California city welcomes immigrants

The mayor of National City, Calif., demographically the second poorest municipality in San Diego County, has declared the city a sanctuary for immigrant workers.

This progressive move so enraged area Minutemen—the racist, self-appointed “guardians” of the border whose hostile and violent attacks on day laborers have made clear their fascist sympathies—that they mobilized their forces for two Saturdays in a row in downtown National City to protest the pro-immigrant proclamation. But the multinational communities of this city, who overwhelmingly support the proclamation, were not about to be intimidated.

At protests on Sept. 23 and 30, huge contingents of police protected the racists from angry city residents and local progressive forces. Nevertheless, on both Saturdays, the pro-immigrant demonstrators faced off the racists and outlasted them. At the second protest, as police escorted the lone remaining Minuteman to his car, the Unión del Barrio, one of the organizing groups, led community residents, students and anti-racist activists into the street for a spirited victory march and rally.

The message was loud and clear: Bigots not welcome here!