July 4 Rally in San Ysidro Will Protest ‘Militarization’ of Border

An Independence Day rally and march intended to focus public attention on national immigration policies and the “militarization” of the U.S.-Mexican border will be held Friday at San Ysidro.

The all-day event, announced Tuesday by the San Diego Committee for the National Day for Justice, will begin at 9 a.m. at Larson Field at the San Ysidro Athletic Area, spokesman Javier Correa said.

“We want to bring attention to the problems at the border and the fact that it is being militarized,” Correa said. “People are being discriminated against on the basis of their appearance.”

Friday was chosen for the rally because it coincides with the rededication of the Statue of Liberty, he said. The theme of the rally is, “Make Her Promise a Reality.”

Among the scheduled speakers are actor and liberal activist Ed Asner; United Auto Workers Local 645 President Pete Beltran from Van Nuys; Gloria Sandoval of the Equal Rights Council in Fresno; the Most Rev. Gilbert Chavez, auxiliary bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego; Bill Tomoya, representing the national task force for the National Day for Justice, and Thomas Penn, father of Saigon Penn, who was acquitted last week in the slaying of San Diego Police Agent Thomas Riggs.

Introductory speeches will begin at 10 a.m., and the march will start at 11 a.m. from the field to the border and back to the field, Correa said. The keynote speeches will start at 1 p.m.

The event also will feature music and ethnic food booths.