Demonstrators take to the highway (Davis to Sacramento 9-mile march)

Demonstrators take to the highway
Immigration marches going strong
By MONICA KRAUTH/Democrat staff Writer

About 200 people, mostly UC Davis students, marched nine miles from the Chiles Drive exit off of Interstate- 80 on Monday, joining about 4,000 demonstrators in Sacramento in protest of tough immigration bills being debated in Congress.
"The laws against us are not right. We are not criminals. We want to work for them to build this country," Yuba City resident of 14 years Urbano Cruz said. He believes Congress will listen.

Prior to the march, California Highway Patrol Sgt. Steve Duvravetz said he was there just to make sure traffic was flowing and demonstrations stay safe to make sure that traffic isn't affected.

But marching over the Yolo Bypass on the bike path slowed rush-hour traffic, as drivers honked their horns and passengers waved and yelled in support.

Adam Ambrozy, a McGeorge School of Law student called it a "pretty leftist commute," he said.

Two UC Davis law students, Esmeralda Zenuejas and Mercedes Castillo, were leaders who, right before the march, gave the protesters legal advice to make sure that no laws were broken and that the safety of all was ensured.

About half of the marchers from Davis to Sacramento wore a yellow arm band to identify themselves as "legal observers."

Castillo explained to the crowd of protesters in Davis that none of the protesters at Southside Park are (legal observers). "We're the militant ones coming into Southside Park and picking them up," she said.

Zenuejas said the Davis protesters were not going to give the police any reason to stop the students organizing. "This is a peaceful march with the message that we're not down with anti-immigration," she said.

To prepare for the demonstration, a legal advice clinic at UC Davis was put on by students for anyone who wished to be a legal observer at the march.

According to Zenuejas, "we trained about 50 people, but the law students are the buffer."

She said this is the largest march she has ever participated in and said that it would affect "everyone either directly or indirectly if certain legislations get passed."

The Davis / Sacramento protest was one of a series of protests around the country against HR 4437, passed by the House of Representatives last December. The bill makes it a felony to be in the U.S. without proper documentation or to aid undocumented workers. It is currently being reviewed in the Senate.

An alternative bill has been introduced in the Senate by Republican John McCain and Democrat Edward Kennedy.

It would establish a pool of "guest workers" with fewer protections than other U.S. residents. Undocumented workers would have to pay fines and application fees to receive a temporary work visa for six years, during which they would be required to maintain their job.

After six years, they would be able to apply for permanent residency. The bill would also increase the border police.

"If they continue to propose laws like these, we will continue to protest," Cruz said. Cruz said his four-year-old son, who carried a U.S. flag, is very proud to be in the U.S.

After nine miles of marching, the spirits of the Davis protesters were "re-energized" with the voices of 3,000 or so Sacramento protesters that met them at Southside Park.

From the convergence, both troops headed toward the State Capitol to watch Aztec dancers and hear speeches about this protest as an onset for "more to come."

"Today marks the mobilization for a general strike on Monday, May 1. Today we are sending the message that that important day is coming and we're organizing for this big event. (May 1) is a day we're disappearing from the economy and running away. Today is the announcement," Luis Magana, an organizer of the Sacramento contingent said.

Magana heads the Sacramento-based Project For Immigrants organization, which educates immigrants about their rights and how to voice them.

Magana said the rally and march was for two reasons. One - to stop anti-immigration measures and bills, and two - to demand immigrant rights for all.

The final stop for the protesting marching Monday was the Federal Building, where federal employees could hear the demands they've been voicing all morning.

- Reach Monica Krauth at 406-6231 or mkrauth [at] dailydemocrat.com.


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