Tens Of Thousands March For Right To Become Citizens

05/02/2006

Tens of thousands of people marched through Seattle yesterday as part of the nationwide day of protest. It was a much larger crowd than police had expected, and it kept downtown traffic at a standstill for hours. There were reports of one accident involving a car that resulted in minor injuries. But overall, the march proceeded smoothly. KUOW’s Deborah Wang reports.

IT WAS MEANT TO BE A SILENT MARCH, AND FOR THE MOST PART THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO JAMMED THE CITY STREETS WALKED QUIETLY

OCCASIONALLY ERUPTING IN CHEERS…..

IN THE CROWD, THERE WERE MANY FAMILIES, KIDS IN STROLLERS, CONSTRUCTION WORKERS STILL WEARING THEIR HARDHATS, GROUPS OF HIGH SCHOOLERS WHO WERE SKIPPING THEIR AFTERNOON CLASSES.

THEY HELD AMERICAN FLAGS AND HOMEMADE SIGNS THAT READ: "AMNESTY NOW" AND "WE ARE NOT CRIMINALS."

JOSE ORLANA TOOK THE DAY OFF FROM WORK AT A CONSTRUCTION SITE. HE CAME HERE ILLEGALLY FROM EL SALVADOR 13 YEARS AGO.

ORLANA: "We are the hard workers in here in the United States. We not trying to break law. No."

OTHERS, LIKE JESUS RODRIGUEZ, CAME TO SUPPORT THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS.

RODRIGUEZ: "I’m a citizen. And I’m also a veteran. I’m out here with my brothers because it’s not fair. We just want some justice."

AS THE MARCHERS WOUND THEIR WAY DOWNTOWN, SUPPORTERS CHEERED THEM ON. BLAIR NOTRICA TOOK PICTURES OF THE MARCH, WHICH STRETCHED FOR BLOCKS AND BLOCKS BEFORE HIM.

NOTRICA: "Its incredible, I’m just amazed at the numbers of people who have shown up. It’s an inspiration that people of all origins are coming out to support the movement."

ON ONE STREET CORNER, RICHARD BRYANT WAS THE LONE VOICE OF DISSENT. HE HELD A SIGN THAT SAID "ENTER THE US LEGALLY" A SMALL CROWD GATHERED TO ARGUE WITH HIM.

DEBATE: "But I’m saying the process should be done properly." "But your sign means nothing at all." "Ok, that’s your opinion vs. my opinion. That’s right."

BUT AS TO WHETHER THE MARCH WOULD CHANGE ANYONE’S OPINIONS, OR INFLUENCE LAWMAKERS IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL, PEOPLE HERE COULD ONLY HOPE. REGINA VILLALOBOS IS A MEXICAN AMERICAN.

VILLALOBOS: "I hope this will show that we are people who work we want to be here and hopefully by the turnout, somebody will take notice."

FOR KUOW NEWS, I’M DEBORAH WANG.

© Copyright 2006, KUOW