A Street-Fighter Mentality on Illegal Immigration - Profile | Joseph Turner

Los Angeles Times ^ | June 27, 2005 | Fred Alvarez

[calcowgirl]

As the insults flew and the protest reached a boil, Joseph Turner couldn't help but smile.

The 29-year-old head of the upstart Save Our State organization had come to Baldwin Park to pick a fight over illegal immigration. He had led a band of like-minded souls into the heart of the city to protest public art they deemed "seditious and anti-American." Part of a monument at the Metrolink station is inscribed "It was better before they came," interpreted by some as a barb at whites who displaced California's Mexican residents in the 19th century.

They got all of the fight they could handle. Hundreds of counter-protesters in the predominantly Latino city rose up to meet them, chanting "Go home, racists!"

(snip)

Critics call those beliefs racist and divisive, dismissing Save Our State as yet another "vigilante group" jumping on the anti-illegal immigration bandwagon.

"Save Our State is not saving anything. They are just creating more hate and division," said Antonio Bernabe, coordinator of the day-labor program for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. "They don't want to look for solutions. They just want to make noise."

But with little to show for years of complaining about illegal immigration, Turner believes he has hit upon a solution that will work. He calls it "aggressive activism."

It's not about writing letters or calling elected officials. Rather, the technique focuses on high-profile events that touch a nerve, make politicians sweat and bring the media running. Indeed, a second protest — and counter-protest — in Baldwin Park on Saturday also received media coverage.

"I call it a street-fighter mentality," said Turner, a stay-at-home dad and Little League coach. "Too often our side has been reactive. I need to get rid of apathy and create activism."

[calcowgirl]

2 page, 1300 word article

[calcowgirl]

Activist's Evolution

As a student at North High School in Riverside, Joseph Turner wrote editorials for the campus newspaper and spent a summer clerking for Republican Rep. Ken Calvert. His opinion pieces often were politically conservative, and he said many of them never got published.

• Putting his business degree from USC to work, Turner organized a protest of a Home Depot store in Rancho Cucamonga, calling for supporters to buy lots of small-ticket items — 7-cent washers and 8-cent screws — to clog the check stands and hurt the company's bottom line. "You've got to be creative," Turner said. "It's one part activist, one part guerrilla tactician."

• Turner once lived in Baldwin Park, the scene of Save Our State's most heated protest to date. "That's why I thought it was funny that everyone [the counter-protesters] was calling me an outsider," he said.

[backhoe]

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

[joshhiggins]

"It was better before they came," interpreted by some as a barb at whites who displaced California's Mexican residents in the 19th century.

Thats funny. I interpreted it as meaning it was better before the Mexicans, Homosexuals, Liberals, and NewYorkers came.

I cropped the photo of the inscription down to make a nice "artistic statement Bumper Sticker" showing the words "It was better before they came."

Perhaps this should become the California state motto.

[liberallarry]

Someone should get Howie Dean to comment on this.

[BIRDS]

I had the same reaction to that quote ("California...it was better before they came...").

Most of California was deemed not worthwhile to habitate until development by those other than from Mexico and elsewhere.

The only Spanish influence is from the Missions, mostly originally populated by Catholics from Spain (and Italy in some parts, although not from Spain, also Catholic).

The area became desirable to others only after it was shown actively ranched and farmed.

But, it's a foolish contention, as to 'who was here first' and the like, ultimately. As to current conditions, it was most definitely better before the huge influx of almost all illegal immigrants, many of whom benefitted from amnesty years ago and are now citizens, and who also dislike illegal immigration. I think it's obvious to nearly everyone in California how badly the state has deteriorated in the last twenty years from huge numbers of illegal immigrants.

[liberallarry]

About 30 years ago I ran into a 5th generation Californian. He was about 90. He told me that all his ancestors had said life was better when they were younger and he thought so to.

I'm a native Californian, about 70 years old, and I agree. The larger the population the worse the lifestyle...and I'm not romanticizing the past. There were plenty of problems then, too.

[The Duke]

Illegal immigration could be halted and reversed virtually overnight and at virtually zero cost. We have only to pass a law that sufficiently penalizes anyone who can be shown to have hired an illegal immigrant.

No need for fences - no need for border guards.

[BIRDS]

Or...some sort of published source that lists the names of companies/organizations that do (employ illegal immigrants), so consumers/voters could exercise their Wallet Vote.

That'd change things pretty quickly.

[Carry_Okie]

We have only to pass a law that sufficiently penalizes anyone who can be shown to have hired an illegal immigrant.

That law is already on the books as part of the Immigration Reform Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-603). The problem is that it is not enforced.

[nathanbedford]

Ping

[libertylover]

As I understand it, they already have laws that require employers to hire only those in the country legally. The problem is that fake documents that "prove" someone is legal are easily obtained.

[DumpsterDiver]

ping

[sure_fine]

there is a time for everything, right now, hate and division is the best choice for America, until such a time peace can be achieved for right reasons

being peacefull while being over run/taken over, is not the right choice

[gubamyster]

ping

[swampfox98]

"They don't want to look for solutions.

The solution is to send the illegals back to Mexico and close the borders, and that solution is not playing well with the illegals and the traitors of our country.

The illegals have been taught that Americans are weak and fearful by nature, and they are going to fall like a ripe peach off the tree the minute they hear the word "racist" applied to them. I think for the most part, they are right. However, there are a few of us who speak out and we have been penalized by those who are trying to hide the truth of our words.

[skeeter]

I cropped the photo of the inscription down to make a nice "artistic statement Bumper Sticker" showing the words "It was better before they came." Perhaps this should become the California state motto.

I like it. Then again I loved those "Welcome to California - Now Go Home" bumper stickers.

Too bad it was all sound & fury signifying nothing.

[The Duke]

As I understand it, they already have laws that require employers to hire only those in the country legally. The problem is that fake documents that "prove" someone is legal are easily obtained.

No problem there, just make the penalties even stiffer and get the word out that "ignorance is no excuse". I remember when I was a kid at our home town Post Office, they posted notice that there was some huge multi-thousand dollar fine for taking the pen from the public counter.

Guess how man pens were stolen?

[blackie]

Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!

Be Ever Vigilant!

Minutemen Patriots ~ Bump!