While the city of Los Angeles is formally boycotting the state of Arizona, there are others who are going out of their way to visit the state this weekend -- but not because they are in agreement with its new law targeting illegal immigrants -- quite the opposite.
Busloads of protestors left Thursday night and early Friday morning, heading from Phoenix. Many from Southern California, others leaving from the Bay Area and other states.
They intend to take part in a rally protesting the SB 1070 Arizona law, which allows police officers to check the residency status of anyone who is being investigated for a crime, if there is a reasonable suspicion that the person is in the country illegally.
Activists hope to have upwards of 50,000 protesters rallying Saturday, and they have a message to send.
"We strongly, strongly disagree with this racist law, and we're not going to be silenced. The community is going to be out. We're going to be protesting this law until it's gone," said Thelmy Perez, an immigrant-housing activist.
Although the protest is Saturday, activists got an early start, taking their message to the Phoenix office of Sen. John McCain.
McCain, who authored a bill last year that would have lead to a "pathway to citizenship" for illegal immigrants, is now focusing his attention on border security.
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McCain, who is currently in Washington D.C., supports the Arizona law.
In Arizona, the protesters were escorted out of his office after being told that a letter detailing their position would be given to the senator.
NBCLA's John Cadiz Klemack is in Arizona covering the story. He is posting live updates on his Twitter feed.
