Firsthand Report of the Second Day of Minuteman Project Activities

Spiff | 2 April 2005 | Spiff

[Spiff]

The Minuteman Project rallies to support the Border Patrol were scheduled for 8am to 4pm today. As I was driving to the one in Naco, AZ I passed several state police vehicles with officers watching the highway closely. I also passed the American Border Patrol van with satellite dish and trailer as it headed the other way.

I showed up to the Naco Border Patrol station at 11:30. The road was lined on both sides with vehicles. People were standing on both sides of the road for about 1/2 mile or more - hundreds of Americans who came from all 50 states to participate. There were very many state flags and the U.S. flag fluttering in the dry wind. Signs were everywhere and the topics of the signs included supporting the Border Patrol, calling for border security, demanding the Pres. Bush do his job, and that terrorists love our open borders.

I parked my car, grabbed my digital camera (yes, I'll post pics later), my bullhorn, and two signs and headed into the crowd. My first sign said, "You can't have homeland security without border security. Secure borders now!" The second said, "Terrorists (heart) Open Borders." I left a third sign in the window facing the road. The sign said "Remember 9/11. Fortify borders now!"

I walked the full length of the crowd. The group was subdued and very friendly. As I walked by people greeted me and commented on my sign. I would ask where they travelled from and if I found anyone from Arizona I would hand them my card with my website's address. I took pictures of the crowds as I was walking.

At the Bisbee City Limits several Bisbee City Police vehicles with lights flashing were parked and officers stood outside. As cars drove by the crowd the drivers would honk and wave. Lots of thumbs up and only a few mean stares from people in vehicles with Mexico plates.

The Border Patrol had vehicles and agents stationed at both entrances to their station. A yellow tape was strung across barricades in front of the station to designate where the public easement stopped and BP property began. The agents were very casual and friendly knowing that they were in friendly company. I saw one lady handing red, white, and blue carnations to agents.

There was a few satvans and many reporters and photographers up and down the crowd. Everywhere you went you saw someone being interviewed by a reporter madly scribbling notes or for the video cameras.

I spotted fellow FReeper occutegirl across the road. I recognized her because she still had her cute little doggies with her. We spoke for a few minutes.

At one time a large Border Patrol bus pulled out of the station. I took the opportunity to use my bullhorn (in case there were any illegals in there being transported) and I chanted, "Viva La Migra!" The crowd chanted with me for a bit. A few minutes later I went into, "Hey, Hey! Ho, Ho! Illegal Aliens Have Got To Go!" followed by, "What do we want? Border Security! When do we want it? NOW!" The guys with the TV cameras and photographers came running across the road to swarm me for a while. The crowd enjoyed the chantes and they started to get less subdued.

I walked around and talked to more participants. Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever got into his truck to leave and the attendees noticed. As he drove by we all applauded and cheered him. He waved.

Jim Gilchrist arrived and some 24-year-old guy from California who is running for Congress who was wearing a black suit, somewhat dark shirt, and a tie came out with his bullhorn. He said a few things to the crowd and dispelled the rumor that it was time for us to caravan to the Douglas Border Patrol Station for the rally there. He said Gilchrist was going to be speaking to us.

Gilchrist stayed across the street with many TV cameras on him and many photographers. He had several microphones shoved in his face and was being interviewed by several news outlets. I wandered over and put my "Terrorists (heart) Open Borders" sign behind him. Others joined me. Word was that CNN was one of the networks filming and interviewing him. I saw no logos on any of the cameras.

When he finished with the interviews he took the microphone and spoke to the crowd with the aid of the bullhorn. His speech was somewhat subdued but the crowd enjoyed it.

When he was done I started walking back in the direction of my vehicle. That's when I saw the ACLU "Legal Observers" show up. They were either dreadlocked or pearced looking college-aged kids or hispanic. They tried to stay across the street from most of the crowd. I asked them if they'd found any of those "evil vigilantes" yet among these nice people. They scowled.

One group of mostly women started to march up and down the road singing patriotic songs. I shared a song with them that I came up with on the spot. They enjoyed it and wanted me to march with them and lead the singing. I declined.

I met a guy who drove all the way from Massachusetts. He had a sign stating that he was representing the original Minutemen at the project. He was very popular.

I met an Italian who was attempting to immigrate LEGALLY. He was one of the most enthusiastic of the crowd, waving a large American flag, playing patriotic tunes through his boombox, and loudly greeting everyone.

It was announced that it was time to leave for the Douglas BP Station, and the crowds started to leave.

I drove the 20 miles to Douglas and found the BP Station and saw only a slightly smaller crowd lining the road in front of the station. Less media too but the ACLU fruitcakes were out in force. This crowd was more fired up than the last one so I launched into my bullhorn-amplified chants to get the going even more.

At one time word spread that the Pope had died.

Jim Gilchrist showed up and had more lengthy interviews for the cameras and such. I again made my way behind him with my sign. One person was already there and several quickly joined us. The crowd stayed quiet during the interview and cheered whenever he said something that elicited a loud cheer.

Once the interviews were done the young guy in the suit tried a few weak chants with his bullhorn. Seeing he wasn't quite succeeding, I started my chants again adding a few more like "President Bush, do your job! Seal the border now!"

Suit guy decided to organize a "march" and got everyone to line up in the road south of the BP station. We lined up 3 abreast and he had us march about 10 yards part of the way into the BP driveway (but don't cross the line!) and turning out to go down the street to the north. Suit guy had us chant a somewhat stilted "We support Border Patrol!" I then lead the crowd in some chants with my bullhorn. "Viva La Migra!" and the same stuff as before mostly with a few variations here and there. Suit guy tried "Who do we support? Border Patrol! When do we support them? Now!" Not the best chant, but we gave it our best effort. This guy had the right idea, but could never get the cadence of the chant right.

We marched up the road and then turned off and bunched up. A pickup truch was backed up into the center of the crowed and it served as a stage for Jim Gilchrist. This time he gave a more rousing speech. He mentioned again what we were doing here, how the press and the President was wrong to characterize us as "vigilantes", he tore into Professor Navarro big time for slandering him and disrupting his home and denounced the ACLU. He said he used to donate to the ACLU until the proved they were on the wrong side. He denied idiotic accusations that he was a racist pointing out that his son-in-law is Mexican and so is his grandchild. He spoke of the myriad death threats he had received. He again reminded the crowd that we were ambassadors from our states and that we needed to act professionally at all times. He spoke of the the President's refusal to live up to his obligations of Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution. He ended his speech to great cheering and applause. I came up with a chant on the spot and tried it out, "Article four! Section four! Border's Secure!" The crowd went on with that for a while.

Jim Gilchrist jumped back up on the truck and treated us to another 5 minutes of ACLU bashing.

I wandered through the crowd a bit, meeting more people and such. I met a local ICE agent who has been giving Rep. Kolbe trouble and who is very P.O'd about the treatment that ICE agents are receiving. He promised to give me more details for publication on my website as he's having a hard time getting the agents' stories out.

People started heading home and I so I headed out.

Good crowd, again. No littering, no cursing, no law breaking. Mostly retired folk and some a bit younger - very friendly. None of the counterprotestors showed up. I'm sure that the media will portray the crowd as only a dozen or so given their blatant misreporting of yesterday's events.

[NautiNurse]

Great report! Thanks

[MJY1288]

Great report, Thanks for writing and posting it

[upchuck]

Thanks for this very informative post, spiff.

I sure hope you'll continue these daily reports.

THANK YOU!

[Mears]

Thanks for the info----I was just starting a search to see how things went and up popped your post.

Glad all went well.

[Constitution Day]

Excellent!

Thank you Spiff, wish I could have stood with y'all.

[texaspirate]

Ditto. Thanks for the information. Let us know more and I am interested in seeing the pictures when you get a chance to post them.

[Spiff]

I forgot to add that in addition to the rallies (in which I participated today) there were several patrols out in the desert. I spoke to one of the organizers who ran some of the patrols and found that they had not encountered illegals in the areas that are normally swarming with them. It sounds like things have gone very well so far despite some initial disorganization. They've got most of their comms set up (HAM operaters and such) and were going to hold a meeting at the campground where many participants are staying to iron out some issues tonight.

They plan to do the same thing tomorrow but I won't be participating on Sunday.

[Incorrigible]

Bump

[Txsleuth]

Thank you for the 411 about what is going on down there---

I will be looking forward to any pictures that you can post.

Any sign of the Mexican Army that is supposed to be across the border from ya'll?

[Spiff]

Thanks for this very informative post, spiff. I sure hope you'll continue these daily reports.

I won't be reporting daily and occutegirl is heading home tomorrow. Sorry to disappoint you. I will, however, do a few patrols with the group and will report my experiences here. I also hope to talk my way onto one of the many private aircraft that will be used to patrol the area. Since I know some of the organizers, I bet I'll get that opportunity.

I'm working on yesterday's pics still to have them posted and I hope to have today's pics posted tomorrow.

[Texas_Jarhead]

Again another top notch summary. "...he tore into Professor Navarro big time for slandering him and disrupting his home and denounced the ACLU".

Wish I could have been there...
"I'm sure that the media will portray the crowd as only a dozen or so given their blatant misreporting of yesterday's events."

I'm afraid that I missed that. Could you explain a little? Thanks and keep up the good work.

[dalereed]

"I spoke to one of the organizers who ran some of the patrols and found that they had not encountered illegals in the areas that are normally swarming with them"

This has been so highly publicized that the coyotes probably are hitting the border farther towards Yuma.

[freekitty]

Thanks so much. I enjoyed your report.

[Lurker]

Cultural Jihad has said that there are people slobbering on CB microphones down there. Did you see any of that?

Seriously though, thanks a lot for what you're doing.

I sincerely appreciate the first hand updates.

L

[StoneGiant]

Thanks for the update.

[FreedomCalls]

Two volunteers with the Minuteman Project use binoculars to scan for potential illegal immigrants coming north from Mexico while they stand on the U.S. side of the border in Naco, Arizona, April 2, 2005. The Minuteman Project is attempting to bring attention to the problem of illegal immigration from Mexico by placing observation teams along a stretch of the border for the month of April to report any illegal crossers to the U.S. Border Patrol. The group, who according to organizers is 1,000 strong, is calling on President George W. Bush to increase the number of agents along the border to stem the flow of illegal immigrants. REUTERS/Fred Greaves

[FreedomCalls]

A US Border Patrol officer patrols the fence at the US-Mexico border near Nogales, Arizona. The United States will reinforce patrols along the Arizona section of its border with Mexico in order to stem the flow of illegal immigrants, the government announced.(AFP/File/Maxim Kniazkov)

[FreedomCalls]

Groups of Minuteman Project volunteers take up positions on the US side of the US/Mexico Border at Naco, Arizona to look for potential illegal immigrants coming north from Mexico, April 2, 2005. The Minuteman Project is attempting to bring attention to the problem of illegal immigration from Mexico by placing observation teams along a stretch of the border for the month of April to report any illegal crossers to the US Border Patrol. The group, who according to organizers is 1,000 strong, is calling on President George W. Bush to increase the number of agents along the border to stem the flow of illegal immigrants. The area to the left of the dirt road is Mexican territory. REUTERS/Fred Greaves

[FreedomCalls]

Two U.S. Border Patrol vehicles meet on a lonely section of the US/Mexico border in Naco, Arizona, April 2, 2005. A group called the Minuteman Project is attempting to bring attention to the problem of illegal immigration from Mexico by placing observation teams along a stretch of the border for the month of April to report any illegal crossers to the U.S. Border Patrol. The group, who according to organizers is 1,000 strong, is calling on President George W. Bush to increase the number of agents along the border to stem the flow of illegal immigrants. REUTERS/Fred Greaves