Latinos protest in Petaluma

National 'Day Without Immigrants' boycott marked locally by a march, hundreds of student absences and many workers taking the day off

May 3, 2006

By DANE GOLDEN
ARGUS-COURIER STAFF

About 200 Latino immigrants, both legal and illegal, their families and a few non-Latino supporters walked from Lucchesi Park to City Hall at midday Monday. They were Petaluma workers and residents, and their local demonstration was part of a nationwide boycott called "A Day Without Immigrants," which sought to bring attention to the influence Latinos have on the economy. Nationwide, an estimated one million people marched in various cities. Immigrants were encouraged to take the day off work, take children out of school and refrain from making purchases.

Although many Petaluma-based protesters went to the much larger marches in Santa Rosa or San Francisco instead, the Petaluma contingent was significant. They marched behind a large American flag, chanting "Si, se puede (Yes, we can)," "Aqui estamos, y no nos vamos (We are here, and we're not leaving)," and "Latinos, unidos, jamas seran vencidos (Latinos, united, will never be defeated)."

Dozens of drivers honked their horns in support as they drove by in busy lunchtime traffic, but one man yelled "Go home!" from his SUV.

"Es una lucha para los derechos de los inmigrantes (It's a fight for immigrant rights)," one demonstrator said.

Francisco Apolito walked with his son. He said in Spanish that they were protesting "because we want something better for Mexicans, or immigrants from any country who are here."

Eduardo Torres, a Petaluma High student, was born in the U.S. to immigrant parents. He was marching with his younger brother.

"WeÕre walking here to show everyone that Latinos do count Ñ and all immigrants, not just Latinos, from all around the world," Torres said. "And weÕre going to put up a fight here, so people can hear our voices."

Jaimie Ayala rode his bike to meet the protesters at the corner of Washington Street and Petaluma Boulevard North. He lives in Petaluma and works at Whole Foods in prepared foods. He's been a citizen for three years and a resident for 20 years. He said that immigrants will do the work that others won't do.

"We're not terrorists, man, we're here for work," Ayala said. He couldn't join the protest for long, though, as he had to be at work in 15 minutes.

Across the street, longtime Petaluman Cleve Masad, 64, wearing a red baseball cap denoting his status as a Marine Veteran, waved a large American flag as the marchers walked by. Masad trained troops stateside during the Vietnam War.

"I guess a lot of people today didn't like me standing out here with my flag. I got a bottle thrown at me and a can, and many flip-offs, but I let people think anything they want to. I'm just proud to be an American. "I'm proud my dad came over in 1911 and did what he had to do, to do everything correctly," he said.

Masad said he's not against immigrants or a racist, as his wife emigrated from Sweden and he has an adopted son who is an African-American.

"I don't mind people coming to America, but I think things should be done correctly," he said, adding that workers should get green cards and work in the U.S. legally.

School, work absences

Many students were absent from local schools. At Kenilworth Junior High School, 130 out of 980 students were not present, more than 13 percent of the student body, compared to 25 absences last Friday. At Casa Grande High School, 260 of 1,800 students were not present, more than 14 percent. Petaluma City Schools have a year-round absence-rate average of about 5 percent.

At Marr B. Olsen, a general contractor, estimator Don De Jong said essentially the entire workforce, about 40 men, had asked for the day off a few weeks ago.

"They didn't just not show up," he said. They've agreed to make up the missed day on Saturday.

"Revenue-wise, it's not going to hurt us," De Jong said.

De Jong added that although one worker recently told The Press Democrat that he had been working in the U.S. illegally, the company has Social Security numbers or green cards for that employee and all other employees.

Another local employer, Bertotti Landscaping, also has documentation for each employee. Tony Bertotti said the company calls the Social Security hotline to check the Social Security number of each employee when they are hired.

"All the Hispanics that work for us are documented," Bertotti said.

Twenty-five of Bertotti's 38 employees had asked for the boycott day off last week, but agreed to work an extra hour each day until the time was made up.

Not everyone took off work, however. At North Bay Construction, company president Steve Geney said that all workers showed up for work on Monday. Valley Orchards Retirement Apartments also reported that all employees showed up for work. And Petaluma Valley Hospital had no boycott-related employee absences.

(Contact Dane Golden at dgolden@arguscourier.com)