Protesters gather in Postville

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By The Associated Press | Monday, July 28, 2008 1:08 PM CDT | () comments

   POSTVILLE, Iowa — An immigration rally kicked off Sunday in Postville with protesters shouting ``Si se puede,'' translated in English as ``yes, we can.''

   Hundreds of people marched through the small Iowa town of about 2,200 to protest a federal immigration raid of the Agriprocessors plant in May. Buses carried people from Chicago, Minneapolis-St. Paul and other nearby cities to take part in the rally.

   Nearly 400 people were arrested during the raid of the plant, which is the largest kosher meatpacking plant in the United States.

   ``This is an awesome moment, a historic moment,'' said Sister Mary McCauley of the St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Postville. ``We're calling for reform, not rage.''

   Protesters circled the streets of Postville and chanted outside the plant before returning to the center of town. They passed a much smaller group of anti-immigration protesters along the way, outshouting them during their march.

   Local police surrounded the perimeter of the march, separating anti-immigration protesters from marchers.

   The march ended with a rally outside St. Bridget's Church.

   Rabbi Harold Kravitz of the Adath Jeshurun Congregation in Minnetonka, Minn. spoke outside the church, saying the protesters wanted to stop the criminalization of people who come to the U.S. simply to make a living.

   ``People have come here from Minneapolis, Wisconsin, Chicago, New York and New Jersey...because we care,'' said Kravitz.

   As Kravitz spoke, about a half-dozen Agriprocessors workers stood watching from just inside the company's gates.

   The reaction from Postville residents was largely supportive. Cindy Moser, 53, from nearby Elkader, said her daughter and son-in-law were marching while she watched her two grandchildren.

   ``If they want to come and work here I say fine,'' Moser said. ``We all saw the effect of this. My grandson, he told me, 'Grandma, they took my friends away.' I hope this stops.''

   Claire Jamison came from Minneapolis to join the counter-protest from anti-immigration activists. Jamison, wearing a hat emblazoned with a U.S. Border Patrol logo, held up a sign that read ``What would Jesus do? Obey the law.``'

   ``I'm just so fed up as an American. We have laws. Why can't they obey our laws?'' Jamison said. ``I empathize with those people, but they are not victims. They should not have even been here. ``