Barry Block

Rabbi Barry Block...

Immigration rally

Disdain for Arizona's tough new immigration law united an enthusiastic crowd of more than 600 people at the fifth annual May Day march through downtown streets Saturday May 1 2010.

“I know there is tremendous frustration in Arizona about immigration,” Mayor Julian Castro told the crowd. “And in many cases that frustration with federal policies is justified. But that is not an excuse to pass a bad law.”

May Day marches were held across the country, with large crowds gathering in reaction to the Arizona law signed last week by Gov. Jan Brewer that many fear will lead to racial profiling.

Supporters of the law — which requires law enforcement officers to detain and demand proof of citizenship from people they suspect are in the country illegally — cite federal authorities' failure to secure the border.

“If someone sees someone crossing the fence illegally, they should grab them right there and then,” said Antonio Diaz with the Texas Indigenous Council. “But they should not stop all of us. We call it racial profiling, and that should not be allowed under the Constitution.”

While the overwhelming sentiment was outrage at Arizona, the fact the Spurs' next playoff opponent is the Phoenix Suns added a touch of levity to the event. Marchers chanted “Si, se puede,” or “Yes we can,” followed by “Go Spurs Go!”

“It's folks in San Antonio who have an opportunity to do something to those people in Arizona,” Rabbi Barry Block reminded the crowd.

“The strength of our nation is in the men and the women who have come to this country from other parts of the world, from all parts of the world, to build a more perfect union,” Block said. “Let each and every one of us speak out against the injustice being perpetrated in Arizona.”

“I think it's a really, really bad idea,” Police Chief William McManus said before the march. “If a bill like this were to pass (here), crime would go unreported, and it would destroy the relationship that we've worked to build with you and that you've worked to build with us. We don't want to see that happen.”

The parade began with a rally at Milam Park and ended with another outside San Fernando Cathedral after a parade that followed Houston, Alamo and Commerce streets. Before it began, a letter of support from Archbishop Jose Gomez was read.

Concern over Arizona's law wasn't limited to Hispanics.

“It's going to affect anybody who looks any different,” said Sarwat Husain, president of the San Antonio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. “And especially a person like me who has brown skin and an accent.”

Castro noted, “One of the ways we always sell San Antonio is we say that this city is a city where over the centuries people have come from different places, different countries, different cultures, different religions, backgrounds, perspectives — to build up the city that is economically successful.”

JStreet advisory council

In 2009 listed members of the JStreet advisory council included Barry Block, Senior Rabbi, Temple Beth-El in San Antonio and Board Member, Central Conference of American Rabbis

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