Mexican hometown groups wooed-Members urged to become U.S. citizens, vote for local politicians

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=local&id=4347824

Villaraigosa, Clinton, Schwarzenegger Attend Latino Convention

LOS ANGELES, July 8, 2006 - Thousands of people including former President Bill Clinton, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa attended a Latino conference Saturday where immigration reform topped the discussions.

A small group of about 25 protesters from the March 25 Coalition protested outside the annual conference hosted by the National Council of La Raza, a national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy group.

March 25 spokesman Javiar Rodriguez said they were protesting La Raza's compromising position on immigration reform. March 25, he said, wants the current bills in Congress derailed so lawmakers can start fresh with a more humane approach to illegal immigrants in the country.

"They're militarizing the border," Rodriguez said. "All the walls, all the bricks, everything that they've thrown at the immigration problem has not succeeded."

The La Raza conference kicked off at 9 a.m. with "Cafe con Clinton," with Villaraigosa and NCLR President Janet Murguia hosting the former president.

Schwarzenegger participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony opening the 2006 Latino Expo USA at 10:15 a.m.

A town hall meeting called "Toward Immigration Reform and Beyond: Latinos and Labor Unions Working Together" will be held at 3:30 p.m. with panelists including United Farm Workers of America President Arturo Rodriguez and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor Executive Secretary-Treasurer Maria Elena Durazo.

The four-day conference will also feature games, raffles, prizes, live music, dancing and information and product give-aways from more than 250 exhibitors, Spanish-language workshops and health and home ownership fairs.

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