Their Voices Were United In The Sunshine State

By JOHN W. ALLMAN jallman@tampatrib.com

Published: May 2, 2006

TAMPA - Businesses closed. Employees called in or just didn't show for work. And people gathered - from groups of a few thousand in cities such as Tampa to more than 300,000 in Los Angeles.

United in voice, and mostly peaceful in protest, illegal immigrants and those who support them stood up Monday from coast to coast, boycotting work, school and shopping to show the depth of their contribution.

A Day Without Immigrants aimed to get the attention of federal lawmakers in response to a bill passed by the House of Representatives in December that would designate illegal immigrants as felons and erect a wall along much of the U.S.-Mexican border.

A second bill under consideration in the U.S. Senate also would increase border security, but it would allow millions of immigrants who have been in the United States for at least five years the opportunity to become legal residents. It would give workers with at least two years here the opportunity to obtain temporary work visas.

Florida's demonstrations varied from the central rally site in Orlando, where an estimated 20,000 people swarmed downtown, to groups of several thousand in Homestead and Pensacola to several dozen standing roadside in Wimauma.

In Tampa, police estimated 7,000 people gathered near Dale Mabry Highway and Columbus Drive. They reported no arrests.

"This is not the typical rally," Tampa Police spokesman Larry McKinnon said. "It's more like a parade than a protest."

The event stayed overwhelmingly positive, despite about 60 people stationed at a counterdemonstration site on the south side of Columbus Drive. Many held signs with messages such as "Arrest the illegals" and "Secure the border."

Opponents of the reform effort taunted demonstrators. Bonita Thompson, of Clearwater, started yelling at a Hispanic college student, "Where are you from?"

When the student shot right back, asking where Thompson was from, she backed down, but not before saying, "I know my skin is white. That's all that matters."

John Hendrix, director of the Tampa Bay chapter of the Minutemen Florida Corps, said there would have been more counterdemonstrators if the immigrant protest hadn't been held during office hours. The national Minuteman Project formed to go on volunteer border patrols.

Officers helped keep tempers from flaring, separating protesters from opponents on several instances.

The department assisted after organizers were told they couldn't bring water onto the rally site, which is owned by the Tampa Sports Authority. The authority was charging $2 per bottle for water. Police officers escorted a van carrying free water to the site for distribution.

"We don't want these people passing out due to heat exhaustion," McKinnon said.

Much of Tampa did not feel an anticipated work shortage, coupled with business closings, after immigrants were urged to shut down for the day. Many immigrant-owned stores and restaurants in largely Hispanic enclaves such as West Tampa, Town 'N Country and Clearwater closed for the day.

Construction seemed to take the biggest hit. Work sites from Ruskin to New Tampa were nearly devoid of roofers, carpenters, concrete workers and landscapers. Employers estimated that up to 80 percent of their work force was out, and they weren't surprised. Many of the workers had asked for the day off.

Many other workers, however, were afraid to stay away from their jobs. Some of them were represented at a rally along State Road 674 in Wimauma. Several dozen people gathered along the road, waving American flags and holding rolled up sheets between them to represent people who couldn't be there.

Strength In Numbers

In Orlando, a mostly peaceful day was marked by an enhanced police presence downtown. Five helicopters hovered overhead and mounted police officers and others wearing SWAT gear stood vigil as demonstrators marched 3.5 miles.

Young and old stood as one, many families bringing their children to give them an idea of the importance of the day's message. The crowd consisted largely of workers and supporters from Mexico and Puerto Rico, with South American countries represented as well.

"I want my family to see there is strength in numbers, and you must stand up for your rights," said Luis Torres, 52, from Ecuador.

Torres, a self-employed driver who became a legal resident, carried his 7-month-old grandson while his wife looked after their 4-year-old granddaughter and two nieces.

"Sometimes, young people take for granted everything they have," he said. "I want them to know what we went through so they could have rights."

Many people stood outside the downtown office buildings, watching the procession. Some cheered; others seemed bewildered as person after person marched past, many chanting "Si se puede," or "Yes we can."

About a dozen critics denounced the cause. Orlando police reported one arrest outside the staging area at the TD Waterhouse Center.

Reform Must Continue, Organizer Says

Orlando was chosen as Florida's central protest point, and statewide organizer Juan Pablo Chavez, of St. Petersburg, arrived early Monday to oversee the day.

Chavez, 35, who has worked with coalitions nationally on Hispanic issues to help organize large gatherings, was recruited to the state by the Florida Immigrant Coalition in Miami. He and his family moved to the Tampa Bay area nine months ago so he could forge alliances with grass-roots efforts also working on immigration reform.

Originally from Mexico City, Chavez said he sees potential partnerships not only within the Hispanic community, but also with black and Anglo leaders to help ensure any reform doesn't stop with just residency.

"These people who are janitors at universities and colleges need access to these institutions," Chavez said, explaining that if the workers gain the ability to work in the United States but still make the same low wages, and don't receive the same opportunities for education and better pay, then the point of reform fails.

"It's like legalizing slavery," he said.

For many who crossed the border seeking work and a better future, Monday's unified stance was historic.

Rodrigo Sanchez and Omar Vargas left Plant City to be in Tampa for the day's festivities. Sanchez, 21, held a Mexican flag. Vargas, 24, filmed the organized chaos swirling around him.

Both men work construction, are undocumented and crossed the Mexican border illegally about five years ago, they said.

Sanchez said he sends about $300 a month home to his mother. He and Vargas said they simply want the right to legally work in the United States and travel between the two countries with ease.

It's a situation that isn't going to improve on its own, they said.

"People will always continue to cross the border," Vargas said. "The standard of living is too poor."