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Immigration See other Immigration Articles Title: Latinos march in St. Helens to unite with community ST. HELENS -- Several hundred Latinos and supporters marched through St. Helens on Wednesday afternoon to protest Columbia County's anti-immigrant ordinance and the racial tensions they contend it has caused in the community. The Procession for Respect and Dignity put a face on Latinos who march organizers said have been under attack since voters approved a ballot measure for the ordinance in November. It would punish employers who hire illegal immigrants. Two weeks ago, Columbia County Circuit Judge Ted Grove delayed implementation of the ordinance after a challenge by a coalition of social justice groups and business owners represented by the American Civil Liberties Union. It's under legal review. Yesenia Sanchez, president of a new group, Latinos United for a Better Future, helped organize Wednesday's march. The group's goals are to promote a positive image of Latinos, offer support and build bridges to the community. "We want to break the stereotypes people have of Latinos," said Sanchez, 20, a University of Oregon junior. "We're decent and hardworking. We're people you know, students and neighbors. Two-year-old Yarely Tapia Garcia stands with her father, Celso Tapia Pena of St. Helens, during speeches to launch a community procession Wednesday. Marchers carried a large U.S. flag as well as signs and encountered few counter-protesters."We want to be able to work together with the rest of the community so we can make it better and united." Sanchez said racial tensions in the county have soared since a St. Helens contractor, Wayne Mayo, started gathering signatures for two ballot measures. One measure to penalize employers of illegal immigrants passed, 57 percent to 42 percent. One failed that would have required billboard-sized signs on county job sites claiming "Legal Workers Only." The employment measure has led to insults, intimidation and open discrimination, said Latinos who participated in the march. Some marchers wiped away tears. "People look at me strange now, like if I was a bad person," said Esmeralda Tapia Garcia. She has lived in the St. Helens area for four years with her husband and 2-year-old daughter and works at a local fast-food chain. "I hope that when my child goes to school, this racism will end." Other Latinos said when they speak Spanish in public, some have been told to "speak English," Sanchez said. Local blogs teem with negative comments about Latinos, including threats to call federal immigration agents and take down license plate numbers. Classroom discussions about the measure have led to ethnic slurs. A handful of counter-protesters mostly remained quiet during the march, which went from the First Christian Church to the county courthouse. "Illegals, go home! This is America!" Dennis Gump of St. Helens shouted to the crowd. A few homes along the route posted signs reading, "We welcome legal immigrants" and "My country, my jobs." Rick Demings, a bus driver from Yankton, carried a sign reading, "Which laws can actual Americans break?" Mayo, who spearheaded the employment measure, did not attend the march. He said earlier Wednesday that his measure did not target Latinos. "The measure is about employers that employ illegal aliens, and they are feeling the pressure," he said. "I have no ax to grind with the Hispanics at all." Linda Madden, a registered nurse from Scappoose, said she came as "a member of the human race." Other participants included members of Columbia County Citizens for Human Dignity and the Rural Organizing Project. "What's happening in this country is blatant racism," Madden said. "My fear is that people who are targeted by this measure will be scapegoated for social problems." March organizers offered a symbolic basket of flowers to city officials. "We're all children of immigrants," said Martha Olmstead, vice president of the new Latino group, "and we have to figure out how to get along and how to live together."
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#2. To: Disgusted (#0)
Things are looking up! "I have no ax to grind with the Hispanics at all." Too bad for you! They don't think like you, and they don't believe you. The best part is going to be when white liberals are kicked out of the Democratic party at the national level, just like they were kicked out of the NAACP.
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