Yakima rally invokes history of immigrant movement

YAKIMA — In one of the largest political gatherings in recent Yakima Valley history, thousands of people marched and rallied Monday evening to demand immigration reform.

Crowd estimates varied widely, with Yakima police saying there were 5,000 to 8,000 participants, while organizers placed the number at closer to 15,000. The event largely was peaceful.

David Gutierrez, of Yakima, who helped organize previous immigration rallies, told the crowd at Miller Park they had outdone themselves by turning out in such large numbers.

"Not even in the time of Cesar Chavez, may he rest in peace, did this many people come out in the Yakima Valley. Some people don't want us here, but we're staying. The economy depends on us," Gutierrez said. Chavez, the late United Farm Workers union president, led a march of 700 people in the Lower Valley in 1986.

The Yakima Valley relies on a large immigrant work force to harvest its crops. Agricultural-industry officials have estimated that as much as 70 percent of the work force is here illegally.

Waving American and Mexican flags and bearing signs demanding fair and just immigration changes, the gathering of mostly Hispanic men, women and children cheered, sang and danced as they slowly made their way along a route that looped from Miller Park in northeast Yakima through downtown and back to the park.

One arrest was reported when a motorist — who was not a participant of either the rally or march — refused to move his car after apparently growing frustrated with traffic, Yakima police said.

At the park, Mario Cardenas waited with his four children.

"Mainly, I'm here to see that discrimination stops," the 33-year-old Toppenish woodworker said. "We're all immigrants when you go back in history. This country is rich because of all the races and ethnic groups."

The Yakima Hispanic Chamber of Commerce said most of the area's Hispanic-owned and -operated businesses closed Monday. Ernesto Gonzalez, owner of Gonzalez Construction and chamber president, said he expects the closures to cause $500,000 to $1 million in lost sales.

"I hope this sends a message about the economic help the immigrant people put in this county," Gonzalez said.