Posted on 04/04/2005 11:15:09 AM PDT by katiedidit1
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- Local human rights advocates hope to dissuade other organizations from confronting armed volunteers who will be watching for illegal border crossings in southeastern Arizona in April. The Tucson-based Border Action Network is trying to persuade other groups from sending people to Douglas, Tombstone or other areas of Cochise County.
Volunteers from across the country are expected to gather in Tombstone on Friday for a rally and an orientation session organized by the Minutemen Project, a volunteer group that is rallying people to watch the border.
They'll disperse in small groups and set up observation posts across a 23-mile stretch just north of the Mexican border, mostly between Douglas and Naco.
Critics contend its members are anti-immigrant racists and vigilantes looking to confront illegal immigrants. They say violence is likely since many volunteers are expected to be armed.
Minutemen organizers, however, contend their effort is a political protest to draw media coverage that shows the federal government's failure to secure the porous Arizona-Mexico border from illegal immigration, drug smuggling and potential terrorist infiltration.
"We understand bringing attention to the border; we just prefer anybody do that without violence. Though they say they aren't violent, the chemistry is certainly right for violence," said the Rev. Robin Hoover, founder of Humane Borders, which sets out water in the desert for border crossers.
Jesus Romo, an attorney representing Border Action Network, said the California-based National Alliance for Human Rights wanted to bring in supporters to confront the Minutemen. "We tried to dissuade them because we don't think it would be a good idea to focus on that kind of behavior," Romo said. "And simply creating a confrontation would be counterproductive for everyone."
Romo said Border Action has advised the NAHR that it would be better for those who oppose the Minuteman to "concentrate on the things we need, which is to file lawsuits, investigate the matter."
NAHR plans a binational "Solidarity Rally Against the Minuteman Project" Friday in Agua Prieta, Mexico, across the border from Douglas.
Romo also was critical of efforts to organize a group of legal observers along the border to watch the watchers.
"It's best to leave those people alone and not get close to them because I believe they're dangerous, and it's in their best interest to create a confrontation to get media support," he said.
"In some circumstances it is best not to do anything, and this is one of those circumstances, Romo said.
Ray Ybarra, a Stanford law school student, said at least 40 to 45 volunteers in Tucson and Phoenix have signed up to serve as legal observers, with others expected from California. They hope to deter any abuse with their presence and document any illegal activity.
Meanwhile, the Border Action Network is urging supporters to call Cochise County and federal legal officials "to tell them to step up and do their job," executive director Jennifer Allen said.
She said Arizona law enforcement agencies created an "atmosphere of impunity" that encouraged private border watch groups to organize and "to continue hate crime activities and breaking the law."
An international human rights complaint also will be presented to the Organization of American States' Interamerican Commission on Human Rights this week accusing the United States of failing to prosecute vigilantism, she said.
Allen said continued pressure on policy-makers is the key to stopping the Minuteman Project and similar groups.
Well, if you can guarantee the illegal immigrants won't be armed themselves.... then they have nothing to worry about.
Notice the keyword there? Silly hippies...
Couldn't this be considered "aid and comfort" to the enemy?
"NAHR plans a binational "Solidarity Rally Against the Minuteman Project" Friday in Agua Prieta, Mexico, across the border from Douglas."
Who is breaking the law here? the ILLEGALS or the US citizens that are patroling the border?
Let them keep their protests in Mexico. Enter legally or stay out.
No. You panty-waisted little twit. I'M dangerous. The Minutemen are just trying to do the job our FedGov either can't, or won't, do.
If it was up to people like me, we'd send liberal sh*tbags like yourself back to Mexico City along with the illegals. Regardless of where you were born.
... An international human rights complaint also will be presented to the Organization of American States' Interamerican Commission on Human Rights this week accusing the United States of failing to prosecute vigilantism, she said...
A nation with a half ounce chance of survival would be enforcing its own laws and securing its own borders, thus eliminating the need for its citizens to do those jobs, thus depriving the leftist nutcases of the chance to call them vigilantes.
A nation with the slimmest chance of survival would impeach those negligent "leaders" who are leading them down the road to utter destruction.
America will do neither.
This is a stupid statement. As long as the MP breaks no laws there is no stopping them or similar groups.
"We the People" will only be pushed so far.
Allen needs to go after the ILLEGALS that are breaking the laws.
Why do we bother to have borders? any other nation would consider such an invasion an act of war.
Sometimes, people get what they want, and then they also get what they deserve.
If Ms. Allen is so interested in enforcing the law, it would be interesting to see her response to a lawsuit asking her to either show what hate crimes and other laws that these groups have broken or else pay defamation damages.
An international human rights complaint also will be presented to the Organization of American States' Interamerican Commission on Human Rights this week accusing the United States of failing to prosecute vigilantism, she said.
And add to that asking her to show what vigilante acts have occurred. AFAIK these groups so far have taken no actions whatsoever. And if all they do is observe law breakers and bring the attention of law enforcement officials to the law breakers' actions, that's not vigilantism. In fact, IIRC, even if they detain such persons until law enforcement officials show up, it's still not vigilantism.
Although it is being vigilant.
"Critics contend its members are anti-immigrant racists and vigilantes looking to confront illegal immigrants. They say violence is likely since many volunteers are expected to be armed. "
I can't count how many times I've read this in the past couple of weeks. It is offensive to me to suggest that a law-abiding person, legally armed, would of necessity lead to violence.
More absurd is the idea that those breaking into our country wouldn't beat up (or shoot) unarmed people trying to turn them in.
Any violence by those who are armed is likely to be in self-defense.
People, like this Ms. allen, only recognize international law. American law= "no controlling legal authority".
--they have apparently succeeded--
Instead of calling themselves the "Minuteman Project" they should have organized as a Border Patrol Auxillary. Kinda like the "rent-a-cops" that help the regular police out at large public events.
I just heard on Fox news that the aclu is down there monitoring the situation to ensure that none of the border jumper's rights are violated. The aclu has finally openly exposed themselves as the enemy of this nation, hopefully their endis near.
"We understand bringing attention to the border; we just prefer anybody do that without violence. Though they say they aren't violent, the chemistry is certainly right for violence," said the Rev. Robin Hoover, founder of Humane Borders...
[Jesus Romo, an attorney representing Border Action Network] "It's best to leave those people alone and not get close to them because I believe they're dangerous, and it's in their best interest to create a confrontation to get media support," he said.
Meanwhile, the Border Action Network is urging supporters to call Cochise County and federal legal officials "to tell them to step up and do their job," executive director Jennifer Allen said.
She said Arizona law enforcement agencies created an "atmosphere of impunity" that encouraged private border watch groups to organize and "to continue hate crime activities and breaking the law."
An international human rights complaint also will be presented to the Organization of American States' Interamerican Commission on Human Rights this week accusing the United States of failing to prosecute vigilantism, she said.
What "vigilantism"? Has anybody broken the law (other than the illegal aliens)?
Airhead America was in full moonbat mode this morning:
1. The Minutemen has ties to Aryan Nation
2. The Minutemen were a bunch of pistol waving (ooooooh, evil handguns) yahoos.
3. The Minutemen were shooting at anything near the border.
I did have to take a shower after that.
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