SAN DIEGO -- There were heated words Tuesday during a San Diego City Council meeting.

The words were all in response to a presentation given by Mayor Jerry Sanders, along with councilmen Tony Young and Ben Hueso.

In anticipation of the upcoming National Council of La Raza conference, Tuesday was declared the National Council of La Raza Day.

"It's an American institution committed to strengthening this great nation by promoting the advancement of Latino families. I applaud their mission to create opportunities and open the door to the American dream to Latinos and their families," said Councilwoman Toni Atkins.

However, there were some in the audience who protested the action.

"If you choose to go forth with a vote for this proclamation, then we will fight you in your next election. This is a traitorous proclamation, it is traitorous to the principles of our founding fathers, and you will be deemed traitorous if you sign it," said protestor James Hartline.

Delia Pompa, an executive with NCLR, said the protest comes with a misunderstanding of the organization's goals.

"We support secure borders. We support a strong enforcement policy, but we also support a path to citizenship, and more than that, we support figuring out what it's going to take change the immigration system in this country.

The NCLR conference begins Saturday and runs through Tuesday at the San Diego Convention Center.

Some of the highlights will include speeches from senators Barack Obama and John McCain.