Thread: Calm returns to Riverside, but tensions still high

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Posted on Tue, Aug. 22, 2006

Calm returns to Riverside, but tensions still high

By Toni Callas
Inquirer Staff Writer

On the surface, everything appeared routine in Riverside yesterday.

Government functioned. Trains rolled. Commerce flowed. It was as though the hundreds of protesters who filled the small downtown on Sunday were never there, rallying for and against a ban on hiring and housing illegal immigrants.

But they were there, shouting and furious, reacting to long-held tensions that some say are now changing the fabric of this Burlington County river town of 8,000.

"We didn't think there would be so many angry people," said Luis Ordonez, a landlord and owner of a music and electronics store who marched against the ban.

"I used to think it was just the kids who had that attitude, but to see mothers and elderly people there shouting hatred. They are showing a side that was not there before. It's uncomfortable."

Riverside is one of several towns across the nation that have taken it upon themselves to deal with illegal immigration issues.

Hazleton, Pa., was the first to make headlines when it passed a similar law.

The unease in Riverside over illegal immigration has been growing for several years, especially since an influx of Brazilians five years ago. Emotions rose to the surface last month, after the town council passed an ordinance making it a crime to hire or rent to illegal immigrants. Business owners and landlords can be fined up to $1,000 for violating the law and can be denied business permits, municipal contracts and grants.

Town officials estimate that 1,500 to 3,500 illegal immigrants live in town. Residents say that they have no problem with legal immigrants, but that the illegal newcomers are a drain on taxpayers and don't contribute to the town coffers.

The Sunday gathering, organized by the National Coalition, was to be a prayer rally aimed at pressuring town officials to reconsider the ban. But as protesters on both sides gathered, shouting and name-calling ensued.

Both sides carried banners representing their causes; a handful carried Confederate flags.

"We are accustomed to this kind of behavior. We've seen it before," said Maite Arce, a member of the board of the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders. "It just forces us to focus and bring to light what is happening in these communities, keep the pressure on officials, unite the Latino community, and be consistent through vigils and court action."

Mayor Charles Hilton did not return phone calls for comment yesterday. Last week, he said the rally would not change the council's decision on the ban. But some in town feel a subtle but significant change has taken place.

"This doesn't bode well for the town," said longtime resident Ed Robins, owner of Scott Street Music in town. "I believe in tolerance. Yes, there is a problem, but let's rationally think about what we need to do. It's our responsibility to be tolerant and good neighbors. I don't consider what's going on here neighborly."

Though some say the problem is cultural, others say the main issue is unlawful entry into the country.

"It's new to the news media, but it's not to the people that live here," said Shirley Rossi, a Delanco Realtor who sells houses in Riverside. "There's no objection to people moving in - because they've been doing that for years without problems. But the illegal part is what is creating the uprise."

"If you don't have a green card, get out," said Albert Anicic, a Croatian national who has lived in Riverside for 50 years. "You have no business here."

Police said there hadn't been any violence or harassment complaints reported since the protests. Some business owners in town attribute that to the heavy police presence on the street on Sunday.

Riverside Police Lt. David Jaensch said police from several surrounding towns as well as the Burlington County Sheriff's Department were on patrol. Police were also on standby on the town perimeter. Jaensch said that after police saw the anger and shouting that arose in July during a town meeting at which the ordinance was passed, they knew they had to be ready last weekend.

"We knew that there was a possibility it could be volatile," Jaensch said. "And we even anticipated some retaliatory events afterward, but that, thankfully, didn't happen."

Despite the conflicts, new businesses and new residents still come to Riverside.

Rossi said that she had sold a house in town over the weekend and that yesterday a caller specifically wanted a house in Riverside or the surrounding area.

In October, Bruce Behmke will open Boost Cafe - named after the high-octane caffeine drink originally made in Riverside. Behmke, who chose Riverside for his new business, said it would have a cozy feel.

He hopes to attract the crowd expected to move into high-end condominiums that J.S. Hovnanian is building near the River Line light rail.

"What are we supposed to do, pack up and leave?" Behmke asked as work crews hammered inside the shell of a shop. "Things will be fine."

Online Response to Riverside Protests

Here's what some readers are saying about the Riverside immigration law protest - and counterprotest - on Philly.com:

I don't understand why this has gotten so out of hand. It is a matter of the law. If protesting is all we have to do to be allowed to break laws, what is next? We do not have an issue with immigration, just illegal immigration. If you are legal, you are welcome.- RW

Once again, leave it up to the press to paint those calling for tighter immigration controls bigots and Nazis, while portraying those here illegally [as] the proverbial poor, hardworking souls who deserve a chance and do us no harm. - Steve

Our country cannot sustain itself as a superpower under the increased weight of illegal immigrants. This will divide and conquer us all. - Wewillfall

Illegal immigration: this election year's gay-marriage, anti-flag-burning, anti-abortion hot button issue designed to inflame the populace and draw attention from the real issues, like the systematic dismantling of the Constitution, the stagnation of wages, the cost of healthcare, the overall diminishing standard of living of the middle class, the cost of putting a kid through college, the disenfranchisement of the poor, and the overall mortgaging of our future to support tax cuts for the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans. - M. Defarge

Nearly every Brazilian I have seen in Riverside, and I live there, works long hours. Cut them a break will you? - Riverside Woman

There is no legal way for these people to immigrate to the United States. That is the problem with our broken immigration system.- sjy

These protesters are not even from the town. These organizations get together from Philadelphia and stuff, call the news networks and go up there to make people believe that it is the illegals yelling. No! These people from organizations are putting these rallies up and I am proud to say that the people counterprotested to show the rest of the country that we are not going to take this. - Rey

These laws need to be enforced and the punishment for hiring illegal immigrants needs to be severe. This is the land of the free but it is 2006 not 1750. Immigration is a problem - they are taking jobs away from US citizens. - Matt

Only a couple rednecks had a Confederate flag. To lump us all together as ignorant like that is racist. Completely racist. - anonymous

Hatred in this country will never go away. One group is always going to be someone's target. But illegal entry is illegal. Enter correctly and help this country move forward. - Bob

You can't stop market forces. As long as there is a disparity in wealth people will come here and work, immigration laws be damned! - Dan


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Contact staff writer Toni Callas at 856-779-3912 or tcallas@phillynews.com.

The people of Riverside are really putting their foot down so to speak.

I salute you!

W

Me too W! This is what it is going to take!

"We didn't think there would be so many angry people," said Luis Ordonez, a landlord and owner of a music and electronics store who marched against the ban.

What was that they were saying after the first marches? We have awakened a sleeping giant! Sure did cept not the one you were thinking.

Though some say the problem is cultural, others say the main issue is unlawful entry into the country.

How about both.

http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... COLUMNISTS


08/23/06 - Posted from the Daily Record newsroom


Immigration action needed


A demonstration Sunday in southern New Jersey over immigration came close to turning ugly. There were protests and counter protests over an ordinance adopted by the Willingboro Township Council making it illegal for anyone to knowingly employ or rent to an illegal immigrant.

As opponents marched against the ordinance, others supported it, some of whom waved Confederate flags. Police had to keep both sides apart. Ordinances of this type accomplish nothing constructive.

Our main point, however, is that emotions over immigration -- an estimated 11 million immigrants are now in the country illegally -- can spill out of control at any moment. People know that in Willingboro, in Morristown and in countless other places.

Congress remains unmoved. Two competing immigration bills have been passed by the House and Senate. Congress should be reconciling the differences, but has opted to do nothing. What a shame. Meanwhile, the debate continues in the street.

Government functioned. Trains rolled. Commerce flowed. It was as though the hundreds of protesters who filled the small downtown on Sunday were never there,

Before this is over this won't be the case. I think next spring there will have to be a time without Americans. Too much money is being made on this circus.

Despite the conflicts, new businesses and new residents still come to Riverside.

Of course. Who in their right mind would want to open a business that they knew would have to run outside of the law in order to compete. Choose America, small businesses or taco stands?

Riverside, WHERE? Could you possibly give the state involved?

freshideaguy:

Welcome aboard!

I believe this Riverside is in NJ. There have been a handful of stories on the situation over the last few weeks (someone please correct me should I be 'under-informed' - thanks)

It is in New Jersey. Here are a couple of other recent articles.


http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... =riverside

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... =riverside

They keep trying to use the confederate flag incident as propaganda to rescind the ordinance.

http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/p ... 30315/1046



Riverside law has sparked too much ugliness

It's time township officials rescinded the ordinance aimed at immigrants that's giving the township a bad image.

What happened Sunday in Riverside is further evidence that the township's recently passed anti-immigrant ordinance is only serving to bring out the worst in some people.

And that's a shame for a quiet and quaint Delaware River community of mostly regular people just trying to live, work and raise families. Many of them are likely embarrassed that a small group of outright racists are sullying Riverside's image by waving Confederate flags or cheering that flag's appearance, as happened at a rally of mostly white people Sunday that competed with a prayer vigil held by mostly Latino people outside borough hall.

All of this ugliness comes from the township's Illegal Immigration Relief Act ordinance, adopted last month, which sets punishments for those who knowingly employ or rent housing to illegal immigrants. Violators could face $1,000 fines and other penalties. Employers could lose their license to do business in Riverside.

Certainly, it's clear this nation has fundamental problems in how it manages immigration and its large, off-the-books immigrant workforce. That's a legitimate message many Riverside residents are trying to convey.

And, frankly, if the federal government isn't going to do something about its broken immigration system, which lets far too few workers come here legally, and do a better job of monitoring who comes into the country, then there is some justification in local authorities doing something. A good example of that would be local police arresting illegal immigrants with criminal histories who then commit crimes here and making sure they're deported to their home country. There's a clear, worthwhile effort to uphold community safety in local police taking such action.

However, the ordinance Riverside officials have approved appears much more cloudy in its motivations. Is crime really up in the township because of its largely undocumented population of 1,500 to 3,500 immigrants, mostly Brazilians? The police chief says no and state police statistics also show crime isn't on the rise in Riverside.

Likewise, township schools Superintendent Robert Goldschmidt says the schools aren't being overcrowded by illegal immigrant children.

For what reason, then, has the township decided to adopt an ordinance that's brought out such ugliness and negativity in some residents, and in some out-of-towners who've come to join the fray?

Surely, most people in Riverside aren't racist and don't want to see all immigrants booted out of town simply because they were born in another country. Nor do they want to see their community's image ruined by a handful of xenophobic fools.

Unfortunately, right now, Riverside has become a stage for a handful of racists to wave their Confederate flags and stir up negative feelings toward people of different origins and skin colors.

All this being the case, it's time Riverside's elected officials rescued their township's image and struck down this unnecessary ordinance.

While there may have been some worthwhile intentions and ideas behind its creation, there were also, most likely, some not-so-worthwhile intentions involved.

Riverside police should arrest those who break the law, be they of American, Brazilian or other descent. Township zoning officials should make sure occupancy rules for apartments are being followed by all residents.

But there's no need for the township to have an ordinance that targets only illegal immigrants and those who rent to or employ them. All the ordinance is doing by targeting Latino immigrants is giving Riverside the image of being an unwelcoming and racist community. Surely, that doesn't define the majority of people in the township and it isn't an image they want or deserve for their community.
Published: August 23. 2006 3:10AM