Crocktown

HARRISONBURG - A coalition of local Russian-speaking immigrants demonstrated on Court Square today, demanding they be treated just as poorly as other immigrant groups in the city.

"Ve just feel overlooked by the people here," says protest organizer Andrei Chaparov. "Venever people complain about local 'invaders', they alvays talk about the Hispanics and sometimes the Muslims. Never us. It's not fair."

Chaparov says that local Russian-speaking immigrants have done everything they're supposed to do to draw attention to their non-American-ness, like speaking loudly in their native language while out shopping, segregating into their own churches and social groups, and keeping most of their traditions and family structures from their native lands. Yet, he says, no one hassles them in letters to the editor or glares at them in public places.

"Look, ve even have the same percentage of people who get arrested, but because the other groups outnumber us our efforts get ignored," Chaparov says. "Maybe ve do have lily white skin, but ve are aliens to this country too!"