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.ATLANTA (AP) — Thousands of marchers stormed the Georgia Capitol on Saturday to protest the state's new immigration law, which they say creates an unwelcome environment for people of color and those in search of a better life. Men, women and children of all ages converged on downtown Atlanta for the march and rally, cheering speakers while shading themselves with umbrellas and posters. Capitol police and organizers estimated the crowd at between 8,000 and 14,000. They filled the blocks around the Capitol, holding signs beats by dre ferraridecrying House Bill 87 and reading "Immigration Reform Now!" Friends Jessica Bamaca and Melany Cordero held a poster that read: "How would you feel if your family got broken apart?" Bamaca was born in the U.S., but her mother and sister are from Guatemala. She said she fears they will be deported. "I would be here by myself," said Bamaca, 13. "I have a feeling (the governor) doesn't know the pain affecting families. If he were to be in our position, how would he react?" Adelina Nicholls, executive director of the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights, said the crowd was sending a message. "They are ready to fight," Nicholls said. "We need immigration reform, and no HB87 is going to stop us. We have earned the right to be here." Azadeh Shahshahani of the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia called the rally inspiring and said she hoped lawmakers would recognize the law's potential to damage the state. "I think it's going to have an impact," she said. "Unfortunately, the damage has already been done as far as people of color having second thoughts about moving to Georgia." Several different groups stood with the largely Latino crowd, including representatives from the civil rights movement. The Rev. Timothy McDonald, an activist who has been supportive of immigration protesters, was among the speakers showing his solidarity. "You are my brothers and my sisters," McDonald told the crowd. "Some years ago, they told people like me we couldn't vote. We did what you are doing today. We are going to send a message to the powers that be ... that when the people get united, there is no government that can stop them. Don't let them turn you around." MiLi Lai, a student at Emory who is Chinese, also attended the rally because the immigration law doesn't just apply to Latinos, but "all non-American people." "We are the same community," Lai said. "We have to fight for our rights." Bellanira Avoytes came to the rally with her husband and three children. Although she is a legal resident and her childrenmonster beats lamboghin were born in Georgia, she does not see herself as separate from undocumented Latinos. "I have family who are not residents," she said. "I am together with the Latin people. I love Georgia. I have stayed here for 18 years. I want to buy a house here." Saturday's rally follows a "day without immigrants" organized Friday, when some parts of the law took effect. It was organized by the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights. The organization asked businesses to close and community members not to work or shop to protest the law. On Monday, a judge temporarily blocked key parts of the law until a legal challenge is resolved. One provision that was blocked authorizes police to check the immigration status of suspects without proper identification. It also authorizes them to detain illegal immigrants. Another penalizes people who knowingly and willingly transport or harbor illegal immigrants while committing another crime. Parts of similar measures in Arizona, Utah and Indiana also have been blocked by the courts. Provisions that took effect Friday include one that makes it a felony to use false information or documentation when applying for a job. Another provision creates an immigration review board to investigate complaints about government officials not complying with state laws related to illegal immigration. .LSBEE, Texas (AP) — As one of her school's basketball stars approached the free-throw line to hit a shot during a kobe bryant limited headphones2009 playoff game, a cheerleader stepped away from her squad, folded her arms and stood in silence, refusing to root for the athlete she says raped her at a party in this Texas town. Now, two years later, her silent protest is drawing new attention nationwide as the result of an unusual series of events: Suspended as a cheerleader but later reinstated, the 16-year-old and her family sued over her punishment, lost and ended up with $40,000 in penalties from the legal proceedings. Meanwhile, the basketball player settled the criminal case against him by pleading guilty to reduced charges. An online campaign to help the former cheerleader's family with the legal costs has gained momentum on Facebook and Twitter and collected more than $23,000. The family also has appealed in federal court the judge'sbeats by dre pro order for them to pay the school district's legal costs after their lawsuit was dismissed. "It's really an awful statement to send on how you treat a teenage sexual assault victim," said Alex DiBranco, whose petition beats dre special headphoneson Change.org has gathered more than 94,000 signatures asking the school district to not to make the family pay the fees. DiBranco, a New York-based women's rights advocate, got involved after reading about the case. The controversy is renewing debate about how the school and courts handled a sensitive matter involving teenagers, sexual assault and allegations made but not yet proven. Silsbee Mayor Herbert Muckleroy, a former school superintendent in the town of 7,000, said he thinks the criminal case was handled appropriately but has doubts about making the girl's family pay the school district $40,000. "I just wish it could have been settled and over with and let the community settle back in," he said. The father of the girl, who is now 19, said he cannot accept that a rape victim and her family are being punished. "I will never give up hope that in some form or fashion there will be justice, (and) hope that our story will help another family, another girl that's been through this," said Craig S., 44, whose last name is being withheld to protect his daughter's identity. The Associated Press does not identify sexual assault victims. The girl claimed she was pulled into a darkened room with basketball player Rakheem Bolton and several others during an October 2008 party and raped under a pool table while she was drunk. Bolton and two others were arrested after the party. A grand jury declined to indict him in January 2009. A second grand jury indicted him 10 months later. Bolton eventually pleaded guilty to a lesser assault charge in a plea deal and received a suspended one-year sentence. Charges were dropped against the two others indicted in the incident. The girl, who was suspended from the cheerleading squad but reinstated two weeks later, filed a federal lawsuit in May 2009, claiming the school district violated her First Amendment rights as well dr dre beats special editionas her rights to liberty, property and equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment. In court documents, school officials said they were justified in punishing her because Bolton was not facing any charges during the playoff game. Her conduct violated school rules and her allegations appeared to be "the story of a girl who became angry with a boy about something that may or may not have happened at a private party," the schools' attorneys said. Silsbee school district officials and their attorney have declined further comment on the case. U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield in Beaumont ruled the girl's lawsuit was "without foundation." "There are no facts to support a finding that the school, or its officials, owed her any additional process," Heartfield wrote, and ordered the family to pay the district's legal costs. The case was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which in May declined to review it, leaving the legal fees the only issue pending. The girl's father acknowledged that his daughter did not object to Bolton's plea deal. He said she wanted some admission of guilt from him. David Barlow, the special prosecutor who handled the case, said, "This was the best outcome that could have resulted, given the law and the facts." Bolton's grandmother, who declined to give her name, said her grandson is now in college and just wants to be left alone. The former cheerleader, who graduated from high school last year, also declined to be interviewed, her father said. The school district remains unwilling to give the girl's family a break on the payment. "I think the district has a fiduciary responsibility and obligation to the taxpayers to try to collect on any money that is due them," school board President John Griffin said. But news on the case reached sympathetic ears in others parts of the country. After reading about it, Jessica Mills, an actress and writer in Los Angeles, started an online fundraising campaign to help pay the costs. "I just thought this girl, she's been through so much already, regardless of the right and wrongs and legalities of it," said Mills, who with her friend set up the "Help the Cheerleader" web site, which lets people donate money to a bank account set up by the cheerleader's attorney. The girl's father said he is humbled by the rising balance, mostly from donations of less than $20. He runs a landscaping business and said paying the money would be a financial hardship. He said his daughter has had her ups and downs. After graduating in 2010, she took a year off and plans to attend Lamar University in Beaumont in the fall. Around Silsbee, the incident continues to produce mixed feelings. Resident Terrell McArthur said he agrees with the girl's decision not to cheer for the person she believed raped her. However, the costs are a separate matter.monster beats kobe "It went through the judicial process," McArthur said. "I don't feel like anybody here in Silsbee needs to start taking up donations."