SAN DIEGO -- About 50,000 people marched through downtown San Diego on Sunday afternoon to demand what they consider fair immigration legislation and to oppose a Congressional bill that would crack down on the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants living in the United States.

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Carrying mostly American flags and signs that read "We are a nation of immigrants" and "We are America," the demonstrators -- many of whom wore white as a symbol of peace -- started gathering around noon in Balboa Park.

The crowd included at least 500 people from Escondido, many of whom rode rented buses to the event, as well as countless other North County residents. An Oceanside city councilwoman was among the speakers to address the throngs.

At Balboa Park, demonstrators sang, chanted, listened to speakers and prayed before beginning their march just after 2 p.m. to the San Diego City and County Administration Building.

The crowds walked south from Laurel Street down 6th Avenue, then headed west on Broadway and back north on Pacific Highway, blocking the streets as they went. A representative of the San Diego Police Department said about 70 police officers were at the demonstration to re-route traffic and escort the marchers.

As they walked, the demonstrators chanted phrases such as, "Today we march, tomorrow we vote," in both English and Spanish, as well as a traditional Mexican-American civil rights shout, "Si se puede," which means "Yes, we can." While some carried flags from Mexico and other countries, most had American flags.

The line of marchers stretched about 15 blocks, and even as those at the front neared the administration building, other people continued to arrive in cars and buses to join in. People from throughout San Diego County and elsewhere joined in the march.

Francisco Lopez, of Vista, said Sunday's event marked a historic moment.

"The immigrant isn't afraid anymore," Lopez, a Mexican immigrant who has lived in San Diego County for 12 years, said in Spanish. "The immigrant has woken up. He has a voice now."

About 325 people rode in six rented school buses from Escondido to San Diego, while others drove there, said Daniel Perez, a community activist who helped organize the transportation.

Smaller groups from Vista and San Marcos also traveled together to attend the rally.

At Balboa Park, a tearful 11-year-old Escondido girl was among the speakers to address the crowd.

Carina Carrillo, a student at Farr Avenue Elementary, read a letter that she had written in class and mailed to Congress addressing the role immigrants play in the United States and her concerns about how stricter immigration laws would affect her immigrant family.

"My dream is to be a teacher, but if they approve the (immigration) law, I won't be able to be a teacher," Carina said.

She continued: "You can (give) thanks to all Hispanic immigrants that go to the fields from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. under the hot sun, working very hard to get fruits and vegetables for all of us to eat."

The rally came on the heels of student walk-outs and demonstrations in the last week of March throughout San Diego County and California, some of which resulted in confrontations with police and arrests. Sunday's demonstrations were mostly peaceful and police said no arrests were made.

However, police removed two counter-demonstrators from the protest area, including one man who was shouting "No amnesty!" into a bullhorn while standing in a crowd of pro-immigration demonstrators.

The officers dragged the man to a parking garage because he resisted their efforts to move him, and later took him to a designated area for a group of about 50 counter-demonstrators who were waving American flags and shouting "U.S.A.!"

Once the majority of the marchers arrived at the administration building by about 3:30 p.m., several speakers addressed the crowd, including religious leaders such as the Rev. Robert C. Ard of the Christ Church of San Diego and the Rev. Salvatore Cordileone, auxiliary bishop of the Catholic Diocese of San Diego.

Some of the speakers shared their own stories of immigration. The Rev. Canon Mary Moreno Richardson, of St. Paul's Cathedral in San Diego, said that her father immigrated to the United States to give his family a better life.

"He did everything he could to better himself and his family, working two jobs and taking classes at night," she said.

Oceanside City Councilwoman Esther Sanchez also spoke to the crowd, saying that her Mexican immigrant mother's story "is the same story of this country."

In an interview after speaking to the demonstrators, Sanchez said illegal immigrants need a path to citizenship and that Sunday's demonstration will make a difference.

"This is a voice that will be heard in (Washington) D.C.," Sanchez said.

Among the protesters were many families, often with small children. Maribel and Antonio Melchor, of Escondido, took their three young children with them to the demonstration so they could voice their feelings as a family and to send a message to the rest of the country.

"It's important that they realize that (immigrants) are here," Maribel Melchor said in Spanish. "We're not criminals, we're hard-workers."

Similar rallies were held elsewhere in the United States. In Dallas, more than 350,000 people banged drums, waved U.S. flags and marched against federal legislation targeting illegal immigrants. There were no reports of violence. Thousands of protesters also turned out Sunday in New Mexico, Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, Alabama, Utah, Oregon and Idaho.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact staff writer Paul Eakins at (760) 740-5420 or peakins@nctimes.com. To comment, go to nctimes.com.