Posted on 03/26/2006 5:54:35 PM PST by EternalVigilance
Blaring car horns, racist slurs and angry fisticuffs punctuated a volatile encounter of protesters and counter-protesters Saturday morning outside Bank Calumet.
"God bless America! Stay out of our business!" yelled members of the locally based Indiana Federation for Immigration Reform and Enforcement.
"Go home (expletive) Nazi racists!" yelled members of an opposing group of circling counterprotesters.
The federation, a public interest organization advocating what it calls immigration policies with an impact, demonstrated against bank loans for undocumented aliens, echoing six similar previous local protests.
Several members of the Chicago Minuteman Project joined the federation, hoisting protest signs to passing motorists and exchanging verbal jabs with visibly angry counterprotesters.
"We're not racists, we're LEGAL Americans," Minuteman members yelled under American flags whipping in a fierce wind. "Those people are Communists."
The counterprotesters -- some from the Progressive Labor Party of Chicago, others from Purdue University Calumet or there on their own -- chanted in bilingual defiance: "¡Obreros unidos jamas seran vencidos!" or, "Workers united will never be defeated!"
Susana Findley, a Gary native whose parents were born in Mexico, said illegal immigrant workers arrived here for the same reason federation members' ancestors arrived: To find work and a better life.
"But those racist immigrants forget about that," said Findley, nodding toward the federation's camp.
Several counterprotesters arrived earlier than the scheduled 10 a.m. federation protest, setting up shop at the corner of Calumet Avenue and Ridge Road.
When 63-year-old Chicago Minuteman member Rick Biesada arrived and pulled out his protest sign, he claimed that two counterprotesters yanked it from him. When he yanked it back, the men assaulted him, knocking him to the ground, he said.
The Lindenhurst, Ill., resident was treated by paramedics at the scene for a gash over his eye and dizziness, spending a few minutes inside an ambulance before returning to the protest.
"I wished he fell to the ground harder," Findley said.
Munster police Sgt. Nick Hudak, one of several officers showing up to stand between the opposing groups, said no arrests were made and no other injuries occurred.
Protesters on both sides said the escalating debate over U.S. House Bill 4437, the so-called Border Security bill, may have inflamed the controversy of offering bank loans to illegal aliens.
The bill, which would strengthen enforcement of existing immigration laws and enhance border security, has already passed the House and could be voted on by the Senate as early as this week.
Federation co-founder and Valparaiso resident Cheree Calabro, while passing out fliers to motorists, said similar demonstrations at Bank Calumet had no such problems with counterprotesters.
"I think they're feeling more emboldened with all the national protests (supporting illegal immigration)," said Calabro, whose group is the Indiana chapter of the national Minuteman Project.
Uh Jay, MaCain is the co-author of McCain-Kennedy
I have a good mind to tack my rant letter personally to his office door in Phoenix...along with a bag of nuts.
I think they used to call them "agitators," of course the MSM is not reporting the truth.
You're gonna nail your nuts to McCain's door? Dude, don't do it!!!!
I have no nuts of my own to nail!
Seems like if we want to keep social security afloat we would allow massive legal immigration from Asian countries such as India.
I truly do blame GWB for this mess. After 9/11 we could have very easily taken appropriate measures where most of these invaders would have self deported. However, due to his allegiance to big business, he has basically gambled our national security at the behest of his corporate masters.
LOL! Idiot.
Aren't you saying approximately the same thing that Georgia said except that GA inadvertently failed to put illegal in front of Immigration?
Such misunderstandings could easily be prevented by defining legal Immigrants as what they are and likewise defining Illegal aliens.
PC speech is about as understandable as babel.
It would be fine if they got violent in a big way. That would be the end of them. As long as they just beat up a white guy here and there, they don't have to worry about any State reaction that will kick their butts.
Has the bank broken a law? Are they doing something illegal? Wouldn't be better to call the District Attorney? Or the AG?
I agree, its at least 20 million. GWB is a POS on this issue since he is not only making the matters worse, but actually emboldening these people to take to the streets.
I read Gibbons and concluded that mass migration of the barbarians was a major cause of the collapse of Rome, along with corrpution.
Nice
LOL! Maybe Drango will lend you his. No nails though-maybe staight pens or thumb tackes.
Target rich there but be careful and stay safe.
Were did you go? Past your bedtime there in France?
Would you like some cheese with your whine?
Fellow citizens & compatriots --
I am beseiged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna -- I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man -- The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken -- I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls -- I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism, & every thing dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch -- The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country --
VICTORY OR DEATH
William Barret Travis
Lt. Col. Comdt.
P.S. The Lord is on our side -- When the enemy appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn -- We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels & got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves --
Thanks to txroadkill!
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