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People Protest Immigration Law In Santa Cruz

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - People from all over the country are protesting the immigration law which took effect in Arizona Thursday.  Dozens of people marched through Santa Cruz with signs held high and speaker box in hand.  Marciano Cruz showed up because he's afraid of what this law will do to illegal immigrants and their families.

"Separation.  I know what a separation is like for a family and I know how it feels, trying to be separated from your kids," said Marciano Cruz.

That seemed to be the biggest issue, but it's certainly not the only one.  Jaque Aguado said the law clearly shows racial profiling and it's unfair.

"We're just not the only illegal people; there are Chinese people, African American.  There's a lot of whole bunch of immigrants here not just Mexicans," said Jaque Aguado.

To be clear, Arizona's law doesn't specifically target any racial group and a judge put most of it on hold Wednesday.  If it does take effect, it would give police the right to question anyone they think is in America illegally.  However, that did not stop these people Thursday night demanding immigration reform, without a law some say violates constitutional rights.

"We worked hard for like a whole bunch of people coming here to have a better life and for the kids and children to have better education, better work and they're like taking everything away and I don't think it's fair," said Aguado.

Santa Cruz Police told Central Coast News it was a peaceful rally.

Submitted by Susanne Brunner, Central Coast News