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| Immigration march ends
Participants in an immigrant rights rally Monday urged one of the most powerful men in Congress to fix the immigration system. The rally, which drew a crowd of about 2,000, took place in front of House Speaker Dennis Hastert's Batavia office and wrapped up a four-day walk from Chicago. "We don't want more people to die on the border," said Jose Artemio Arreola, one of about 20 who talked in front of the energized crowd about the need for comprehensive immigration reform. Arreola serves on the executive committee of the Service Employees International Union Local 73. To keep within the theme of Labor Day, many also spoke about immigrant workers rights and wages.No one was inside Hastert's office, but Hastert spokesman Brad Hahn said he is listening to all sides of the issue. While Hastert has backed legislation that strengthens the borders, he would not support laws that provide amnesty to illegal immigrants, Hahn said. About 300 people walked the entire four-day 42-mile trek from Chicago's Chinatown to Batavia, which represents the distance of crossing the border.
Gabriel Gonzalez, an emcee of the rally and the Midwest regional organizer with Center for Community Change, said they accomplished what they set out to do - to highlight the issue and reenergize those who marched in crowds earlier this year. The groups received the toughest reception in Villa Park and other parts of DuPage County, Gonzalez said.
The crowd chanted "si se puede" or "yes we can" as well as "Today we march; in November, we vote" over and over again. They also held up crosses representing those who died while crossing the border and waved American flags. It was within earshot of about 200 people protesting the group, with the two groups separated by barricades and 25 police officers holding wooden batons. The rally was kept peaceful with the help of seven police agencies. However, two people were detained by the Batavia Police Department at the end of the rally, Cmdr. Greg Thrun said. Police were investigating a male juvenile from Batavia who was accused of throwing eggs at the crowd on the 100 block of North River Street. Also, a police officer witnessed Ronald Ruhl, 31, Melrose Park, spitting on someone on the Wilson Street bridge, and he was charged with disorderly conduct. As the crowd entered Batavia about noon, about 75 people waited at the northwest corner of Fabyan Parkway and Kirk Road to join them. Among them were Ed and Josephine Miller of St. Charles, who waited with their son, 16-year-old Jorge Jeria. "Immigrants have a long history of valuable contributions to this country," said Ed Miller, whose heritage is Canadian and European. Josephine Miller said both of her parents were undocumented when they emigrated from Mexico to work, although they became naturalized citizens in the 1970s.Also joining the crowd was Monica Ruiz of Oswego, who wore an American flag like a shawl. She held a sign that said "Somos America" or "We are America" At 17, Ruiz followed her brothers' path by crossing the border in Mexicali, the capital of Baja California, Mexico, with her husband. The 33-year-old woman said to cross legally would have taken money they didn't have. "It was easier back then," she said, which is why she has not been back to visit Mexico for 15 years. Along with her undocumented family, Analidia Marcelina, a 12-year-old from West Chicago, also joined the marchers on Fabyan. She wore a red shirt that said "Fighting for Our Future, Unite Free!" "We are here because we want to have papers," she said. "We want to keep studying here in the United States. We want to be able to (lawfully) visit our families in Mexico."
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