I found a picture of myself.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Sunday, May 07, 2006
My very first rally!! It was so much fun. There is hope for the bay area. I loved waving our flag and having passing motorists honking in support. All the other ralliers were enjoying being Americans.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special
packages/immigration debate/14523082.htm
Posted on Sun, May. 07, 2006
THE IMMIGRATION DEBATEAlmost 200 protest illegal immigrationEVENT FOLLOWS MARCHES FAVORING IMMIGRANT RIGHTSBy John WoolfolkMercury News
Two days of noisy, peaceful and star-spangled protests in Santa Clara against illegal immigration didn't muster the horde that rallied for immigrant rights in San Jose recently, but organizers said they succeeded in making their voices heard.
``It's a beginning,'' said Roberta Allen, 62, of San Jose, who organized the demonstrations along Kiely Boulevard at Santa Clara's Central Park that were coordinated with ``National Anti-Illegal Immigrant Protest'' events around the country.
``You have to start somewhere,'' said Allen, waving Old Glory and sporting patriotic stars and stripes on her shirt, fingernails and even contact lenses. ``As the old saying goes, you ain't seen the last of us.''
Santa Clara police estimated the crowd protesting illegal immigration at about 150 Saturday, with a dozen or so counterdemonstrators who were separated from them by patrol cars.
About midway through the noon to 4 p.m. protest, the crowd swelled to nearly 200, with about 20 counterdemonstrators. Police reported no problems or arrests.
``It was very peaceful,'' said Santa Clara police Lt. Mike Sellers.
Protesters carried American flags, wore red, white and blue and waved handwritten placards with slogans such as ``Secure the Borders,'' ``Stop the Addiction -- No Illegal Labor'' and ``Legal Yes, Illegal No -- No Amnesty.''
Passing motorists honked their horns and waved U.S. flags in support, while occasionally a car full of counterprotesters drove by waving a large Mexican flag, drawing shouts and jeers from the demonstrators.
People of all ages joined the crowd protesting illegal immigration, and though they were mostly older, white, conservative and native-born, there were several exceptions. There was a Russian scientist visiting on a work visa who signed up to enforce the border with the Minuteman Project, and a naturalized, English-born San Francisco writer and self-described liberal who came to Santa Clara to say all immigrants must follow the law.
Rajat Srivastava, 45, a high-tech engineer from Saratoga, joined the demonstration with his wife Ratna and daughters Sarika, 11, and Simi, 8. It was a first for all of them.
But Srivastava explained that after immigrating legally from India on a work visa in the mid-1980s and waiting some 15 years before being naturalized in 2000, he was offended that others who cheated the system were rallying to demand rights.
``We're very much in favor of legal immigration,'' Srivastava said. ``We know people who have waited years and years to come here legally. This whole situation of people flouting the law and claiming rights . . . is a gross abuse of the willingness of this nation to assimilate people from various parts of the world.''
Contact John Woolfolk at jwoolfolk@mercurynews.com or (408) 975-9346.
Posted on Sun, May. 07, 2006
THE IMMIGRATION DEBATEAlmost 200 protest illegal immigrationEVENT FOLLOWS MARCHES FAVORING IMMIGRANT RIGHTSBy John WoolfolkMercury News
Two days of noisy, peaceful and star-spangled protests in Santa Clara against illegal immigration didn't muster the horde that rallied for immigrant rights in San Jose recently, but organizers said they succeeded in making their voices heard.
``It's a beginning,'' said Roberta Allen, 62, of San Jose, who organized the demonstrations along Kiely Boulevard at Santa Clara's Central Park that were coordinated with ``National Anti-Illegal Immigrant Protest'' events around the country.
``You have to start somewhere,'' said Allen, waving Old Glory and sporting patriotic stars and stripes on her shirt, fingernails and even contact lenses. ``As the old saying goes, you ain't seen the last of us.''
Santa Clara police estimated the crowd protesting illegal immigration at about 150 Saturday, with a dozen or so counterdemonstrators who were separated from them by patrol cars.
About midway through the noon to 4 p.m. protest, the crowd swelled to nearly 200, with about 20 counterdemonstrators. Police reported no problems or arrests.
``It was very peaceful,'' said Santa Clara police Lt. Mike Sellers.
Protesters carried American flags, wore red, white and blue and waved handwritten placards with slogans such as ``Secure the Borders,'' ``Stop the Addiction -- No Illegal Labor'' and ``Legal Yes, Illegal No -- No Amnesty.''
Passing motorists honked their horns and waved U.S. flags in support, while occasionally a car full of counterprotesters drove by waving a large Mexican flag, drawing shouts and jeers from the demonstrators.
People of all ages joined the crowd protesting illegal immigration, and though they were mostly older, white, conservative and native-born, there were several exceptions. There was a Russian scientist visiting on a work visa who signed up to enforce the border with the Minuteman Project, and a naturalized, English-born San Francisco writer and self-described liberal who came to Santa Clara to say all immigrants must follow the law.
Rajat Srivastava, 45, a high-tech engineer from Saratoga, joined the demonstration with his wife Ratna and daughters Sarika, 11, and Simi, 8. It was a first for all of them.
But Srivastava explained that after immigrating legally from India on a work visa in the mid-1980s and waiting some 15 years before being naturalized in 2000, he was offended that others who cheated the system were rallying to demand rights.
``We're very much in favor of legal immigration,'' Srivastava said. ``We know people who have waited years and years to come here legally. This whole situation of people flouting the law and claiming rights . . . is a gross abuse of the willingness of this nation to assimilate people from various parts of the world.''
Contact John Woolfolk at jwoolfolk@mercurynews.com or (408) 975-9346.
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