Posted on 06/03/2007 5:03:39 AM PDT by Las Vegas Dave
With the Bruce Springsteen song "Born in the USA" blaring in the distance, Painesville resident Sue Kramer stood at the edge of Veterans Park on Painesville square Saturday morning, waving an American flag and a sign bearing the message "Revolt, America, Rebel!"
Trying to capture the attention of passing motorists, Kramer stood apart from about 60 other demonstrators at a rally to protest illegal immigration.
The hour-long event was organized by a loose coalition of Lake County residents called the Grass Roots Rapid Rally Response Team.
"I think everyone should be fed up that our government is giving up our country to illegals," Kramer said.
"It's time for Americans to step up and take America back. This isn't about race, it's about protesting amnesty for illegal aliens. I'd like to see all the illegals out of the country. They have to go after the employers. If they can't find jobs, they will leave."
The rally began and ended with demonstrators marching single-file around the square chanting "It only makes sense, we should build a fence!" and "Illegals in the USA - they must go home, right away!"
Most carried small American flags and large signs bearing messages like "There is no debate - shut the gate!" and "What part of legal don't you understand?" Between the marches, demonstrators played patriotic songs through a sound system in the park's gazebo and took turns speaking into a microphone, evoking cheers and applause from the fired-up crowd.
As the rally took place, it was reported that much of Painesville's Latino immigrant community was in hiding after federal agents continued door-to-door raids this week, bringing the number of illegal immigrants reported arrested in Lake County to 37. The raids began in mid-May, when armed officers of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency began seeking out 15 to 18 individuals who had not complied with deportation orders.
The operation, called "Return to Sender," sparked a protest on May 21 by the community's Hispanic immigrants.
Veronica Dahlberg, spokeswoman for Hispañas Organizadas de Lake y Ashtabula, did not return phone calls seeking comment on Friday and Saturday.
Many at Saturday's rally said they have little sympathy for the immigrants in hiding. "If I were an illegal immigrant, I would be afraid, too," said Mentor resident Carole Chapline, who told the crowd that she had controversial activist Larry Nichols tuned in on a small speaker she was carrying so he could listen in on the rally from his home in Arkansas. "I'm not illegal, I'm not afraid." Many said they attended the rally to oppose a proposal by the House and Senate that would legalize about 14 million illegal immigrants.
"Security is my first and foremost concern," said Chardon resident Bob Bowyer. "After Virginia Tech, where one sick person with a green card was able to buy a gun - you give 12 or 20 million illegals amnesty and we'll have a new set of gun owners. No amnesty, illegal is illegal."
Many who took the microphone said they believe illegal immigrants are taking advantage of the welfare system, are not paying taxes and that they are tired of Hispanics not speaking English.
One speaker, Mentor resident Robin Smart, was stopped mid-speech after telling the crowd that she moved from Painesville to Mentor because she refused to "live next to the animals in this town."
A woman directing the rally who identified herself only as "Claudia from Lake County," interrupted Smart, saying "there will be no name-calling."
Smart nodded and then continued speaking.
Claudia then told demonstrators that she had recently discovered several facts about illegal immigrants.
"Were you aware that eight out of 10 illegal immigrants don't have high school degrees?" she asked, evoking loud boos from the crowd. "And were you aware that illegal immigrants are costing the state $224 million and that by 2010 that number is expected to reach $372 million?"
Joseph Benning, who operates a farm in Kitts Hill, in Lawrence County, said he traveled to the rally to tell people that illegals are putting an unnecessary burden on farmers. "I don't hire illegal immigrants and so I have to pay things like insurance and workers compensation for my employees while those who hire illegal aliens don't," Benning said. "I have to compete with the farmers that are willing to hire illegals, and I'm fed up. I say to the illegals, 'don't let the door hit you where the dog should have bit you.' "
Speaker invited to step up to the mike.
"Claudia" and invited speaker
Speaker Hal W. "armed with facts" (Note channel 19 camera)
Concerned citizen from Portage county
While the loudest mouths of the republican party alienate Mexicans who want to be Americans, and label them generically as "illegals," and seize every opportunity to paint them as useless, evil, lazy criminals in the every possible media outlet...
Hillary quietly grooms herself to welcome them to give her the 2008 landslide victory that she will have if nominal conservatives don't start acting like the real thing.
You read it here first.
IMPEACH George Bush too!!
speaker Joe Benning (USCG veteran) upset with illegals and farmers who hire the illegals.
Awesome!! Thank God for America’s Patriots! I hope this catches on around America!
Thanks.
We’ve got to organize throughout the nation and choose the leaders NOT big business.
Thought you and the Columbus area ping list might be interested in seeing this. It was picked up by both the News Herald and Cleveland’s Plain Dealer.
If anyone from the Columbus area would be interested in doing the same by participating in www.lframerica.com ‘s MARCH TO TAKE BACK AMERICA on Saturday June 16th, please let me know. I’m willing to try and coordinate, but need bodies. Check out the website for information on the event...great sponsorship!! If anyone is connected to a Columbus area offshoot of these sponsors, participation of those groups here in Columbus would be fantastic!
I think you’re confusing love and policy. It should not be the objective of the federal government to “love”, and federal policy, not individual opinions, is what this debate is about. I can perfectly love each and every illegal immigrant and yet not want them in this country.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer’s article;
( The Cleveland Plain Dealer is AKA:birdcage liner material by most in Northern Ohio.)
“I think everyone should be fed up that our government is giving up our country to illegals,” Kramer said.
“It’s time for Americans to step up and take America back.”
LET FREEDOM RING’S MARCH TO TAKE BACK AMERICA!
MARCH FOR AMERICA
June 14-16th, 2007
54 Groups and Organizations
34 Speakers
1000’s of Patriotic Citizens
Think Washington will hear us now???
Check out the website to see if your state has a rally organized!!
Wow .. sure is pretty & green there.
As opposed to my part of Cali.
Or Las Vegas, for that matter.
But Las Vegas has so many many shades of brown. /s
“Joseph Benning, who operates a farm in Kitts Hill, in Lawrence County, said he traveled to the rally to tell people that illegals are putting an unnecessary burden on farmers. “I don’t hire illegal immigrants and so I have to pay things like insurance and workers compensation for my employees while those who hire illegal aliens don’t,” Benning said. “I have to compete with the farmers that are willing to hire illegals, and I’m fed up. I say to the illegals, ‘don’t let the door hit you where the dog should have bit you.’ “”
Mr. Benning needs to find an attorney who will file a very public RICO suit against ALL of the farmers who are undercutting him by hiring illegal aliens.
Encouraging illegal immigration, hiring them for financial gain is illegal and often prosecutable under RICO!
RICO: A New Tool for
Immigration Law Enforcement
http://www.cis.org/articles/2003/back1103.html
“Anti-immigration rally”
NO NO NO, It was an Anti ILLEGAL immigration rally!!!!!
Bumperoo!
Taking back America, one municipality at a time!
Neocaveman,
perhaps you can give this information to Mr.Benning (if you have his email or phone number)?
RICO: A New Tool for
Immigration Law Enforcement
http://www.cis.org/articles/2003/back1103.html
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