N.J. rally takes aim at Ariz. immigration law

About 50 people gathered outside City Hall in Camden on Thursday to protest Arizona's new immigration law, one of a dozen rallies in communities throughout New Jersey.

"It's solidarity with Arizona, but it's also against any copycat legislation that might pop up," said Jonathan Marrero, 27, of Cherry Hill. "One of the obvious potential flaws is racial profiling. Americans should be as afraid of (the Arizona law) SB 1070 as undocumented immigrants, because it infringes on Fourth amendment rights."

Arizona's law generally requires state and local officers enforcing another law to question a person's immigration status if there's a reasonable suspicion that the person is in the country illegally. It restricts the use of race, color or national origin as the basis for triggering immigration questions, but civil rights groups argue officers will still assume that illegal immigrants look Hispanic.

The bill, signed in April, is set to take effect July 29, and about 17 states may consider similar legislation. In Pennsylvania, state Reps. Daryl Metcalfe and Harry Readshaw have proposed a bill modeled on Arizona's.

In New Jersey, the Senate passed a resolution condemning Arizona's bill. Protestors, however, say they want to be vigilant.

"Instead of reacting to something that happens, we are trying to be proactive and show authorities that this is something that would be harmful to the New Jersey community," said Fernando Treviño-Martínez, state director of Democracia Ahora.

The protests around the state were sponsored by "over 40 religious, community and civic organizations," according to an e-mail from organizers.

"Everyone is struggling at some point-financial problems, or housing problems, or work problems-and it's easy to look at undocumented immigrants as the ones who are causing the problems…This does not represent the best of who we are," said Msgr. Bob McDermott.

The New Jersey protests came on the same day President Obama called the Arizona law an understandable byproduct of public frustration with the government's inability to tighten the system. But he also said it is ill-conceived, divisive and would put undue pressure on local authorities. Opponents have challenged the measure as unconstitutional and have asked that a federal court block it from taking effect. U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton plans to hear arguments on the request later this month.

Camden's demonstration was primarily sponsored by Democracia Ahora, a national group that focuses on voter registration and other issues in the Latino community.

"All roads lead to the ballot box, otherwise it's just a lot of noise," President and CEO Jorge Mursuli said. In his speech Thursday, he said "The anti-immigrant law in Arizona, it is not only anti-Latino, but it is undoubtedly un American."
 
Jovaan Torres,  19, of Pennsauken, a volunteer with Democracia Ahora, said, "It's not only a Latino problem, it's a minority problem."

He said he is afraid that since he resembles incoming Haitian refugees, his legal status could also be questioned.

Mursuli said he would be ready if an official ever asks for his "papers."

His response: "You want my college diploma? Do you want my property deed? Do you want my birth certificate? I am an American citizen and unless I break a law, don't you dare stop me to ask me for them."

Contact staff writer Jen Wulf at 856-779-3228 or jwulf@phillynews.com
This story contains material from the Associated Press