Costa Mesa Rally for Immigrant Rights
April  1, 2006
2,000 Protest for Full Equality & Against Police Repression

Flickr photos

On Saturday, April 1, more than 2,000 immigrants and supporters held a rally for immigrant rights in Costa Mesa. Demonstrators also denounced Costa Mesa mayor Alan Monsoor's racist policy of police cooperation with federal immigration authorities. After spirited chanting, the crowd took over the street in front of the City Hall and marched. Signs and banners reading "Amnesty now!" and "Full legalization!" were popular and prominent at the protest. Community activists, labor leaders and politicians spoke at the rally, including Javier Rodriguez, Jessie Diaz, Gloria Saucedo and Nativo Lopez of the March 25 Coalition. A.N.S.W.E.R. is a proud member of the March 25 Coalition.

Speakers called for unity and promoted the upcoming, nationwide May 1 "Great American Boycott." This will be a day where immigrants and supporters refuse to go to work and school and businesses close. Help A.N.S.W.E.R. build for May 1. Come to our Tuesday night meetings and get involved!

Read the LA Times article about the Costa Mesa protest, which quotes A.N.S.W.E.R. organizer Carlos Alvarez. "We are against the notion that humans are illegal," said Carlos Alvarez, 19, a college student from South Los Angeles who was leading chants with a bullhorn.

View photos from the protest online at A.N.S.W.E.R.'s photo site