May Day Rally Takes On New Tone In Light of Az. Law, Draws Nearly 60,000
Written by Richard Castañeda, OurLA Contributor
Saturday, 01 May 2010 20:48
An estimated 60,000 protesters gathered in downtown Los Angeles in the annual May Day rally which took a different tone this year in light of Arizona’s recently passed SB1070 Bill which, opponents say, unfairly targets illegal immigrants.
American flags blanketed Broadway as protesters made their way to the intersection of First and Temple from Olympic Street where Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and many prominent city and civic leaders and immigration rights activists called for a boycott of Arizona.
“[The immigration laws] do not address security concerns we face in a post 9-11 world, they do not support the needs of a global economy and they do not recognize what has remained true, what every one of these American flags represent, that over 200 years of history that our great nation was built and continues to be built by the immigrants who come here with a dream,” Villaraigosa said before raucous cheers.
Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony conveyed a message of unity and support for immigration reform in a bilingual speech before releasing white doves as a symbol of peace.
“All of us from the various faith communities, we are here to say that we are always here to stand with our immigrant brothers and sisters and we will continue to do so until we get the necessary legislation passed and beyond,” Mahony said.
Supporters of Arizona Senate Bill 1070 maintain that the bill does not encourage racial profiling. On Friday, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer approved amendments to the bill, which specify that police can only stop suspected illegal immigrants while enforcing law or any other ordinance.
Brewer stresses that the law is necessary to enforce border security.
“Though many people disagree, I firmly believe it represents what’s best for Arizona. Border-related violence and crime due to illegal immigration are critically important issues to the people of our state,” Brewer said at her press conference while signing the bill into law on April 23.
In downtown LA megaphones blared, “Si se puede” or “Yes we can” and cheers echoed in the streets as protesters and local merchants alike celebrated the peaceful rally, which the LAPD reports resulted in only one arrest for vandalism.
People carried a wide variety of handmade signs urging for immigration reform. Signs depicting Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer with a Hitler mustache and others with the slogan“ Blame NAFTA not its economic refugees,” displayed some of the their creativity.
Hector Perez, 36, a salesman from Oxnard crafted a sign that read, “KFI AM 640 – The New KKK of America,” complete with a picture of three people in white hoods.
This was his first rally and he came out to not only express his opposition to Arizona’s new state law, but also to voice his discontent with media portrayal of immigrants in their coverage.
“It upsets me that [KFI AM 640] calls us illegal aliens on a daily basis considering the history of this country,” Perez added. “I fight for a global peace and that’s why I’m here.”
There was no noticeable presence of counter-protesters. The only opposition came during Mayor Villaraigosa’s speech when he urged people to fill out their census forms. Some boos were interspersed with the cheering.
Aside from the demonstrations, some people took the opportunity to dance. Many protesters brought their drums and other percussion instruments and led chants with onlookers. While some danced others simply ate bacon-wrapped hot dogs and flavored shaved ice and took in the day. Many parents brought their kids either in strollers or walked beside them and chanted together.
One mother even carried her young daughter on her arms and held a bullhorn while she yelled, “Si se puede” or “Yes we can” in her young, squeaky voice.
An estimated 60,000 protesters gathered in downtown Los Angeles in the annual May Day rally which took a different tone this year in light of 
Hector Perez, 36, a salesman from Oxnard crafted a sign that read, “
