Immigration activists spar at Phoenix rally

Sep 4, 5:58 PM (ET)
By Tim Gaynor
Photo REUTERS/Jeff Topping

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Supporters and opponents of liberalized immigration laws bellowed at each other through bullhorns at a rally in Phoenix on Monday as pressure on the U.S. Congress to break a deadlock over a proposed immigration overhaul gathered pace nationwide.

About a thousand supporters of a Senate bill offering millions of illegal immigrants a path to citizenship gathered outside the Capitol building in downtown Phoenix on Labor Day, chanting, "We are America" and waving U.S. flags.

They were met by scores of angry opponents of the measure, toting placards urging authorities to "stop the criminal alien invasion" and "secure the border," who jabbed fingers at protesters and tried to shout down keynote speakers.

"These people are illegal aliens. They need to be incarcerated, fined and sent home," said activist Carol Hands, as she stood amid protesters shouting through bullhorns. Capitol police officers watched the groups in bright morning sunshine. There was no violence, and no arrests.

_____

Sep 4, 7:46 PM EDT

Immigrant rally draws lower-than-expected turnout

By AMANDA LEE MYERS
Associated Press Writer

PHOENIX (AP) -- An immigrant-rights rally at the state Capitol on Monday attracted far fewer demonstrators than organizers had hoped and didn't even near previous demonstrations that drew tens of thousands of people.

Police estimated that about 900 immigrant-rights supporters were at the rally at any one time during the day. They did not have an estimate on how many they think came and left throughout the four-hour event.

Organizers, on the other hand, estimated that 3,000 people demonstrated at any one time and that altogether 5,000 showed up.

All the estimates are a far cry from the 10,000 people organizers had hoped to attract.