In unexpected strength, marchers rally against immigration restrictions

By Tania E. Lopez

Guillermo Trujillo Flores marched because 16 years ago he found a better life in the United States.
Humberto Quiroz marched because he's been in the U.S. almost 20 years and still doesn't know where his application for residency stands.
Marvin Hernandez marched to tell America that although he's an illegal immigrant, he's not a criminal.
They were among the estimated 20,000 people who jammed Downtown Indianapolis on Monday in what may have been the largest rally in the city's history.
The throngs -- most dressed in white T-shirts symbolizing peace, and many waving U.S. flags -- far exceeded even the expectations of organizers, who had hoped to draw 10,000 to protest a congressional proposal to make illegal immigration a felony.
Nationwide, hundreds of thousands of marchers took to the streets in scores of cities to focus attention on immigration reform efforts.
"This is a historical march in the history of Indianapolis," one of the organizers, Tedd Cain, said during a speech outside the City-County Building.
"Twenty thousand people are here. Why? We want justice. We are protesting a law that is very bad for the undocumented and the documented."
The throng of demonstrators included children perched on their parents' shoulders and riding in strollers. The crowd stretched more than eight blocks, and even 90 minutes after the march started, people continued to arrive in a steady stream.
The gathering attracted what some believe rivals the largest protest in city history: a Statehouse protest against a change in the prevailing wage law in 1995 that drew 20,000; 12,000 turned out to protest abortion in 1992.
Some marchers chanted, "Yes, you can" and "A united town will not be defeated" in Spanish. Some wore T-shirts with the message, "Continuing the Dream. We're all immigrants."
Buses brought in some of the marchers; others walked through Downtown to join the gathering.
Trujillo Flores, 35, left Mexico to escape what he says was a corrupt government. Here he saw an opportunity to better his life and that of his family.
"Instead of helping us, our government (Mexico) robbed us," he said. "If our countries were like the U.S., we wouldn't come here."
Quiroz, 58, arrived in Indiana in 1988 from Tegucigalpa, Honduras. In 1990, he paid someone $1,000 to help him apply for legal residency and never got a response. He did it two more times, each time paying $215. Still no response.
"They tell me it takes 10 years to get it. I'm still waiting," he said, adding that he has not seen his wife for 10 years. If he leaves the U.S., he'll have to start the process all over again.
Only a few counterprotesters showed up. One carried a sign that read, "Arrest illegals. Send them back. God Bless America."
Another person unhappy with the march got a ticket and a fine after noisily registering his feelings. Mike Arnold, 47, Indianapolis, watched from his pickup truck, adorned with Confederate and American flags, at the corner of Alabama and New York streets.
Arnold backed up his truck toward the crowd, revved the engine to a roar in protest, and was promptly slapped with a $75 ticket for violating the local noise ordinance.
Susan Tully, national field director for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, said the group had planned no official counterprotests.
"We find that that's pretty counterproductive," she said. "The last thing you want to do is to get two opposing sides together in a confrontation."
Tully said she believes the marchers' efforts are backfiring, with "the arrogance of these people, who are in the country illegally, demanding equal treatment," and creating a growing public outrage.

Where Indiana's delegation stands

Senators: The Senate has not voted on immigration reform. Republican Richard Lugar is bucking much of his party by supporting efforts to help illegal immigrants already here and to grant some workers legal, permanent residency. Democrat Evan Bayh has said Congress needs to reconcile three issues: better control of the border, dealing with illegal immigrants already here and filling jobs for which there are few takers.

Representatives: Seven of Indiana's nine House members voted last year for a bill that would build more fences along the U.S. border with Mexico and increase penalties for illegal immigrants and those who aid them. Opposing: Reps. Mark Souder, a Republican, and Julia Carson, a Democrat.

Hispanics in Indiana

The 2000 census found:
210,538
Hispanic residents in Indiana, including . . .
• 32,188 in Marion County.
• 42,994 in the metro area (Marion and doughnut counties), a 288 percent increase from 11,084 in 1990.

Illegal immigrants: The Pew Hispanic Center estimates 12 million in the U.S. The center estimated 65,000 illegal immigrants in Indiana in 2004. Some groups say the number is closer to 100,000.

On the scene

David Ehery
David, 17, arrived at the march to support friends who are of Mexican descent. David is a student at Manual High School in Indianapolis.

"I think this is a nice way to support my friends and to show that everyone should get equal rights."

Cesar Hernandez
Hernandez, an immigrant from Acapulco, Mexico, came to Indianapolis eight years ago. The 52-year-old illegal resident rushed from his job as a cook at an Eastside restaurant to join Monday's march.

"We're here to be together," said Hernandez, whose white hat with an American flag shielded his eyes from the setting sun. "We're hard-working people, so we deserve a fair immigration bill."

Hernandez held a sign that read: "I'm not a criminal. I'm a good cook, and I speak Spanish, English and French." He said he's in Indianapolis to work -- and learn.

"I'm taking GED classes because I want to get better," he said.

Hernandez said he was moved by the masses that turned out to march, not only in Indianapolis, but across the country.

"I can't wait to open the newspapers and see our brothers in Los Angeles, Texas and all over the country marching like we are," he said. "I think we're going to succeed together.

"We just want the best for America."

Gaston Younger
Younger, an immigrant from Vietnam who is half French, has been in the U.S. since 1969. The 50-year-old postal worker said he participated in the march before working the midnight shift to show support for the immigrant community.

"This is great, but we need a new Congress," said Younger, who is now a U.S. citizen. "Ever since November 2000, this country has gone downhill."

-- Bill Ruthhart and Tania E. Lopez