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RALEIGH -- Protesters across the nation rally against Arizona's new immigration law. The non violent demonstrations were held to mark the day the legislation took effect.

People marched Thursday through downtown Raleigh to protest racial profiling and discrimination against immigrant communities. It was part of a National Day of Action against Arizona's new law.

Marchers compared it to 287-G, a federal law used in North Carolina which allows certified law enforcement agencies to check the immigration status of anyone charged with a crime.

"They're saying that people should be stopped if they look illegal and they haven't clarified what does it mean to look illegal," said Nadeen Bir, a protestor. "So it makes me think they're going to stop people who have brown skin."

A conservative Civitas Institute poll earlier this month says most North Carolinians agree with the Arizona law.

"It saves lives," said William Gheen of Americans for Legal Immigration PAC. "Many illegal immigrants go on to broader criminal conduct and even the ones that don't rape and kill people, they are stealing American jobs, they're stealing American taxpayer resources, and they're trying to steal being part of an American when they broke into our country."

Surry County Republican Sen. Dan East introduced a state law similar to Arizona's this year, but it was never taken up by the general assembly. He tells supporters he plans to introduce the bill again next year.