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.
Right down the street from me, northern Lake County (Indiana) is a toilet bowl, the Gary Mayor of 11 years just quit last week on a spur of the moment (probably being indicted soon)
East Chicago is all hispanic, needless to say it's a cesspool. Hammond is shot. Munster, just south of Hammond, is actullay a very nice, slightly Republican area.
I fear for our country.
The only reason this is an important ping is to announce to any and everyone who does not follow the Minuteman SOP'S will be taken out of the Minuteman Project in all and any capacity.
This could have been avoided. Some little boys are all to quick to fight and/or want to kick someones ass.
In a conversation that I had today with someone on the scene...
Me " What happened"
Mike "There were protesters that were bumping into me"
Me "did you go tell the Police on the scene that these guys were possibly trying to start something?'
Mike "No I did not think of it"
NO I DID NOT THINK OF IT.
You mean you are going out in the capacity calling yourself a Minuteman you thin k something is awry and you do not bring it up to the police?
LIKE Minutemen are supposed to do?
Find another organization!
We are working to long and to hard to have some folks who are not mature and want to do their own thing.
THANKFULLY we now have a National Director who can deal with the people who do not honor our Standard Operating Procedures!!
Standard Operating Procedure for Minuteman Civil Defense Corps
Minutemen are courteous to everyone with whom they come into contact, and never discriminate against anyone for any reason.
Minutemen do not respond to any taunts or harassment from outside agitators, and must never be present for duty or serve in any capacity if intoxicated.
Minutemen Observe, Report and Direct Border Patrol or other appropriate emergency or law enforcement agencies to suspected Illegal Aliens or Illegal Activities.
Minutemen do not verbally contact, physically gesture to or have any form of communications with suspected Illegal Aliens.
Minutemen follow the Standard Operating Procedures to the letter and spirit.
Minutemen follow all federal, state and local laws, understanding that we are being held to a higher standard by all.
Minutemen understand that, while our actions cannot stop illegal activities along the border, we can change world perception and national thought concerning Homeland and Border Security.
Minutemen monitor their behavior, the behavior of the people around them and the group as a whole to ensure compliance with the SOP and any instruction given by Minuteman Corps Leadership.
Minutemen leave no garbage behind and follow strict pack-in / pack-out procedures.
Minutemen respect the property rights of everyone, start no fires, never drive off road, and follow the directions of all law enforcement personnel.
A number of these people at this protest told me to my face that the SOP's were stupid and if someone swore at them, they would swear back.
europe has already lost
it is very clear that the momentum has tipped towards the illegals..there are enough now that it is probably too late to stop further illegal immigration..they are now a large enough minority that they can tip the electoral balance any way they want
Your Right about that and these illegals will be voting American citizens into paying much higher taxes to take care of them. We will not be able to fight them because they will subvert the whole election process.
Me too.
Great post.
I'm in total agreement with you.
Ditto that, my friend.
in the states of CO, NV and AZ Bush didnt improve his margin over Kerry in 2004 versus Gore in 2000....why do you think that was?
Still faxing/calling Fineswine's office and handwriting a letter to the White House.
One of us loses, all of us loses.
I think you're a coward.
Word up! Fight at the ballot box and in the press.
I can NOT believe the BS that's going on.
NO ARRESTS MADE??
If they were American anti-abortion protestors instead of Mexicans, they'd be in hauled into jail and bail set at a million bucks apiece.
This is one American that doesn't intend to give up and retreat on the soil of my own country.
the only solution here is massive inter-marriage....these poeple are not aliens like Muslims in europe, they can be intregrated...i am not a coward but I can read the writing on the wall so to speak....
NRO did an excellent analysis of the GOP prospects in an increasing hispanic america...it concluded that 2004 would be the last election the GOP would ever win with each subsequent election being a larger and larger DEM victory....by 2050 evens Nixons 1972 election would be a 52-48 DEM victory
We will win this fight.
Or maybe you're a fool.
Very sad and pathetic analogy.
Guess you've never met a cancer survivor, have you?
Yep.
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