Tens of thousands rally for immigrant rights

Counter-protest
The demonstrations were mostly peaceful, though in Portland, Maine, one demonstrator clashed with a small group of counter-demonstrators. One of three people carrying signs saying illegal immigrants have no rights was hit in the head.

An event in Harrisburg, Pa., drew a handful of hecklers.

“Go to jail!” shouted William Hazzard, 58, a retired school custodian from Harrisburg. “I’m from Germany and I had to give up my rights as a German citizen. I had to speak English.”

Raymond Marks, 47, an apartment complex service manager, held an upside-down American flag as a sign of distress.

“These people are expecting me to give them rights they don’t deserve,” he said.

Country of dreams
Monday’s demonstrations followed a weekend of rallies in 10 states that drew up to 500,000 people in Dallas, 50,000 in San Diego, and 20,000 in Salt Lake City. Dozens of rallies and student walkouts, many organized by Spanish-language radio DJ’s, have been held in cities from Los Angeles to Chicago to New York over the past two weeks.

Protesters have been urging Congress, whose immigration reform efforts stalled last week, to help the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants settle here legally.

Xavier Suarez, 46, an Ecuadorean immigrant with U.S. citizenship, said others deserve the same right to live and work in America, pay taxes and contribute to society.

“America is a country of dreams. These people have dreams,” said Suarez, who demonstrated in Lake Worth, Fla. “They have family back home in their countries and they’ve been separated for many years. It’s only fair that they are allowed to be together again here, and to help keep this country growing.”

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