES
To see this wall of comments shows the world that this is an on-going never ending and still un-reformed problem. This is a problem when people work illegally in this country under other legal social security. Get it, and fix it, is what I DEMAND to our Federal Government! REFORM IT NOW! I want to work and can’t find a job (because there just not any available) before everything in my life is lost, and I know that the things I said are facts and being an unemployed AMERICAN this is a problem. INS needs to verify every employer in our States because even Costco in Santa Rosa is employing illegal immigrants with false social security numbers. How does that work? I will work for Costco, I want a job and there are none!
The problem has got a lot to do with the cartel and that is a huge part of the issue and that falls on our government and Mexico. GET IT TOGETHER and deal with this criminal element in our society and Mexico. This problem is part of why our children are getting involved with gangs and the mexican mafia is also recruiting them to the drug and gang problem. This is the issue.
Zuma, you’re quite right. Vast millions of ilegals live here. You generalize and basecally said all of them don’t pay taxes, WRONG! There is ilegal immigrants whom request an ITTIN to pay taxes. I know a lot of persons who are here ilegal and don’t have a social security therefore they use this number provided by the IRS. If a immigration reform was passed this people whom don’t pay taxes would be obligated to pay taxes as a good citizen do, is not going to be just you, and also don’t forget there is Americans who cheat when they pay taxes, and there is Americans who don’t pay taxes at all too.
Jim, I totally get your point, but people is not getting my point. I could be ilegal, but I’m not, and I’m being a target of racism. That’s why I want equality for ALL. Those selfish times where one race believed to be supreme are over. There is no superior or inferior in this planet, we’re all humans and deserve respect and dignity. By stablishing an inmigration reform ilegal inmigrants who crossed the borders ilegal must be fined and admit it was wrong. A reform must also consist of a test, english and history. This is an amnesty. But I’m not seeing this, all I’m seeing is racism, unfairly targeting Latinos.
These lawbreakers march because they want a right to continue breaking the law!
There are 25 million illegals in this nation who dont pay taxes, add nothing to our economy as they send wages back to Mexico.
What does the average American get from Illegals? Nothing, except we are taxed to provide them with welfare, medical bennies etc.
As most illegal are hispanic, they are much like the Japanese during WW2 did our soldier profile orientals while taking islands in the pacific?
There arent too many blue eyed blondes in this nation!
And Susan K. Baritell, HOW THE HELL DO YOU THINK EVERY COUNTRY AND CIVILIZATION HAS BEEN FORMED WITH AND FORGED IN? SURE AS HELL NOT BUTTERFLY KISSES AND PUPPY DOGS TAILS. BUT WITH BLOOD AND SWEAT AND TEARS…sacrafice. If you think our way of life is such a mistake move! This country was built on the good and the bad, the blood, greed and dreams. Thats capatalism babe, it takes 2 to tango, were not just setting up oil rigs. countries are okaying this too and filling there political pockets. grow a back bone. No country is innocent.
Quit crying, How about you mail in 20% of your annual earnings to the white house wether or not you have a social security card and give back to very system you want to become a part of instead of just taking? Its bull crap that an american citizen cant get a job because an illegal immigrant might have it. whats the point of the process if that is a common occurance? why are we paying the annual fee (TAXES)to be a part of the club(citizenship) if we cant take advantage of our club rights aka get a job because were legal and pay into the system. GIVE RESPECT AND YOU’LL GET RESPECT!!! P.S> YOUR RIGHT WE TOOK THIS COUNTRY OVER!!! GET OVER IT! WE TOOK IT AND TURNED IT INTO THE VERY PLACE IT IS TODAY!! THE PLACE EVERYONE WANTS TO BE AND EVERYONE DREAMS ABOUT GOING TO!!! Put into the very place you want to be a part of or get out! IM TALKING TO ALL ILLEGALS WHITE, BLACK, BROWN, YELLOW, PURPLE AND PINK!!! IF YOUR ILLEGAL AND YOU WANT TO BE LEGAL TAKE A NUMBER AND GET IN LINE! PAY INTO THE SYSTEM!
LEGAL IMMIIGRANTS ARE OK. BUT ILLEGAL IS A NOTHET THING THEY HAVE NO RIGHTS THE LAW IS THE LAW LETS INFORCE IT.
What’s missing from this dialog is that in order for the alien species designated as “white Europeans” to immigrate to the Americas, it first had to be cleansed of the “brown and red” people who actually lived here. Europeans, spreading their gospel, did a good job of genocide on this continent, and now European-Americans have taken up that flag and are eliminating those darn people living in the Middle East standing in the way of our stealing their oil. But I digress.
Closer to home, we used to have a system of migrant workers who would flow up from Mexico, pick our crops and flow home when the work was done. When we eliminated that pesky slavery problem, we invited them in to do the job we nice Europeans won’t do. Then we passed NAFTA and destroyed our southern neighbors ability to trade their homegrown goods and destroyed their economy. Then we sent Monsanto in and finished-off their ability to grow their own food, Chevron to steal their oil and pollute their land, Pepsi to privatize their water, bottle it up so we could drink it out of those nice little plastic bottles clogging up our oceans, and closed our borders making it impossible for them to flow home. You gonna pick our cheap food in fields where the temperature reaches 105 degrees? I think not.
Quit blaming the victims.
Susan
As you may notice and make fun of my ortography, yes I do have incorrect ortography, English is not my first nor my second language is my third. I want more education, no desintegration of families.
Yesterday, I marched not just because I want an immigration reform for my brothers and sisters, who are here undocumented from Mexico and other Hispanic nations. I also marched for equality, by this I mean, I also want your people to have documents, what I mean by “your people” are those 30,000 Irish and other Europeans who are here ALSO ILLIGAL. How come you don’t target them? Why do you refer to us as Mexicans and other Latino immigrants? You’re being a racist citizen. I dare you to get together with anti-immigrants like all of you to go out to the streets with signs that say, “Ilegal Irish go back to Ireland, you look just like me, but your ilegal.” Am I being racist with Illegal Euroopeans, NO! I’m just letting you know the really of ALL. They are here to work too, just like us.
How shameful are those that are targeting my people. As I said in the article, I came here legally from El Salvador, I have not violated the law in this country nor mine, but you are offending my Mexican brothers and sisters. If I was you, I would enrroll in a history class at Santa Rosa Junior College or an adult school, to learn about the history of “YOUR” country. You will know that there where you’re sitting reading this post one time belong to Mexico and it was seize from “IMMIGRANTS, YOUR ANCESTORS FROM EUROPE” They invaded this land, don’t you know how unfairly they treated the natives? YOU ARE TARGETING MY PEOPLE OF BROWN SKIN, BUT DID YOU KNOW IN THE U.S THERE IS 30,000 ILLIGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM EUROPE AND LOOK PROBALLY JUST LIKE YOU, COLORED EYES, BLOND HAIR, WHITE SKIN? THESE PEOPLE, YOU AND I, SHARE SOMETHING IN COMMON, WE ARE ALL HUMANS, WE HAVE FEELINGS, STOP TARGETING MY PEOPLE AND EDUCATE YOURSELF.
You know what BeneA. You are a stupid white person who doesn’t know anything. We come to America to find jobs and to find peace. You don’t know how hard it is living in Mexico and it isn’t even our fault. We have to suffer in an even worse country than you guys! So you try growing up in Mexico working in fields at 8 years old and dropping out of school in 8th grade. Luckily my family has papers and I was born here. So you try growing up there your whole life. I didn’t think so.
Illegal= illegal. Go demonstate in your own homeland about your complaints. Legal immigrants have always been welcomed into the united states, but crashing our borders is not legal. The fortunate immigrants who are here legally and who are in an uproar about Arizona’s new enforcement law are taking advantage of our country and direspecting our laws of immigration.
legal immigrants have always held a valuable place in our country’s history. Ilegal immigrants crashing our borders! sorry. no. Go demonstate in your homeland for change, Don’t ask for change in my homeland, I’m paying taxes here. what have your past generations not done in your country to drive you into this country? Your protests should be to your own government.
go demonstrate in your homeland for change
Legal immigrants are one thing, but illegal immigrants no way. Yes we need immigration reform. Only legal immigrants should cross our borders.
Illegals have no rights!!! Stop pretending there is no difference between coming here legally or sneaking over the border. Mexico protects their borders better than we do.