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Crowd marches for immigration reform
Published 7/19/2010 in Local News
By RACHAEL GRAY
Mirna Montes and her husband, Jamie, held signs that said "We are all Arizona," as the couple marched down Main Street in Garden City during Saturday's immigration rally.
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Brad Nading/Telegram Beatriz Ledezma, foreground left, leads the chants for participants in an immigration reform march on Main Street Saturday as they make their way to Stevens Park for a rally to protest the Arizona immigration law.
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ABOVE: Area residents make their way along Main Street to Stevens Park Saturday during an immigration march and rally to protest the Arizona immigration law.
The couple said they were protesting Arizona's new immigration law, Senate Bill 1070, a law that requires local and state law enforcement officers to question people about their immigration status if there is reason to suspect they are in the country illegally.
The Montes couple, of Ulysses, said they marched Saturday to make a difference.
"It's not fair, and it might come here. We have to do something about it," Jamie Montes said.
As the crowd of marchers entered downtown and neared Stevens Park, people shouted ¡discriminacion!, or "discrimination," and chants such as "aqui estamos y no nos vamos," or "we're hear, and we're not going."
Marlena Dyck held the center of a banner that said "Hispanos Unidos," or United Hispanics, as she walked down Main Street in high heels, waving an American flag.
The crowd of marchers stretched for about two city blocks and marched in the northbound lanes of Main Street.
Following the march, protestors gathered in Stevens Park.
Alan Jilka, Democratic candidate for the 1st Congressional District in Kansas, was among those who marched.
Jilka delivered a message to the crowd in Spanish and said he is against the Arizona law.
In a separate interview with The Telegram, Jilka said he regarded the new Arizona law as a form of legalized racial profiling.
He said immigration in the United States is a problem, but the Arizona law is not the answer to it.
"A large number of (immigrants) have lived in this country for a long time. We don't need to be demonizing people like that for just a few bad apples," he said.
Former Garden City mayor, Nancy Harness, attended the rally with her husband, Don Harness.
"This is the biggest civil rights issues we have has a country. The only positive thing about the new legislation is that it brings this issue to the top again," she said.
She said the country needs immigration reform and needs to move forward.
"People have the opportunity to contribute to our communities. We need them to be here and have a legal way to be here," she said.
The law is set to take effect in the border state on July 29. The state law is facing several legal challenges, including one from the federal government.
Found 32 comment(s)!
Immigration
Here is what residents in Garden City need to be worrying about. Not the border!! It is happening in the city. Shows where we need to do corrections to a broken system. It is on KSN in the archives. Hope the link works.
http://www.ksn.com/content/news/bureaus/story/Garden-City-place-of-hope-for-refugees/ePXvck3egkSaOH1mOsuR1A.cspx
Posted by: Cyn on 8/2/2010
At mamafury. I agree with a lot of things that you say. But what is sad is that not everyone thinks about the other illegal immigrants that are here in the US. A lot of people (I am not saying everyone) does associate illegal immigration with hispanics/latinos. I fear for the safety of my children (because they speak spanish)becuase people are taking their frustration out on the hispanic community. Its pretty sad when I am a born raised US citizen and I fear for my safety and the safety of my children. Thats why I get angry about the way this is being handled. It is not just adults that are illegal that are being bothered by this it is also American Citizens that are of hispanic decent that are being bothered harrased etc.
If you actually look at GCCC there is a program to help illegal immigrants get help with Social security numbers, food stamps, etc. So instead of looking to stop the whole border how about stopping the agencies, people etc that help make it possible for illegals to make it here in the US? Is that not an option. They are not just coyotes bringing illegals here. There are a lot of other agencies handing out visas to a lot of people and not following up on them to make sure they are still meeting the proper qualifications for those types of visas. That is my thought on this.
Posted by: Cyn on 7/31/2010
Why not start our own rally?
I saw that they had that rally here and it really made me angry. It's not about race. Were not just standing up against Mexicans. We're standing up against every illegal immigrant. They had a man on the news that stated that he has been in this country for over 17 years and yet he is still illegal. He didn't try to get his papers, now did he?...
I say that we start our own rally. One that tells them all that we want our country back and were not going to sit back and let them take it! I'm serious everyone. If we don't get out there and start getting our voices out there then nothing going to get better and were going to worse off.
Posted by: ProudAmericanReadyToFightForMyCountry on 7/31/2010
Immigration Sickness
Reform of any nature is not going to happen overnight. Arizona may have known they'd be shot down but it sent the message they intended it to. Be here under lawful circumstances or go home. In my opinion, it isn't just being here ilegally that is the biggest problem, so in order for there to be an end to this debate there has to be a start. Arizona put it on our plates, now is time to trim the fat. When you read the banter and debate in the media and commentary a big issue seems to be whether being here ilegally is a civil or criminal violation, but why not take a step further away from the 'immigration' topic, and look at what you can do with your time once your on our side of the border. Personally, I don't care what country your from or what color you are. I don't care if you have pink or purple or green cards. The very second you decide to fraudulantly use my name, my SSN, DOB, or any specifically identifiable anything that is assigned or belongs to me, your a CRIMINAL. That is where we need to start. If that is the first step an immigrant takes after crossing, they are not here to then become a productive member of american society. Behavior like this has one outcome; to destroy and virtually erase the real person the identity they stole belongs to until the heat is on... only to then leave them responsible for whatever debt, criminal or legal havok they've been indulging in as someone else. I think the rules are very simple, be a registered person that votes, pays taxes and supports a (very diverse and accepting) community such as ours. As far as I'm concerned, for the rest that are here because they want to be well, the hispanic population that so much likes to speak for themselves should instead of holding rallies, be holding gatherings to help those become legal.
Posted by: MamaFury on 7/29/2010
Illegal
Well according to a judge in Arizona. Some parts of the law that were controversial are illegal and have been blocked. I am hispanic-american and agree that immigration reform needs to take place but the way Arizona went about it was illegal and violated my civil rights. I was born here so why should I have to present documentation if I get a speeding ticket? Does that seem fair? Isn't it advised that you don't carry that information around anyways.
Agree: immigration reform needs to happen asap.
Disagree: on the severity and MY rights that this kind of law would do.
Just because I am brown doesn't make me illegal so I shouldn't have to be questioned on it. For those of you that disagree live a day in my shoes and my skin color and you will see all the "looks" that you get just because people think you are here illegally. Yes I speak spanish and will continue to and I should not be questioned wether I am here legally or not.
Posted by: Cyn on 7/28/2010
Indians!
I happen to think the Indians got the last laugh. They perservered even through all the stuff the white man did to them. Amongst killing them, taking what was theirs, and starving them,and giving them worthless land, white man also introdused alchohol to them. Now they do have their own way of sustaining themselves and the joke is on white man because the casinos cause just as much wreckage in people's lives as the alchohol did to them. Has anyone here watched Fast Food Nation? Who else wants those jobs that ruin your body within 5-10 years? Just a thought.
Posted by: A different approach on 7/26/2010
Vote Tiahrt
The founder of the Minuteman movement, and Tom Tancredo, have both ENDORSED TODD TIAHRT!
Posted by: Franklin on 7/25/2010
Tancredo/Minutemen, endorse TIAHRT
Minuteman Founder Endorses Tiahrt
Best Choice to End Illegal Immigration and Secure our Borders
Aliso Viejo, CA - Minuteman Project Founder and President Jim Gilchrist, the nation's leading grassroots activist on the issue of immigration reform and border security, announced today that he is endorsing Congressman Todd Tiahrt in his bid for Senator of Kansas. Gilchrist cited Tiahrt's strong record on securing our borders, denying illegals any form of amnesty, and cracking down on taxpayer funded benefits that attract illegals to the United States. Polls show that immigration reform and border security remains one of the top issues facing voters of the state of Kansas in the upcoming August 3 Republican Primary.
Gilchrist stated, "With his strong track record of demanding the Federal Government to enforce our laws and secure our borders, Todd Tiahrt is the only candidate who truly has a committed stand on the issues of immigration reform and border security. Kansas needs Todd Tiahrt as it next US Senator to end the chaos of illegal immigration."
http://www.redcounty.com/content/kansas-senate-todd-tiahrt-endorsed-minu... ---
Tancredo now says that Moran LIED to him, on this issue, and Tancredo switched his endorsement to TIAHRT! Tiahrt is the true conservative.
Posted by: Franklin on 7/25/2010
rally
Steve,, keep your ear to the grapevine,,, it is in the works.
Posted by: JC on 7/24/2010
JC
JC,
Why do you have to wait until they have another rally? If you really mean what you say and are ready to stand up, have your own rally now.
Posted by: Steve on 7/23/2010
Visas
The USA has work visas, recreation visas, temporiary visas, immigration visas....all of which allows a citizen from another to come to the USA legally. To work in the USA you are supposed to show your employer any number of ID's. But please note even the I9 form says "It is illegal to discriminate any individual(other than an alien not authorized to work in the United States)..." the only aliens not authorized to work in the United States are ILLEGAL, meaning not lawful. Any employer hiring an illegal is also breaking the law. If they pay them "under the table" the illegal person is not paying taxes, contributing to SSS, ... If the illegal person has a SS# how did they get it? steal it? Identity theft? had it when they got a legal visa to work here and then never left? It's against the law regardless. But who cares about that right? Outdated you say- the USA currently has the most LAX immigration laws and OMG Arizonia decided they need to be enforced? Bully for Arizonia. Civil rights are for LEGAL CITIZENS not ILLEGAL people who decide to take up residency and never leave. There are LEGAL ways of being in the USA look them up. I know of one lady in her 60's got her citizenship for the USA and no it wasn't easy. She studied very hard and through persiverance became a citizen to give citizenship or amnisty to a mass of illegal people would be a slap in the face to all the legal aliens who have come and are here now.
Posted by: dr on 7/22/2010
RALLY TIME
Well in response to the few who would come to a protest rally against illegal immigrants ,, all i have to say is this,, next time they have a rally we show up and voice our opinions,, afterall we are the legal citizens with the right to protest ,, not them. I am also going to request the presence of a INS bus to be parked at the the rally in support of its taxpayers. We all need to write to our half hearted politicians and explain our rage of the situation over illegal immigrants in kansas. We need a law in kansas fashioned after arizonas. We could then clean up the gang activity and drug activity on a grand scale as well as open up job for our legal citizens. Our tax rates would clean up a little bit also as we would not have so many on the medicaid system or other benefits. I have been sick of this situation for years now. Now is the time for action while it is a fresh topic and is major turmoil with politicians nationwide. We can quickly weed out which elected officials are corrupt enough to let illegals keep sliding in and make USA citizens pay for it. We need to push for a fence to be built and get our borders secure,, that is the first step,, the second step it to make it a statewide criminal offense to be here illegally and haul them to the border and kick them back across it as punishment!
Posted by: JC on 7/22/2010
Illegal = Crime
Illegal Immigrants are contributing to the crime rate, drug activity, soaring teen pregnancy rates, theft of taxpayer money for all of their welfare, identity theft, gang activity...the list is huge. If I rob a bank, I will have to pay the price because I committed a CRIME. If I take my kids along for the bank robbery, the system will not give a crap about splitting us up either. The arguement about tearing families apart is a joke. Take some responsibility for your actions, obey the dang laws.
Posted by: picmom on 7/22/2010
JRR
JRR get real this is 2010, you need to live in the present. The indians have casinos and tons of other priveleges.
Posted by: Marty McFly on 7/22/2010
We are all illegal
well enough with all the nonsence in this country we are illegal! Just ask the Natives of this county. The INDIANS! We crossed a small river and all the others crossed the ocean?
Posted by: JRR on 07/21/2010 on 7/21/2010
I want my country back
I sure would like to have my country back also JC. So please let me know when we are having our protest I will be there in red, white and blue.
Posted by: fk on 7/21/2010
susan chase
Susan,, i dont see how they contribute much of anything being illegally here. The reason they come here is our dollar is worth more in mexico. They use fake identities to get jobs and never try to become legal. when the government comes after the name they are using for taxes ,, they simply quit the job and get a new identity and find another job. They send a large portion of the money they make back to mexico,, they abuse our medicaid system and foodstamp system under an alternate identity. They sneak into our country because they dont want to get here the legal way. But you are right about one thing,, our immigration laws are outdated. We as a country need to reform our laws and make them stricter. We need to criminally punish anyone breaking our laws. We need to enforce laws and protect our legal citizens. and we need to secure our borders to get america back to a good economy by way of stopping the abuse of our systems that cost us all more tax dollars. As i recall mexico is extremely harsh on people who violate its immigration laws. Its time for america to take a stand and take care of itself for once!
Posted by: JAYSON on 7/21/2010
Get real people, GET REAL !!!
Even with the Arizona law, the USA immigration laws are so mild relative to Old Mexico's immigration law which is more strict by orders of magnitude, that Old Mexico, Hispanics, Mexicans, and Latinos have no grounds to criticize the USA law or Arizona's law, from the moral or ethical perspective.
You can find Old Mexico's immigration law at this web site:
http://www.theinvisiblewar.info
Posted by: deepthinker on 7/21/2010
JC
JC I'm with you on speaking up and taking our country back. We need to have our own rally. It just doesn't do much good making comments on here saying it needs to get done, we just need to do it! Its not being incensitive trying to preserve the country you love and only want people to be here legally the right way. Contributing to America the right way, not just sneaking by.
Posted by: Reed Roberts on 7/21/2010
marching in america
A point was made to me about this march they had and the rally that was held. I am placing a bet that a good percentage of those at the rally were illegals and the reason they walked freely in the street is because they have no regard for our laws. What should have happened is an immigration bus should have been parked beside stevens park and i gaurantee you most of the demonstrators would have not made an appearance at this march for fear of a raid and deportation! Also i would ask the LEGAL CITIZENS,, why are we not having our own rally to show our support of bills such as those in arizona? If we dont not come together and make our opinion heard our government will brush us to the side once again and it will affect every single taxpayers bank account in the long run! HELP REBUILD OUR COUNTRY ,,MAKE YOUR VOICES PUBLIC!!!!
Posted by: JC on 7/20/2010
Immigration rally
Our country's immigration laws are outdated and an extreme hardship for families who want to stay together. Immigrants (legal and illegal) contribute a great deal to the local economy - they have jobs, pay taxes, and spend money. Instead of punishing people, we need to reform the law to make it easier for people to be here legally.
Posted by: Susan Chase on 7/20/2010
jilka
Mr. Jilka needs to speak English, I couldn't understand him. This is still America.
Posted by: stony on 7/20/2010
As a native of GC & now resident of Arizona, I know first hand the problems AZ is facing with the illegals. The illegal citizens are taking away jobs and running up hospital bills on the US tax payers dollars-that affect our state and country. It's one thing to want to come here legally & pay your taxes and it's another to come here illegally and send the money you make back to their families in Mexico to pay a coyote to drop them off in the desert to die & the US pick up their tab. Come to the US the right way- the legal way. But don't expect us to cater to you either; our country doesn't owe you anything.
Posted by: Former GC resident on 7/20/2010
illegal aliens
Mr.Jilka needs to read up on federal laws.If the federal government would enforce the existing laws ,Arizona would not have had to do anything since the problem would never have gotten to this point.I absolutely support Arizona.We don't want or need reform, we expect the existing laws to be obeyed by the government.Mr Jilka should have been telling the group in Stevens park to leave and come back the legal way if they were not here legally.I don't care how long they say they have been here,if they are not here legally,they need to go.What about illegal don't you understand.More states need to implement their own laws just like Arizona.Sadly our government cares nothing about " we the people."
Posted by: Pat G on 7/19/2010
Go Arizona
What happened to the rights of the legal citizens in this country? There are so many illegals in the USA, our voices are being drowned out, and our coffers are being sucked dry by their so-called "rights". I say secure the borders; not just Arizona, but Texas, New Mexico, California and Canada. If you don't like it, go back to where you came from.
Posted by: Sadie on 7/19/2010
green cards
If kansas adopted a law like arizonas it would be a blessing! The only rights illegals have here is what our government gives them against LEGAL CITIZENS WISHES! We need a fence to secure the country that WE PAY THE TAXES IN. Drugs are illegal to bring into our country,, and smuggling people in is no different. If they can smuggle drugs and people into our country as easily as they do,, what is to stop a terrorist oraganization from doing the same thing across the same border. We have a military force that matches no other in the world and yet an illegal immigrant with a backpack can cross into our country undetected because our government lets it happen. Its time to take our country back. Healthcare reform is here ,, financial reform is here,, economic downturn is here,, job cuts, tax hikes, educational funding decreases, senior citizen and veteran benefits have all takin a turn for the worst. Yet we still do nothing about illegal immigrants who are a burden on healthcare, welfare, law enforcement and our economy in general. STAND YOUR GROUND AMERICA,,, Push our government into working FOR ITS CITIZENS once again. If we can overhaul the countrys healthcare and financial system ,, building a fence and kicking the illegals out and backing it up with military force ought to be easy! AND LASTLY showing your green card should be as easy as showing a drivers license when asked for it,, or is my government discriminating against me when an officer asks to see mine?
Posted by: JC on 7/19/2010
Arizona Law
I wish we had more laws like the one in Arizona. Illegals need to be weeded out or they need to be here legally. People shouldn't care if they are being asked for their green cards. If your not doing anything illegal to be stopped in the first place then you shouldn't worry about it. What are you afraid to hide? I expect for my identification to be asked for if I am doing something. Even if it were just suspicious. But people are going to claim the race card and say they are abusing the new law. I saw America love it or leave it.
Posted by: Don Johnson on 7/19/2010
PERFECT
What a perfect place to start checking green cards !
Posted by: RK on 7/19/2010
Immigration
You say it is not fair? What is fair about you coming to our country illegally taking our money we have contributed in taxes taking our free health care and you want rights? If we went to your country you would not stand for this. If you want to come to our country do it legally and abide by our laws and don't try to change us.
Posted by: Stumped on 7/19/2010
Mice
If you have a mouse problem in your home, you don't put cheese out hoping to appease the mice. This will only attract more mice, increasing the destruction to your home.
You must rid your home of the mice and seal them out.
No Amnesty.
Secure the border.
Posted by: Joe on 7/19/2010
rally
AP: Gunmen kill 17 at party in Mexico
Read more: http://www.gctelegram.com/news/#ixzz0uADolXeG
Posted by: rod herman on 7/19/2010
Immigration
Nancy Harness says "we need them to be here and have a legal way to be here." Guess what? There is a legal way to be here. What part of illegal do you not understand?
Posted by: Diane on 7/19/2010