A Half Million March on L.A. to Protest Immigration Bill

Long Beach — In one of the largest protest rallies in Los Angeles history, a crowd estimated at 500,000 jammed downtown streets Saturday to denounce a federal legislative proposal that would criminalize illegal immigration.

The proposal would make it a felony to illegally enter the United States, erect barriers along a third of the U.S.-Mexico border and impose tough penalties on companies, organizations or individuals hiring or helping illegal immigrants.

"There has never been this kind of mobilization in the immigrant community ever," said German Angel, a Spanish TV Personality and long time proponent of immigrants' Labor rights.

The rally was organized and funded by unions, religious organizations and immigrants rights groups, including Service Employees International Union Local 660; United Farm Workers; Hermandad Mexicana, an organization that assists immigrants; and the Korean Resource Center in Los Angeles.

"It's outrageous, because this country is built by immigrants," said Valdovinos, a permanent resident who owns a financial services company.Julio Cruz, 20, said he does not want to return to Mexico because his infant daughter is hospitalized here.In Mexico, Cruz made about $3.50 a day. Here, he said, he earns considerably more in construction.

"I came here to work," said Cruz. "I didn't come here to be out in the streets…. I don't think it would be too much to ask for legal documents so that I could keep working.

"The march started at 9th Street and followed Broadway, Main and Spring streets before converging at City Hall. Speakers demanded a path toward legalization and denounced congressional legislation that would tighten border enforcement and crack down on employers who hire undocumented workers.