"We have rights in God's eyes, and the Legislature needs to respect that," he said.

The need for more responsible behavior among the Hispanic community was also a theme of the meeting. Yapias said that if this year's bills are defeated, Hispanics will need to be more careful to avoid causing the problems that inspired the measures.

All Hispanics need to make sure their vehicles are properly licensed and insured, he said. They also need to be careful to never help friends or family break Utah's laws.

Attendee Victor Bonilla asked the audience to discourage graffiti and other acts that generate a negative stereotype of Hispanics. When the community is under scrutiny as it is now, they "must be more responsible in order to earn the compassion of others," he said.

Despite Yapias' comments, many at the meeting expressed a desire to rally and publicly show their anger. Another meeting will be held Saturday at the Centro Civico at noon to reassess the situation and decide whether to organize a demonstration before the legislative session ends March 5.

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E-mail: akirk@desnews.com