You're welcome!
United We Stand.
Diversified, We Fall.
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.
Yes, welcome back to the 1960s.
Radicals tried to start a race war, they failed because we were all Americans.
"Anti-war" activists tried to start a revolution with their violent demonstrations and Senate testimony supporting their Ho in Hanoi, they failed because we were all Americans.
This time we are not all Americans.
P.S. I see that they are still using their stupid liberal tricks of screaming Racists! Bigots! at everything that moves.
Anyone know if there's an Edsel dealer in town?
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Be Ever Vigilant!
Minutemen Patriots ~ Bump!
PING
Ping.
Wishful thinking, I am afraid. Los Angeles schools 79% Hispanic, 7% Caucasian, if that hasn't roused the people nothing will.
Thank you for bringing light to the subject.
But we're not all ILLEGAL immigrants, are we Ms. Moreno.
I am reeeeeeeeeeeeeeally tired of this canard being put up time after time after time. You have to keep striking down the same argument again and again and again. Who are these people fooling?
Thanks for the "ping"...
Any known links between the RAZ/Pac and the Islamofacists??
Both seem to be employing fascitstic tactics...hate-mongering extremist views.
They have a good picture over at ABP with all those McCain/Kennedy supporters flying their Mexican flag in protest.
Protests Hit Illegal Immigration Summit
By ADAM GOLDMAN
The Associated Press
Sunday, May 29, 2005; 9:38 PM
LAS VEGAS -- Protesters on Sunday gathered outside a meeting where members of a controversial civilian group that has been monitoring the Mexican border gathered with other activists seeking to curb illegal immigration.
More than 150 demonstrators used placards and bullhorns and waved Mexican flags to get their message out: "Racists, go home!" they screamed.
Hundreds of people had gathered for the two-day summit titled "Unite to Fight Against Illegal Immigration" at a Las Vegas convention center.
Miguel Barrientos, president of the Las Vegas Mexican-American Political Association, said people sopping up the rhetoric of Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist were not protecting the country-- they were harming it.
"They're creating division among Americans," he said. "We don't need it."
Nearly 900 Minuteman volunteers, some of them armed, patrolled the Arizona border in April.
Organizers said volunteers' calls to the Border Patrol resulted in the arrests of 335 illegal immigrants. Critics of the program, including Border Patrol officials, have said the group was little more than a nuisance.
In a 45-minute speech Sunday, Gilchrist said a declaration of war is committed every time a Mexican flag is planted on American soil.
"If this isn't a declaration of war, I don't know what is," Gilchrist said.
There were no immediate reports of violence. A protest against Gilchrist in California turned violent when demonstrators hurled rocks and unopened soda cans at police and people attending his speech.
_________
On the Net: The Minuteman Project:
© 2005 The Associated Press
Thanks for the AP Update!
You're welcome!
Here's another one.. :)
I'll post it as a thread too.
---
---
Minuteman founder: Deport illegals
http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/state/11773970.htm
By ADAM GOLDMAN
Associated Press
LAS VEGAS - The founder of the Minuteman Project rolled into the Sin City on Sunday.
Jim Gilchrist, however, didn't come to gamble or get a lap dance. He came to deliver his oft-repeated anti-illegal immigration message.
He also spelled out his version of hitting the jackpot: deport the millions of illegal aliens occupying the United States back to Mexico.
Send them back by plane or bus, give them money and do it civilly, he said.
''That's what I have in mind,'' Gilchrist told about 200 people who cheered him at the downtown Las Vegas convention center. He made his remarks on the final day of a summit titled ''Unite to Fight Against Illegal Immigration.''
Gilchrist and other speakers, along with those attending the summit, warned that the United States was under assault. Every time a Mexican flag is planted on American soil, it's a declaration of war, he said.
''If this isn't a declaration of war, I don't know what is,'' he said.
During his 45-minute talk, Gilchrist said he was not a racist and his group was not exclusionary.
Gilchrist said it was the ''Mexican clan, Mexican Nazis'' who were the racists, targeting anyone who was not of their color.
Outside the convention center, about 150 people demonstrated against Gilchrist and the summit.
The mostly Latino protesters waved plenty of Mexican flags and used placards, bullhorns and air horns to get their message out.
''Racists, go home,'' they screamed.
Miguel Barrientos, president of the Las Vegas Mexican-American Political Association, said the people sopping up Gilchrist's rhetoric weren't protecting the country, they were harming it.
''They're creating division among Americans,'' he said. ''We don't need it.''
It appeared the two groups couldn't bridge their differences -- at least not on Sunday. The continuous shouting was too loud and the words too raw.
''Good thing I was in the Marine Corp. to fight for this garbage,'' said Greg Holland, 33, a disabled veteran and local political activist. ''I didn't fight for the Mexican flag, I fought for Old Glory.''
FR Thread for --
Minuteman founder: Deport illegals
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1413220/posts
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