The Register Pajaronian
Saturday May 2, 2009

A wet, cold rain fell from dark, gray skies Friday afternoon, soaking the handful of people browsing the farmers’ market in Watsonville Plaza, and prompting the cancellation of the annual May Day march and rally.

But the weather didn’t stop about 50 people from gathering in front of the Wells Fargo Bank on Main Street, for the kickoff of what organizers hope will become a nationwide boycott of the bank chain.

According to organizer Ramiro Medrano, the San Francisco-based bank owns stock in The GEO Group, a company that builds prisons and has facilities throughout the world, including one in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Protesters accuse the company of violating the rights of immigrant detainees.

“We wanted this rally to happen,” protester Jenn Laskin said. “They

commit massive human rights abuses in their detention centers.”

The gathered protesters beat on drums, chanted slogans and cheered when passing motorists honked. They huddled under umbrellas and held sodden signs with phrases such as “Down With Shady Businesses” and “Amnesty for Immigrants.”

Medrano, who is also a member of the Brown Berets, said that before the North American Free Trade Agreement was enacted in 1994, about 95,000 immigrants were being held in U.S. detention centers. Now, there are more than 300,000, he said.

“This is the most important aspect of the march,” Medrano said. “To bring light to the issue of detention centers being built en masse.”

Bank representatives were not immediately available for comment.