Opposing Demonstrations Fill Plaza

Santa Barbara police put a barrier between opposing demonstrations in De La Guerra Plaza on Monday.

Supporters of the Santa Barbara News Press said they came to support the paper’s coverage of immigrants getting driver’s licenses in California.

The paper is standing by a headline that said “Illegals Line Up for Driver’s Licenses.”

Don Katich, the Director of Operations at the Santa Barbara News Press, said the paper has used the term illegal immigrant for more than a decade. He said the White House used the term too.

Supporters of the paper called it a free speech issue.

But immigrants and their advocates said the word “illegals” is derogatory.

They are considering a boycott of advertisers if they don’t take a stand.