Rally Against Illegal Immigration Held In Tulsa

The Tulsa Minuteman Project rallied to protest what it claims is the loss of American jobs to illegal immigrants. <br/><br/>News on 6 reporter Omar Villafranca says while most people relaxed during the

Monday, September 4th 2006, 7:17 pm

By: News On 6

The Tulsa Minuteman Project rallied to protest what it claims is the loss of American jobs to illegal immigrants.

News on 6 reporter Omar Villafranca says while most people relaxed during the holiday, a few hundred Minutemen took to the corner of 61st and Yale to protest illegal immigration.

Organizers picked Labor Day to send a message about defending American jobs. More than 200 people holding signs and waving American flags spent their Labor Day protesting. Wendell Neal with Tulsa Minuteman:" The losing of American jobs to illegal labor. What better day to protest than on Labor Day?"

While Americans got a break from work, the Tulsa Minutemen wanted people to remember the effects of illegal immigration on American jobs. "Find out the other side of the story. And find out how businesses and families have been destroyed by lack of work in certain industries in Tulsa."

Organizers say more people are joining the Tulsa Minutemen, and showing up to events like this. "There's probably close to 300 minutemen now in this part of Oklahoma." Former Tulsa City Councilor Jim Mautino mingled with the crowd. Mautino represented east Tulsa, home to thousands of Hispanic residents, both legal and illegal. He says city officials can have an impact on the illegal immigration issue. "Every one of them. The Mayor, all the Councilors, took an oath, when they were sworn in, to uphold the constitution, and that constitution says that if anyone breaks the law, you have to turn them in."

Organizers also asked people to join the Tulsa Minuteman Project. In the future, they're hoping these rallies don't just raise awareness, but change laws. "You have to eat the elephant one bite at a time. You can't turn on your TV these days or your radio without hearing about illegal immigration. And if you're going to be effective, you have to take your time to plan carefully and you have to get your strategy in place to be effective.â€

Tulsa Police were around the area just in case anything got out of hand.