Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

(Texas civil rights) Groups voice fears about Minuteman intentions
Corpus ChristiCaller-Times ^ | June 24, 2005 | Lakendra Lewis

Posted on 06/24/2005 1:10:23 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch

Statewide civil rights organizers met Thursday in Corpus Christi to announce the formation of the Contra Minuteman Coalition, which is opposed to the Minuteman Project, a civilian-led border watch group.

During a news conference at the Modern Cafe, about 25 officials from six organizations that included the American GI Forum and LULAC voiced their concern that the Minuteman Project, which is in the process of forming a Texas chapter, poses a threat to the state.

Among the complaints about the Minuteman organization, whose focus is to stop undocumented immigrants from crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, was concern that the project is merely a racist cover to target Hispanics.

"Their main goal is to pick on the immigrant community," said Houston resident Juan Alvarez, a member of the Latin American Organization for Immigrant Rights. "Why only Hispanics? They're not picking on any other minorities. It's time for us to stand up and say, 'No more.'"

Mike Chavez, an activist with the American GI Forum, said the purpose of the coalition is to put pressure on the state to monitor Minuteman volunteers and their actions on the border.

"We want to make sure civil rights are not being violated," he said.

Joe Ortiz, national civil rights director for the GI Forum, agreed the border needs to be protected, but said the job should be left to professionals. Other coalition organizers worried Minuteman volunteers would be armed and that members from other states would be called into Texas to help police immigrants.

Bill Parmley, founder of the Minuteman chapter in Goliad, said the coalition's fears are unfounded and that there probably wouldn't be a need to bring in outside Minutemen.

"We've had enough of a response here in Texas that I doubt we'll have to bring in people from outside the state," Parmley said, adding that it wasn't the job of Minutemen to do anything except observe.

Chris Simcox, co-founder of the Arizona-based Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, said the coalition was overreacting, and that all Minuteman volunteers complete a comprehensive training session.

"These wild accusations are doing nothing but creating fear in the Hispanic community," Simcox said. "All we are is extra eyes for the Department of Homeland Security. Anything after that, we then contact Border Patrol and local law enforcement, and they would investigate."

Contact Lakendra Lewis at 886-3623 or lewisl@caller.com


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Mexico; US: District of Columbia; US: Texas; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: aliens; immigration; minuteman; minutemen; texas
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-25 next last
"Why only Hispanics? They're not picking on any other minorities. It's time for us to stand up and say, 'No more.'"

No more ILLEGALS!

1 posted on 06/24/2005 1:10:25 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SwinneySwitch

What are their intentions? I think their intentions are NOT LETTING ANYONE PASS FROM THE MEXICAN BORDER TO THE US SIDE. How is that so so so hard to comprehend?


2 posted on 06/24/2005 1:13:06 PM PDT by kharaku (G3)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SwinneySwitch
REMEMBER THE ALAMO

REMEMBER GOLIAD

3 posted on 06/24/2005 1:13:10 PM PDT by marty60
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SwinneySwitch
Why only Hispanics? They're not picking on any other minorities. It's time for us to stand up and say, 'No more.'"

When the Swedes or the Koreans start rushing over the southern border illegally, we'll "pick" on them too.
4 posted on 06/24/2005 1:13:35 PM PDT by A Balrog of Morgoth (With fire, sword, and stinging whip I drive the RINOs in terror before me.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SwinneySwitch
"Their main goal is to pick on the immigrant community," said Houston resident Juan Alvarez, a member of the Latin American Organization for Immigrant Rights. "Why only Hispanics? They're not picking on any other minorities..."

LOL! Some people's stupidity never ceases to amaze me.

5 posted on 06/24/2005 1:15:55 PM PDT by L98Fiero
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kharaku

IT'S THE EMPLOYERS THEY ARE PROBABLY WORRIED ABOUT. When I lived in Corpus these two groups were membered by the wealthy hispanics in the community. and the majority are EMPLOYERS.


6 posted on 06/24/2005 1:16:14 PM PDT by marty60
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SwinneySwitch

Sheila Jackson Lee is probably the big organizer of these groups...she is just furious about the Minutemen being in TExas...

I say, tough, Sheila!!!!


7 posted on 06/24/2005 1:16:37 PM PDT by Txsleuth (Mark Levin for Supreme Court Justice)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SwinneySwitch

"Why only Hispanics? They're not picking on any other minorities. It's time for us to stand up and say, 'No more.'"


Because we aren't being overrun by millions of Canadians crossing into the USA from Mexico.


8 posted on 06/24/2005 1:17:25 PM PDT by cripplecreek (I zot trolls for fun and profit.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marty60

Yes but dopey, low income democrats, in update ny ask the same dumb questions suggesting that protecting the border is racist.


9 posted on 06/24/2005 1:19:59 PM PDT by kharaku (G3)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: SwinneySwitch

We should encourage this group to round up as many people as they can to come down to the border and picket against the Minutemen guarding the boarder.

Then we will twice as many people scaring the illegals.


10 posted on 06/24/2005 1:22:04 PM PDT by CharlesWayneCT
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kharaku

They are worried about having to deduct income,social security taxes. AND having to pay that pesky minimum wage that their hero Teddy Kennedy wants even higher.


11 posted on 06/24/2005 1:22:34 PM PDT by marty60
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: txroadhawg; NHAntiMassRedRebel; texgal; DaGman; HOYA97; I_Publius; JesseJane; beeler; archy; ...

Contra Minutemen Ping!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list.


12 posted on 06/24/2005 1:26:44 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch (Contras-beyond your expectations!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SwinneySwitch
During a news conference at the Modern Cafe, about 25 officials from six organizations that included the American GI Forum and LULAC

What makes them "official". Do dey have badges? Let dem show us der badges!

13 posted on 06/24/2005 1:28:01 PM PDT by isthisnickcool (Get all the incumbents out of politics!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SwinneySwitch

Where can I donate to the Minuteman? Anyone know if there is a Houston chapter?

We could use Minutemen to also stop the theft of private property by government on behalf of other private enterprises.


14 posted on 06/24/2005 1:28:04 PM PDT by Mark Felton ("I am a real Christian...a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus." -- Thomas Jefferson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 1_Inch_Group; 2sheep; 2Trievers; 3AngelaD; 3rdcanyon; 4.1O dana super trac pak; 4Freedom; ...

Francis Harvey, secretary of the Army (left) presents the first Freedom Team Salute lapel pin to David Rodriguez, commander of the American GI Forum, a Hispanic veterans organization. The Freedom Team Salute campaign recognizes soldiers' families, employers and veterans for the sacrifices they make for their country. (photo by SSG Carmen L. Burgess)

I see the article doesn't say who the AGIF is, so I looked 'em up. They appear to be on the up and up, but their presence at this meeting may indicate that their position on illegal immigration doesn't match their stated goals as an organization.

Click the pic to visit their site...

15 posted on 06/24/2005 1:57:34 PM PDT by HiJinx (Remember, you have to seal the dike before you can drain the swamp.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HiJinx; All
Crosslinked:

For "Thunder on the Border," click this picture:


16 posted on 06/24/2005 2:00:26 PM PDT by backhoe (-30-)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Mark Felton

Google 'minutemenhq' for their site.


17 posted on 06/24/2005 2:00:42 PM PDT by HiJinx (Remember, you have to seal the dike before you can drain the swamp.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: A Balrog of Morgoth

I love it when they say ignorant things like that, but it's ignorant race issue comments like that, that get the attention of libs and the ACLU and every other "let's protect illegal immigrants even to the detriment of our country" protection group.


18 posted on 06/24/2005 2:04:05 PM PDT by Rushgrrl (~brought to you from the illegal-rich state of California~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: SwinneySwitch

The civil rights of all US citizens, no matter what color, are being violated by this mass migration.


19 posted on 06/24/2005 2:19:09 PM PDT by hershey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HiJinx

Thanks for the ping and the heads up.


20 posted on 06/24/2005 2:20:49 PM PDT by hershey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-25 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson