Thousands march for migrants
Thousands of white-clad protesters marched through the streets of Porterville and converged on Centennial Plaza Park Monday afternoon, in a highly organized rally against what protesters called “the injustice” of a proposed national immigration bill.
Capping off a day of economic boycotts and planned school absences in connection with Monday’s “Great American Boycott,” organizers and city officials said the 4,000-person rally was the largest in city history.
“It really does reflect the sentiment of how people feel about HR 4437,” said Roberto La Rosa of the Justice for Immigration Coalition, the committee formed to organize the event. “We really didn’t expect this large of a crowd.”
Several speakers, including Porterville Mayor Pedro “Pete” Martinez and Congressional candidate John Miller, addressed the throng of protesters and urged them to register to vote and write their legislators to block to passage of the immigration bill.
Martinez, who led the crowds in several traditional protest chants, including “Si se puede” and “Hoy marchamos, manana votamos,” told the crowd that the powers-that-be awakened a “working” giant with the bill, that proposes criminal charges against the nation’s 11 million illegal immigrants and those that help or employ them.
“They found out today that you weren’t sleeping,” Martinez said. “You were working.
“This day will be remembered as the day America stopped.”
Miller, who spoke to the crowd in Spanish, told them that “as humans they had rights.”
“I am here because HR 4437 is very bad,” Miller said. “And if this law passes it would take your rights as humans away.”
Miller said after speaking to the crowd that while he doesn’t blame immigrants for coming to the United States for a better life, both the U.S. and Mexican governments shoulder the blame for creating the conditions that promote illegal immigration.
“Something has to be done, and it starts with both governments,” Miller said. “The answer is not deporting 11 million hard-working people, or building a wall.”
La Rosa said that today’s events were motivated in part by the student’s actions in March.
“We are very proud of our children, and we know that fighting against injustice is part of the family value system,” La Rosa said. “For us, when we march together, it is like going to church together.”
Unlike the predominantly student-led protest March 30, all ages groups were represented at today’s rally.
Organizers said they chose a 3:30 p.m. start time to encourage students to attend school.
A number of the protesters donned red, white and blue clothing and waved the American flag, another contrast to the student walkout when a number of those marching waved the Mexican flag, which drew the ire of a small group of pro-HR 4437 protesters.
“We want to be here in the United States,” said Cindy Hernandez, 21, a Porterville College student. “That’s why we wave the flag, because all we want is a better life for ourselves and our children.”
Organizers said they have been organizing the protest for two weeks.
Police and coalition members met last Thursday to iron out details to prepare for street closures and police presence to ensure the safety of those marching.
Porterville Police Department Lt. Chris Dempsie said there were 16 officers assigned to the march detail, including four motorcycle officers who directed traffic on Olive Avenue and Main Streets.
Organizers also planned for the 90-degree heat, passing out water bottles and apples to keep the crowds hydrated. They also brought in portable restrooms to discourage attendees from using facilities at nearby businesses.
Protesters started their march on the corner of Olive Avenue and G Street, and walked south to Orange Avenue.
Among those in the crowd were Raul Pickett, President and Chief Executive Officer of El Futuro Credit Union, longtime civil right’s organizer Pablo Espinoza and former pastor John Eby and Elva Beltran, both of the Porterville Area Coordinating Council.
From Orange Avenue they turned west and walked to H Street, then north to Olive again.
Another thousand people joined the protest by the time the KUFW-FM van leading the protesters started its eastbound approach on Olive Avenue toward Main Street.
The crowd could be seen as far back as H Street as the protesters turned north on Main Street.
Crowds lined the streets, some waiting to join the march while others stood out of business storefronts and watch the multitudes approach Centennial Park.
By the time Centennial Plaza and adjacent Cleveland Avenue filled up, police said protesters were still marching from E Street and Olive Avenue.
Police estimated the crowd at about 2,700, while organizers gave a 5,000-person estimate.
Recorder staff members present estimated the crowd at about 4,000 people.
But most present agreed on one thing – the city had never seen a rally of this size.
“I’ve asked a number of officers, including our police chief, and they said they had not seen anything this large before,” Dempsie said. “It was a very large affair.”
Contact Aaron Burgin at 784-5000, Ext. 1046, or aburgin@portervillerecorder.com