So the story’s a week old but whatever. Samantha and Ivan got some great photos and a few quotes from local residents, so here’s a quick summary.

What started as a small crowd in Archer Park quickly became a sea of more than 2000 proud valley natives chanting “si, se puede” – yes, we can in Spanish.

The overwhelmingly hispanic crowd gathered to march in protest of the proposed House Bill H.R. 4437, a highly controversial piece of legislation that would make undocumented immigrants felons, and subject those who assisted them to a possible five years in prison.

Other provisions in the bill would mandate as much as 700 miles of new fence along the U.S.-Mexican border and would eliminate the diversity visa lottery program which currently allows 50,000 new legal immigrants to permanently reside in the U.S. each year.

When asked about immigration policies, local residents had this to say:

“I think that the goverment should give immigrants a chance. Even though we’re minorities we’re a staple. After today the government will see how we make a change in the economy.”
Kenny Cantu,
Tattoo Artist
Age 25

“I think our goverment was based on living the American dream and all people should be allowed to come here to persue their dreams. If they’re not willing to go about it the proper way then they should be deported because they’re taking a shortcut.”
Chris Navarro
Manager at Buffalo Wild Wings

“I think that they could go about it in a different manner. Both sides are wrong on different parts. It’s disrespectful for Mexicans to sing our national anthem in Spanish. It’s wrong for the U.S. to make them leave. We need to have a certain population and without them we’d be lower than Europe.”
Sarah Snowden
Server at Buffalo Wild Wings
Age:20

“Um..Our worker at the ranch were happy they had jobs today.”
Anonymous
Age: 23

“I think it’s a diversion to keep our minds off of the war in Iraq and gas prices.”
Jenny Cantu
Insurance Agent
Age 21