Posted on 05/28/2005 8:47:44 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Several anti-illegal immigration groups convened Saturday in Las Vegas to discuss efforts to tighten U.S. borders and to praise recent action by the Minuteman Project, as a large group of Hispanic protesters denounced the conference as racist.
The summit was hosted by the Las Vegas-based Wake Up America Foundation, whose motto is "It's your country, take it back." Between 500 and 1,000 people were expected to attend the two-day meeting held at the Cashman Center in downtown Las Vegas. Speakers from various groups addressed the crowd regarding problems with illegal immigration.
"It's not just about poor immigrants coming to work," said Chris Simcox, president of Minuteman Civil Defense and a co-organizer of the recent Minuteman Project in Arizona. "It's about the world knowledge that our government can't stop drug dealers. It doesn't give me a whole lot of confidence that they can stop resourceful terrorists."
Simcox told the crowd that his group of 15,000 members is committed to securing the nation's borders and will continue to plan actions in California and in states along the Canadian border until the federal government begins military patrols.
"We want the border secured. Nothing less will be accepted," Simcox said. "There is no compromise."
Barbara Coe with the California Coalition for Immigration Reform called the border situation a "very real threat to our sovereignty and our lives."
Coe mentioned several law enforcement officers, including Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy David March, who were killed by Mexican nationals who later fled to their country to avoid prosecution.
She blamed President Bush for refusing "to protect us from these foreign invaders."
"He encourages more illegal immigrants to come here and take over, take our money and our jobs," Coe said, drawing huge applause when she derided him as "Senor Bush."
Outside, about 200 Hispanic protesters chanted "racists go home" and waved American and Mexican flags. A small child carried a sign that read "Racism is a deadly plague."
"They're just trying to take a certain group, a certain ethnicity, and make them the scapegoat," said Chelsie Campbell, a 25-year-old recent law school graduate from Las Vegas. "Let's work together and find a solution."
Martha Moreno, 38, of Las Vegas, carried a sign saying "Proud to be Mexican-American." She said she braved the nearly 100-degree heat because she feels everyone has a right to make life better for their families.
"We all came to this country from other places in the world," Moreno said. "We're all immigrants."
Robert Gallegos, president of a Hispanic political action group called RAZ/Pac, drove from Salt Lake City to participate in the protest. He said claims on the Web site of Wake Up America Foundation that illegal immigrants are to blame for rising unemployment, hospital closures and troubles in the public school system are disingenuous.
"All that is is a cover for racism," he said. "All Americans need to stand up and make sure this racism stops here."
Simcox dismissed claims his group was racist, saying the border issue is one of national security and public safety and that those caught at the border represent dozens of nationalities.
"I don't care what color your skin is, what language you speak or where you're from, if you are breaking into my country illegally, that's unacceptable." Simcox said.
He defended his philosophy as pro-immigrant, mentioning recent deaths along the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona.
"There is no reason human beings, regardless of where they come from, should die horrible deaths," Simcox said.
Michael Leon, a member of the Minutemen Project, said he has endured strong criticism from within the Hispanic community, but felt compelled to join the group after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
"It's security for me," said Leon, who said he's been called a traitor to his race. "I love my community, but I love my country more."
The conference was scheduled to conclude Sunday with speeches by Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist and Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado, a leading congressional voice against illegal immigration.
What happens next is gonna make the 60's look like a party.
It's been a long time since we've had a foreign insurgency on our soil of this magnitude.
Like, never.
The anti-MeCHa's have arrived.
Usted golpeó el extremo con el pie posterior!
Usted golpeó el extremo posterior del zorro con el pie!
The Spaniards went to Central, and South America seeking gold, their descendants were rewarded with corruption, and poverty. Their Descendants are coming here seeking gold.
Muchas gracias.
How likely do you think it is that I'll ever hear from him?
"I don't care what color your skin is, what language you speak or where you're from, if you are breaking into my country illegally, that's unacceptable." Simcox said.
Exactly! Why can't those idiots understand that we are being invaded by another country, and it's putting our lives in danger. Even these morons who are protesting and calling us racists are in danger. We simply want to protect our families and OUR way of life, and as far as I'm concerned to Hell with the illegals. Do it right or GET OUT.
Robert Gallegos is a liar, and he should come to California and look into the situation here. ALL of the above claims from the Wake Up America Foundation are true.
Why are we sending our young men to die on Godforsaken Islamic soil, and yet we're being mocked by Vicente Fox and his porous borders? If I were a terrorist, I'd have a mexican facelift, buy fake mexican documentation, and slip across the border to do my dastardly deeds.
That is a brilliant analogy, CYTD (read post 18)! If you confronted one of those folks protesting outside in Las Vegas with it, they would respond with the "racist" screeching because they simply couldn't dispute your logic.
This 'debate' is exactly what Ann Coulter highlights about liberals in her books and speeches. The defense of illegal immigration, like most liberal views, crumbles when confronted with logic and facts. They screech 'hate' and 'racism' because...well, they don't know what else to say and that Card used to be a magic wand waved to halt discussion. I don't think that will work this time. This is about BREAKING THE LAW, pure and simple. Because a great percentage of the lawbreakers may be Hispanic, that is no reason to condone lawbreaking! The majority of Americans get this (our elected officials are another sad story).
They screech 'hate' and 'racism' because...that Card used to be a magic wand ... This is about BREAKING THE LAW...a great percentage of the lawbreakers may be Hispanic...
You're right. The 'racism' card will NOT work, because there are plenty of first-, second- and third-generation Hispanics who came to this country LEGALLY and followed the rules. They waited in line, bided their time, got permission, came, learned the language, adopted the *American* culture (while never forgetting their native one, of course), and worked hard and strived to excel.
And I think most of them are LIVID at the abuses of the illegal invaders. The waves of illegals are tragically setting back race relations and views of Hispanics. Honest, legal latino AMERICANS should be the first ones to cry out for secure borders.
The Fifth Column in this country is never going to give up, are they?
[[""We all came to this country from other places in the world," Moreno said. "We're all immigrants." ]]
This is LIE #1. We are NOT all immigrants. We are a nation of descendants of immigrants. 90% of Americans were born in this country while their famlies may have immigrated here generations ago. This is all about political power. The people protesting are the open border Mechistas, and Reconquestas who want as many Mexicans as possible to be allowed into country for the purposing of taking back the American southwest by sheer numbers. They will fail as patriotic Americans while not sit idely by while their country is invaded by third world banditos.
Will someone please tell me what "race" Hispanics are?
it's not a race.
as defined by the u.s. census bureau hispanics can be of several races.
So, in other words, a Hispanic can be just about any race. So, then, how do they figure the immigration issue is about race????
it is not about race.
except for the la raza crowd, who got it wrong years ago. they are not a separate race.
mexicans are hybrids of various degrees of indians, europeans, blacks and asians, as are americans.
notice that people of the united states absorbed most of the indian gene pool.
I'd love to have a list of the people/foundations who are financing these protests. It must read like a who's who of leftist causes.
and get ready to witness what happened in the sixties, again.
So, they've got enough money to hire professional thugs? :^)
Michael Leon, a member of the Minutemen Project, said he has endured strong criticism from within the Hispanic community, but felt compelled to join the group after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
"It's security for me," said Leon, who said he's been called a traitor to his race. "I love my community, but I love my country more."
Three cheers for Michael Leon.
Exactly! They are the racists because they want the illegals to be able to come here and stay here because they are Hispanic! These same people would be screaming bloody murder if hoardes of foreign whites were coming here. These people think that Hispanics, and only Hispanics, should be above the law.
At recent protests, the anti-illegal alien protestors have had people of all races in their groups, waving American flags. The pro-illegal side? Mostly Mexicans, with no American flag, (unless they were stomping on it,) and racist signs saying things like, "This is our land, Gringo." And the police have to stand facing the dangerous pro-illegal protestors, while they can keep their backs safely turned on the peaceful American protestors, whom they are protecting.
This is about racism, all right...hateful La Raza Nazi racists, who want more ethnic power and who want to push the "gringo" (white and black) out.
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