May 4, 2006

A day of protest

100,000 take to San Jose streets to march for immigrant rights

Immigrants, illegal and legal, marched shoulder to shoulder with their neighbors, family and friends on May 1 as 100,000 predominantly Mexican-American marchers took to the streets of downtown San Jose to protest proposed federal legislation (HR 4432) that would make it illegal for doctors and clergy to help
illegal immigrants and deny those immigrants access to health
care and other benefits.

The march, one of the largest in San Jose history, was just one of many across the nation on May 1 including larger protests in Los Angeles and Chicago and smaller protests in San Francisco and Oakland. The marchers began their trek at the intersection of
Story and King roads, wound their way down Santa Clara Street
and ended at Guadalupe Park.

Some businesses were shut down by employees walking off the
job, with most employers supporting the workers’ efforts. Willow Street Pizza and Max’s restaurants at Westgate both shut down
for the day with Max’s posting a note that read, “Out of respect
for and in recognition of our outstanding Latino employees, Max’s will close all restaurants in support of their peaceful protest of HR 4432 on May 1, 2006. All employees are excused from work on this day.”

Photos by Jeff Frazee