Immigration Rally numbers estimated between 20,000 – 50,000 in Salt Lake

I wasn’t able to attend the rally yesterday, but I am ecstatic to see in the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News:

Police estimate immigration rally crowd at 20,000

One of the largest protests in Utah’s history, in fact probably the largest, a “Dignity March, attracted between 20,000 to 50,000 people to voice opposition to pending immigration legislation. Organizers of the event estimated the crowed to be closer to 50,000.

Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson and Salt Lake County Peter Caroon both spoke to the crowd:
In Salt Lake City Sunday, Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson addressed rally participants by loudspeaker. Americans fulfill “our country’s potential for greatness through the contributions of immigrants and their descendants,” he said.
He quoted the Emma Lazarus poem on the Statute of Liberty’s plaque, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Anderson led the crowd in chanting, “Let’s work together for a better America!”
Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon welcomed those at the rally, praising the diversity that immigrants bring. “The American dream should not be for a select few,” Corroon said. “It should be for all of us.” (Desert News)

The Salt Lake Tribune has published a gallery of photos of today’s event.

There was a group of anti-protestors dubbing themselves as “pro-America” – comprised of the “Minutemen”, a group that advocates keeping illegal immigrants from crossing the border into the U.S. I found this bit of information interesting:

Early in the afternoon, Tony Yapias, an organizer of the Dignity March, approached and shook hands with Alex Segura, a Utah Minuteman organizer of the counter-demonstration. Segura said he and Yapias had spoken on Saturday and agreed they wanted to keep the two marches peaceful.
According to the Tribune, everything went without relative incident.

This was an exciting event for Utah. Kudos to the organizers.

Links to other news about today’s rally
Clarion call for dignity: Huge S.L. crowd urges residency for immigrants – Deseret News
Latinos march en masse to urge fairness, respect
Historic: In a Utah protest of record size, Latinos, others urge respect for the undocumented – Salt Lake Tribune
Channel 5 KSL
Channel 2 KUTV
ABC Channel 4

There is a “Unity Rally” at the City County Building at Washington Square, 451 South State Street, on Monday, April 10, at 4:30pm, in solidarity with such rallies nationwide. About 100,000 are expected to rally on the Mall in Washington D.C.