Immigration is a moral issue, Bishop Wester says at rally

IC photo by Laura V. Sausedo

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Hundreds of people gathered at the Centro Cívico Mexicano to show their support for immigrants in a ?Dignity Rally.?

SALT LAKE CITY - The annual Cinco de Mayo celebration in Salt Lake City had added meaning this year as hundreds of people, both Latino and Anglo, gathered at the Centro Cívico Mexicano on May 1 for the traditional festival that was preceded by a rally highlighting immigration issues.

In the front door people were handing out signs in support of immigration and others showed up carrying signs in support of national immigration reform.

Many locals have a big concern about a proposal that Utah adopt legislation similar to Arizona's new immigration law (SB1070); critics say the measure is illegal and immoral because it promotes racial profiling.

Leading the rally against the Arizona law was the Most Rev. John C. Wester, bishop of Salt Lake City, who addressed those gathered on Saturday in English; his words were simultaneously translated into Spanish.

The bishop said he is often asked why the Catholic Church is involved in a political issue like immigration. "This is not only a political issue, it is a moral issue, it is a human issue," he said, adding that "It's not about human beings breaking the law, but the law breaking human beings. And we also have to acknowledge that immigrants in this country have given us much."

Pricila Zapata also spoke in favor of immigration reform, especially for those who came to the United States as young children and call America home. Wearing a shirt with the words " I am an Illegal," Zapata said she came to the U.S. with her mother illegally when she was 4. Now 26, she is married and the mother of two children.

She earned top grades in her public high school but was unable to get federal loans to help her attend college. "It makes me sad," she said. "I love my Hispanic culture, but I feel like I'm an American."

The rally also drew at least one opponent of immigration, who made his way into in to the rally with a sign that stated "illegals go home," and accusing them of spoiling the country. The crowd closed in on him with competing signs. The anti-protester was escorted away by security personnel.

Tony Yapias, one of the rally organizers and a Latino activist, said other rallies and marches are planned in support of immigration legislation reform.