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Title: Up To 500,000 March In Dallas
Source:
www.dallasnews.com
URL Source: http://www.dallasnews.com/
Published: Apr 9, 2006
Author: dallasnews.com
Post Date: 2006-04-09 19:20:50 by Mind_Virus
Keywords: None
Views: 179
Comments: 25
Up To 500,000 March In Dallas Thousands of rally participants march down Ross Avenue in downtown Dallas. 5:31 PM Up to a half million people carrying signs, chanting and waving U.S. flags converged on downtown Dallas as part of a massive immigration march on Sunday afternoon. A handful clashed with small groups of counterprotesters, but police said they were pleased with the peacefulness of the demonstration. “It’s been a very good day for the city,” Chief David Kunkle said. Protest size estimated About 4:50 p.m., Dallas police estimated the crowd size to be 350,000 to 500,000 in an e-mail from Senior Cpl. Jamie Kimbrough. From Staff Reports, 4:52 p.m. Peaceful protest pleases chief At a police security briefing that ended about 3:15 p.m., Dallas police Chief David Kunkle reported that no one had been arrested and no noteworthy offenses had been committed amid the crowd that was widely estimated at 100,000. Speculation put the crowd at up to 500,000, although police had no comment on that number. “It’s been a very good day for the city,” Chief Kunkle said. “This is a family-oriented group that’s come here to demonstrate. No one we saw looked like they were planning to cause any problems.” Chief Kunkle attributed the peaceful nature of the protest to the work of the volunteers and organizers, as well as police efforts to marginalize the small groups of counterprotesters. “Even I’m surprised about the nature of the crowd. I think the people have been educated to ignore the other protesters,” he said. Chief Kunkle reiterated his estimate that 550 police and 200 sheriff’s officers were on duty. Although no additional backups were called Sunday, supervisors were asking early shift officers to stay a few hours later, and calling the evening shift workers to arrive early. Police work around the city would not be affected, he said. City Manager Mary Suhm added that about 100 other city employees, including street workers and Dallas-Fire Rescue, were on duty. Jason Trahan, 3:25 p.m. Some counterprotesters retreat Police told counterprotesters that they could protect them only to a point, and offered to escort them out through an underground parking lot. Six people left with police who were carrying shields and wearing helmets and shin pads. “They’re obviously outnumbered here. If they choose to leave, we can arrange that,” said Dallas police Lt. William Humphrey. Miles Walters, 16, a sophomore at Richardson High School, said he was scared when people started throwing water bottles and hunkered under a building for protection. “I wasn’t expecting it to be this bad,” he said. “Because we take pride in our country they hate us and call us racist.” Karen Ayres, 3:15 p.m. ‘We made history’ Victoria Garcia, a 21-year-old Dallas resident who was born in the United States, said she came out Sunday because she was worried there weren't enough marchers. "I'm amazed to see everybody," she said, looking at the mass of marchers. "You know, we came, we made history. It makes me feel proud that when something matters, we can all come together." She said she wanted to support those seeking to be U.S. citizens. "We're not criminals. We came to work. We deserve respect. We just want to be part of America,” she said. Holly Hacker, 2:30 p.m. Crowd offers little diversity Sometimes people were pressed together so tightly, they managed to slog forward only a few yards per minute. At other times, space mysteriously opened and slower marchers struggled to keep up. Police managed to maintain emergency access along the roadside. As of mid-afternoon, a crew of emergency workers had yet to treat anyone, which the duty captain attributed to the cool weather. There was little diversity in the crowd of mostly Hispanic residents. “I think a lot of white people would have expected to feel uncomfortable, although that has not been the case for me,” said Jonathan Piper, a Deep Ellum resident. Said Saniyyah Rounds, a 22-year-old black student from the University of Texas at Arlington: “A lot of black people don’t think this is their problem. What they don’t realize is that this is a problem for all minorities. We can’t segregate ourselves. We can’t hold ourselves as different form Hispanics.” Andrew D. Smith, 2:53 p.m. Dallas police step in More than a dozen Dallas police officers in full riot gear, along with about 10 mounted officers and about 20 more on foot surrounded the march opponents. Periodically, the two groups would chant slogans at one another. The counterprotesters were holding signs that read: “Support HR 4437” and “Deport Illegals”. Several march participants said they wanted the counterprotesters to leave. “We’re out here peacefully protesting and we’re being attacked,” said counterprotester Joe Youngblood, 25, of Dallas. From Staff Reports, 2:25 p.m. Youth reigns LULAC organizers carefully attempted to control the speakers, songs and symbols at this event. But as the crowd of tens of thousands gathered at the plaza of City Hall, it was clear that they gave in to some of the wishes of youth A recording of the song, “Pobre Juan,” by the Mexican rap en español band Maná blared from the speakers. The song tells the story of a Mexican immigrant who crosses into the U.S. and dies, leaving behind a pregnant girlfriend. The crowd also heard songs like “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. On the stage was a giant Statue of Liberty surrounded by red, white and blue banners. Dianne Solís, 2:08 p.m. More counterprotests A small group of counterprotesters shouted from a parking lot at Ross Avenue and Harwood Street: “USA, USA, You’re gonna go home, you’re gonna go home.” Said Elijah McGrew, 48: “They are breaking the law and no one should get amnesty. If I break the law, I don’t get amnesty.” Also in the group was Ben Blewusi, who said he came to the U.S. legally from Ghana in 2004. “Illegal immigration is a crime in every country. I believe they are a drain on the economy and don’t pay taxes, and employers take advantage of them and enslave their labor. And as a result it drives down wages for legal migrants and U.S. citizens,” Mr. Blewusi said. Near City Hall, more than 100 chanting protesters broke off from the main march and headed toward another group of counterprotesters. Police moved in around the counterprotesters, some of whom had hurled plastic water bottles at the large procession. Annette Ponce, a Dallas Fire-Rescue spokeswoman, said paramedics had treated three people, two for dehydration and one for asthma. No serious injuries were reported. From Staff Reports, 2:01 p.m. Families celebrate together Several marchers who brought children said they wanted the youngsters to experience history, while others said they wanted their children to help represent the family. “It’s going to be in the history books when she gets older,” said Starlet Ramirez, who brought her 2-year-old daughter. “When he’s older, I can explain to him why he came here,” said Daniel Garcia, 40, of Dallas, who brought his grandson. Karen Ayres, 1:49 p.m. Procession reaches City Hall The first members of the procession reached City Hall about 1:40 p.m. to the sounds of “They’re Coming to America” and “God bless America.” Kids at the front of the line were carrying a banner that read: “Today we march. Tomorrow we vote.” James Ragland, 1:46 p.m. Some wear Mexico’s colors Although the stars and stripes predominated, some people opted to paint themselves in red, white and green, the colors of the Mexican flag. A girl no older than 6 had her shirt painted: “Hell, no, we won’t go. Mexicans stick together.” Dianne Solis, 1:35 p.m. Marchers share thoughts One marcher was dressed as a construction worker, complete with hard hat and bags of lime and cement. A few others carried a handmade banner that read, “Construction, landscaping, trucking, maintenance. We do it all sin problema.” Francisco Resendid of Arlington came downtown with his 9-year-old daughter, Zulema Resendid. “I came to protest for my brothers because some of them don’t have papers,” Zulema said, adding that she wants them to become U.S. citizens so they can travel to Mexico with her to visit family. “I want them to go over there and come back.” Margarita Martin-Hidalgo, 1:21 p.m. Banners convey sentiments Marchers made their way along the route accompanied by chants of “USA! USA!” and then later “¡Sí, Se Puede!” (Yes, we can!” and “El pueblo unido jamás será vencido” (“The people united will never be defeated”). Some of the banners read: “I pay taxes.” “Justice and dignity for all immigrants.” “Together 4 a better America.” “United We Stand. We pray for legal status.” “We are not terrorists.” Margarita Martin-Hidalgo, 1:21 p.m. Sen. West joins march State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, joined the front of the line with other luminaries, including LULAC president Hector Flores, Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill, Councilman Steve Salazar, and other black and Hispanic leaders. Dallas Bishop Charles Grahmann also was present. “I think it’s a great deal,” Sen. West said of the march. “The question is if this is the beginning of a coalition that will make some changes.” As marchers turned on Commerce Street from Griffin Street, they encountered a contingent of at least 40 police officers lined up in front of the Earle Cabell Federal Building. A dozen or so curious onlookers had gathered on their balconies at the Adolphus Hotel on Commerce. James Ragland, 1:25 p.m. More counterprotests One to two dozen people who came to protest the march gathered outside City Hall, although they said police had ordered them across the street. Several wore black leather and identified themselves as bikers. They said their message was not about race, but economics and patriotism. Mike Joffrion, 50, of Garland said he does not object to people of Mexican origin. “We want to stand up as Americans for our flag. These people are breaking the law. It’s an issue of border security and economics,” the Vietnam veteran said. Miles Walters, 16, a sophomore at Richardson High School, said he believes illegal immigrants are taking away job opportunities. He said a lot of students at his high school had participated in walkout marches on City Hall last week. ”A lot of kids at my school don’t even know what they’re marching about,” he said. A few hundred Hispanic march participants, many with children, set up chairs outside City Hall, waving American flags, as the march began across town at the Cathedral. Angeles Farrell, a mother, said she wants Mexican immigrants to be treated like any other Americans. “We come here for work and nothing else,” she said. Karen Ayres, 1:05 p.m. March begins early Pressured by the pent-up energy of the crowd, organizers moved the barricades at 12:52 p.m. and the marchers began proceeding slowly from the church east on Ross Avenue, accompanied by shouts through megaphones, cheering and drumbeats. “The people united will never be defeated!” and “Yes, we can!” were among the chants. Lt. Rick Watson, a Dallas police spokesman, said police would not release any official estimates of crowd size. “The organizers will do the estimation," he said. "It’s their event. If the Police Department says it’s a particular size, and if they say it’s another number, and our number happens to be lower, they might say (we're) trying to downplay the event. We’d be better served if we just let them do it.” Jason Trahan, James Ragland and Frank Trejo, 12:53 p.m. Ice cream men make plans A pair of Mexican ice cream vendors, at least one also carrying two hampers full of chicharrones, were calculating the best place to locate themselves along the route. Overheard between City Hall to the church, one man yelled out to another, “Vamos a la marcha, man!” Margarita Martin-Hidalgo, 12:41 p.m. Command center notes Shortly after noon, police intelligence officers spied about 10 members of the Girls Gone Wild video crew, presumably looking for subject matter. No word if they found any. About 12:30 p.m., Dallas police were checking on an unconfirmed report of a pickup truck spotted carrying six Klan members wearing robes. The police’s unofficial crowd estimate is 25,000. Jason Trahan, 12:40 p.m. U.S. flag unfurled By 12:20 p.m., organizers were unfurling a huge American flag, estimated at 25 feet long, that was to be carried through the streets. They estimated that up to 30,000 people would be present as the march got under way about 1 p.m. Thousands more were waiting at City Hall and many more were still reportedly at bus stations trying to catch trains downtown. Hector Flores, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, was among the coordinators. James Ragland, 12:26 p.m. City Hall pool, sculpture protected The pool and sculpture in front of City Hall have been fenced to discourage people from swimming and vandalizing the public art. Andrew Smith, 12:25 p.m. Counterprotesters spotted At the corner of Lamar and Young streets, a man and woman were waving American flags and holding a poster that says “deport illegals” and “no mas,” which means “no more” in Spanish. Katherine Leal Unmuth, 12:25 p.m. DART trains full A morning DART train was stuffed by the time it chugged away from the Park Lane station en route to downtown. Hundreds of families, some pushing strollers and carrying water bottles, were on board. One woman was wearing a ball cap covered entirely in sequins arranged to look like the American flag. Margarita Martin-Hidalgo, 12:06 p.m. Police alert at command center By mid-morning, the cavernous room serving as the protest command center at the Jack Evans police headquarters was abuzz with activity. Banks of closed-circuit camera monitors ringed the room. At least three showed live aerial images from the City Hall plaza. Others were tuned to news stations. Easels held maps of the route, showing various tactical positions of officers from SWAT, motorcycle, mounted and other specialized units. In the middle of the room were about 25 neatly spaced work stations featuring flatscreen desktop computers and telephones. Representatives from Dallas police, DART, Dallas Fire-Rescue, the Dallas sheriff’s office and other city departments sat in assigned areas, talking on cell phones and pounding on computers. Police radios crackled from all directions. At the heart of the command center is a minute-by-minute event log, where a team of officers is keeping track of countless tidbits of information, like road closures, bomb sweep patrols, and the movement of counter-demonstrators who had gathered at Ross Avenue and Pearl Street. Teams of police and fire dispatchers had set up radio and computer equipment at the command post, enabling leaders to immediately dispatch officers wherever they will be needed. Homicide and other detectives who normally work Sundays in plain clothes were told to wear their uniforms as a precaution. “As we've consistently said, we don't anticipate any problems,” Police Chief David Kunkle said during a 10 a.m. briefing with reporters. “We think the event organizers will self-police themselves. We're talking about a fairly large parade rout and what we anticipate (to be) a very large event at City Hall. We want to provide a safe environment for everyone participating.” About 550 Dallas police officers are working overtime at a cost of $300,000 to $400,000. In addition, about 200 sheriff’s deputies and other employees, including many on horseback, were assisting, bringing the total number of law enforcement officers to 750. Jason Trahan, 11:57 a.m. U.S. flags encouraged Organizers from the League of United Latin American Citizens were emphatic — some said even heavy-handed — about protesters carrying the Stars and Stripes. But the message seemed to take hold, as thousands were carrying the U.S. flags Sunday morning. In a Sunday morning email from Jacobo Kupersztoch, a retired Mexico City-born biologist who is active in a newly formed organization of Mexicans who live outside their country, told members of an immigrant group in a Sunday morning e-mail (translated from Spanish): “It is very important to partipate in the march this morning and to carry high the name of Mexico and the Mexicans, with dignity and respect to the U.S., which is our new home and country. Think about all that the USA has given us and what our countries of origin have denied us.” Dianne Solis, 11:57 a.m. Participants pick up shirts, flags Anna Pallasa, 27, of Southlake and her cousin, Maria Quintero, a 23-year-old North Lake College student, said they were asked to help pass out hundreds of small U.S. flags on sticks and white T-shirts. By midmorning, they already had given away 200 flags and 400 shirts. The shirts were touting the office Roy Petty, an immigration lawyer. James Ragland, 11:10 a.m. Lipscomb, Johnson in the crowd Former City Councilman Al Lipscomb and Peter Johnson, a local black civil rights leader, both were dressed in white. By 11 a.m., Johnson estimated that up to 4,000 people had arrived. Johnson said he had trained some of the organizers about handling a peaceful protest and was pleased so far with what he had seen. “My concern is that this be a peaceful demonstration with no problems at all,” he said. Said Lipscomb: “Everybody is jovial, peaceful. I haven’t seen anybody angry or antagonistic.” James Ragland, 11:10 a.m. Participants begin to gather Several hours before the march was expected to begin, an estimated 1,000 people had gathered near the starting location, the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe at Ross Avenue and Pearl Street. Many families with young children were part of the crowd, and the mood seemed jubilant. Wear white shirts to symbolize peace and waving small American flags, the participants were flowing in from remote parking lots and taking their places in line. Some were carrying large U.S. flags; another group had a 5-foot banner reading ““LEGALIZACION. IT’S OUR AMERICAN DREAM TOO” stretched out between two poles Nicholas Vargas, a 41-year-old air conditioner repairman from Garland, and wife Rosa Vargas, 40, came with their two teenage children. Mr. Vargas said the couple came to the United States illegally 17 years ago and both are seeking citizenship. “I come here to support my family. We come to tell the senators to help the people. We are here to work and not to cause problems,” he said. James Ragland, 10:45 a.m.
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#1. To: Mind_Virus (#0)
Here's hoping that it never turns violent. What next; a work stoppage?
Yes you are. You are criminals and you're also full of Go home and fix your own damned country.
#2. To: Mind_Virus (#0)
"We're not criminals. We came to work.
#3. To: Mind_Virus (#0)
Oh my, these people really are brain dead aren't they?
“It’s going to be in the history books when she gets older,” said Starlet Ramirez, who brought her 2-year-old daughter.
God is always good!
"It was an interesting day." - President Bush, recalling 9/11 [White House, 1/5/02] More and more of our imports come from overseas. - George W. Bush
#4. To: Mind_Virus (#0)
Believe me, your little march has indeed untied us, and you are going home defeated.
“The people united will never be defeated!”
God is always good!
"It was an interesting day." - President Bush, recalling 9/11 [White House, 1/5/02] More and more of our imports come from overseas. - George W. Bush
#5. To: All (#4)
Dang it, you need an edit post feature here. Believe me, your little march has indeed united us, and you are going home defeated.
Believe me, your little march has indeed untied us, and you are going home defeated.
God is always good!
"It was an interesting day." - President Bush, recalling 9/11 [White House, 1/5/02] More and more of our imports come from overseas. - George W. Bush
#6. To: Mind_Virus (#0)
Yes you will go, one way or another.
“Hell, no, we won’t go. Mexicans stick together.”
God is always good!
"It was an interesting day." - President Bush, recalling 9/11 [White House, 1/5/02] More and more of our imports come from overseas. - George W. Bush
#7. To: ALL (#0)
look at the numbers! when's the last time that many americans gathered in support of their rights and property?
#8. To: Mind_Virus (#0)
When hell freezes over. If our government doesn't get off of their asses and get these people out of here then they will indeed be sorry.
Today we march. Tomorrow we vote.
God is always good!
"It was an interesting day." - President Bush, recalling 9/11 [White House, 1/5/02] More and more of our imports come from overseas. - George W. Bush
#9. To: christine (#7)
Americans are too busy working to support these deadbeat criminals to participate in any marches. They are marching their way out of America if they know it or not, and I for one couldn't be happier. They are awaking the sleeping giant and there will be hell to pay for doing so.
look at the numbers! when's the last time that many americans gathered in support of their rights and property?
God is always good!
"It was an interesting day." - President Bush, recalling 9/11 [White House, 1/5/02] More and more of our imports come from overseas. - George W. Bush
#10. To: RickyJ (#9)
i hope you're right, Ricky.
are marching their way out of America if they know it or not, and I for one couldn't be happier. They are awaking the sleeping giant and there will be hell to pay for doing so.
#11. To: RickyJ, *The Border* (#9)
I agree.
They are marching their way out of America if they know it or not, and I for one couldn't be happier. They are awaking the sleeping giant and there will be hell to pay for doing so.
”We have room but for one flag... We have room but for one language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty, and that is the loyality to the American people.” - Theodore Roosevelt
#12. To: christine (#7)
If legal citizens were to do that, the government would send wave, after wave, after wave, after wave of jackbooted thugs after them until they were either all in custody, or dead. Count on it.
when's the last time that many americans gathered in support of their rights and property?
#13. To: IndieTX (#2)
Have you noticed that the media is getting a bit more balanced and isn't cheerleading the illegals anymore -- and they're noticing the creeping violence against peaceful counterdemonstrators? Methinks the tide is turning.
#14. To: mirage (#13)
I shall prayeth that your intuition is on the mark. ;-)
#15. To: Esso (#12)
They don't have nearly the manpower. Only 100k federal law enforcement officers AND you would be assuming everyone of them would be on the side of the federal government...THAT'S not the case.
If legal citizens were to do that, the government would send wave, after wave, after wave, after wave of jackbooted thugs after them until they were either all in custody, or dead. Count on it.
#16. To: SKYDRIFTER (#1)
In time it will turn violent. Their numbers aren't quite right yet, but mark my words, the tipping point is near. Once it's reached, violence will come. They've brought 3rd world values to America. Celebrate diversity.
#17. To: Jethro Tull (#16)
Sooner or later, some freak will start something, just to watch the action. We need some "white" protests. BUT - they would get arrested.
#18. To: IndieTX (#14)
Its not intuition; I'm watching poll results carefully and we also know how agitators think. When agitators don't get what they want, they ratchet things up. This is just cold calculation. I wish it was intuition :(
I shall prayeth that your intuition is on the mark. ;-)
#19. To: Mind_Virus (#0)
Funny how the immigration protest pleases the chief with its family orientation but peace protesters are verboten...
#20. To: christine, All (#7)
Impeach Bush. The man was lost and then he was found and now he's more lost than ever -- and he's taking us into the darkness with him. It's time to remove him. By Garrison Keillor [2006-03-01]
#21. To: justlurking (#20)
ah ha..ok..there's a list of protest locations by state too.
#22. To: Mind_Virus (#0)
“Even I’m surprised about the nature of the crowd. I think the people have been educated to ignore the other protesters,” he said. Amazing, the article makes these people out to be saints. The counterprotesters are their tormenters, the bad guys. They needed police efforts to marginalize these bad guys. The divide and conquer crowd is very busy these days.
Chief Kunkle attributed the peaceful nature of the protest to the work of the volunteers and organizers, as well as police efforts to marginalize the small groups of counterprotesters.
#23. To: Diana (#22)
The police are going to have to turn in their badges after this is over for failure to do their jobs. Illegal aliens in their presence and they do not arrest them, that should be grounds to fire them.
God is always good!
"It was an interesting day." - President Bush, recalling 9/11 [White House, 1/5/02] More and more of our imports come from overseas. - George W. Bush
#24. To: ALL--Did anyone else hear that George P Bush spoke at the Dallas protest today? (#23)
Can anyone verify this please?
#25. To: christine (#24)
Im looking at Indy media etc.. still checking not seeing anything yet!
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