By Carolyn Sackariason
Daily Press Staff Writer

11TH STREET — Tensions were high here on Saturday as activists battled over whether or not undocumented immigrants have a right to work in the country.

Counter protesters in Santa Monica far outnumbered members of the Minutemen Project, who organized demonstrations at 100 different day laborer sites across the country. Dubbed “Stop the Invasion” National Protest Day, the day was meant to send symbolic messages that the Minutemen are opposed to illegal immigration and seek to tighten borders.

While dozens of other locations in Southern California saw larger numbers of demonstrators, Santa Monica was no different in that the tension between the two sides was as volatile as the issue itself. Counter protesters were, at times, aggressive and confrontational toward the Minutemen, calling them racists among other names.

Minuteman organizer Tony Dolz, who lives in Santa Monica and is running for a 41st Assembly District seat, demonstrated on Saturday along 11th Street between Olympic Boulevard and Colorado Avenue, where about 100 day laborers congregate every day seeking construction work.

“The point of this national action is to illustrate that our government is failing to secure our borders and enforce our immigration laws on the books now,” Dolz said, adding he is a foreign-born Hispanic who obtained naturalized citizenship 12 years ago.

Dolz, accompanied by three other Minutemen supporters, were countered by about three dozen protesters who blocked anti-illegal immigration signs with their own, claiming discrimination, among other things.

One counter protester, Santa Monica resident Tiburchio Vasquez, who also called himself “Poncho,” aggressively confronted Dolz by repeatedly asking him “Where’s your green card?” He asked another Minutemen supporter, Torrance resident Robert Copella, if he thought Mexicans contributed to the wealth of the country. Copella responded that they are breaking the laws if they are here working illegally.

Heated exchanges between the two sides had Santa Monica Police standing by, although no incidents occurred. The Minutemen protesters, for the most part, didn’t respond to the counter protesters, who continued to heckle them for more than an hour.

Meanwhile, dozens of day laborers watched the events unfold as they waited for work from customers entering and exiting Bourget Bros., a building materials and hardware store.

Three undocumented workers, who spoke only Spanish and didn’t give their names, said they come to Santa Monica every day looking for work, but usually only find jobs two days per week, at a minimum of $10 an hour.

The workers, who ranged in age from 30 to 55, said they aren’t hurting anyone by trying to work and thought the protest from the Minutemen was unfair.

“We feel it’s discrimination,” they said through interpreter Oscar de la Torre, a Santa Monica activist and a member of the local school board.

“We’re people of peace,” the workers continued. “We come out here every day because we have families.”

Each of those responding said they’ve been here for 10 years and crossed into the country illegally from Mexico. They added it’s a constant struggle to live because the taxes they do pay, like sales tax, go to the “seniors of the state.”

“If all of us leave the country, the economy would crumble,” one of the workers said.

Maria Loya, a community activist, said the Minutemen are racist vigilantes and the day laborers contribute to the economy by taking the jobs others won’t.

“It’s unfortunate,” she said before protesting on Saturday. “A lot of what is going on with the threat of the Minutemen is a result of domestic terrorism.”

Dolz said he’s for legal immigration and that undocumented workers are negatively affecting low-skill people who need the work.

“It’s a double whammy because there are a mass number of people who are seeking work and many of the legal low-skilled people are forced to seek government assistance,” Dolz said.