Taco Cid's 'How to Catch an Illegal Immigrant' shirts spark outrage
Taco Cid's 'How to Catch an Illegal Immigrant' shirts spark outrage
wistv.com
Updated: Jan 08, 2013 4:35 PM EST
By Jeremy Turnage
Video at link
http://wistv.images.worldnow.com/ima...535164_BG1.jpg
WEST COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) -
A photo of a t-shirt allegedly worn by an employee of Taco Cid, a Mexican-style restaurant in West Columbia, has sparked accusations of racism.
The shirt pictures a pair of tacos underneath a wooden trap with the phrase "How to Catch an Illegal Immigrant" written just above in red, white, and green lettering -- the same three colors on the Mexican national flag.
The photo appeared on social networks and across news media websites over the weekend. The backlash prompted the store's owner to post a response to the uproar on the restaurant's website.
"Our t-shirts were created as a witty and comical statement regarding ILLEGAL immigrants. There are NO racial nor hate remarks towards any specific ethnic group," said the statement.
The statement goes to say that employees are not forced to wear the shirt, and that the owners believe illegal immigrants "are burdening the system we support and live under, thereby, causing us to work harder and pay higher taxes to support the illegal activities."
The owner, Leanne Snelgrove, says she's gotten calls from as far as the United Kingdom pledging support. She's even got one woman who is taking orders for the shirt.
Snelgrove says the genesis of the shirt began in during a trip to Key West.
"We actually ran across 'How to Catch an Illegal Immigrant', and we just spun off of that, put our name on it, and printed them up," said Snelgrove. "We've been wearing them for two months, but apparently, it's just now hit national."
Despite support, Snelgrove says her family-owned business has also gotten a lot of negative response as well, such as threats of bombings, shootings, and plenty of other violent threats.
But Snelgrove also wanted to clarify the shirts, saying that illegal immigrants aren't just those of Latin decent.
"We want everyone to know that illegal immigrants could be of all nationalities, so unfortunately, we just used the taco because we own a Mexican restaurant. It's nothing racial; it's nothing against nationalities," said Snelgrove.
Snelgrove also says she has one shirt for someone in particular if he wants it.
"If Jadeveon Clowney likes to come over here, we've got a free shirt for him," said Snelgrove.
Taco Cid's 'How to Catch an Illegal Immigrant' shirts spark outr - wistv.com - Columbia, South Carolina |
Taco Cid T-Shirt: 'How to Catch An Illegal Immigrant'
Taco Cid T-Shirt: 'How to Catch An Illegal Immigrant'
wltx.com
Written by
Tony Santaella
Written by
Nate Stewart
7:01 PM, Jan 8, 2013
Video at link
http://www.wltx.com/images/300/169/2...w-to-catch.jpg
A t-shirt being sold at Taco Cid that says, "How to Catch an Illegal Immigrant."
West Columbia, SC (WLTX) - A t-shirt being worn and sold at a West Columbia Mexican restaurant is creating a bit of controversy.
The shirts are at Taco Cid. They say "How to Catch an Illegal Immigrant." Accompanying the words is a drawing of a box with a stick being held over two tacos--a makeshift trap.
A photo of a Taco Cid employee wearing one of the shirts started getting national attention over the weekend after it was tweeted by Corey Hutchins, a reporter at the Free Times.
After this story generated buzz on many social media sites, News19 went straight to the restaurant Tuesday and found out the owner is selling shirts.
While it may be obvious that West Columbia's Taco Cid is more Mexican restaurant than political epicenter, owner Leanne Snelgrove says the last twenty-four hours have been anything but a siesta.
"Not nationwide, No. I had a clue it would be a hit around town but not nationwide."
Snelgrove says she's received comments from praising the shirts to more extreme measures, "we've received death threat's, we've received bomb threats."
Snelgrove claims even her husband was fired by a company and replaced by illegal immigrants. News 19 reporter Nate Stewart asked Snelgrove, "What do you say to someone who see's the shirt and says, 'that's racist.'"
"That's your opinion," said Snelgrove. "If you support illegal immigrants then you support paying tax dollars for other people who just worked under the table. Let me tell you, small business owners - we pay taxes!"
We showed the shirt to Sandy Jones, a Pastor at a prominently Hispanic Church is the Midlands.
"I think it's very racist, I think it's a very racist comment," said Jones. "If that's not likely illegal immigrants to animals you can capture with a box I don't know what else."
Jones says she's offended by the shirt and wants the restaurant to stop selling it and to apologize.
"When national news is going to hear and think that everyone is South Carolina thinks like this, that hurts me personally. It makes me very sad," said Jones.
Snelgrove says she'll keep selling the shirts, even if she is surprised by all the attention.
"The taco business is booming," said Snelgrove. "Come see us."
On its website, Taco Cid has issued this statement about the shirt:
"Our t-shirts were created as a witty and comical statement regarding ILLEGAL immigrants. There are NO racial nor hate remarks towards any specific ethnic group," it says in part. "As most tax paying Americans, we do believe ILLEGAL immigrants are burdening the system we support and live under, thereby, causing us to work harder and pay higher taxes to support the illegal activities, which our government has simply chosen to look the other way. Is it "racist" to disagree with those who are not supporting the American system?"
Leanne Snelgrove tells News19 they got the idea after going on a cruise to Key West and saw similar shirts. The shirts are selling for $35 and Snelgrove says she's been mailing them all over the world.
"It's not racist. It's immigrants - illegal Immigrants. It was just a t-shirt. Just a t-shirt," said Snelgrove.
Right now, this story's getting even more response on our Facebook page.
You can follow News 19 reporter Nate Stewart on Twitter @WLTXNATESTEWART
Taco Cid T-Shirt: 'How to Catch An Illegal Immigrant' | wltx.com
South Carolina taco restaurant in race storm over 'illegal immigrant' T-shirts
South Carolina taco restaurant in race storm over 'illegal immigrant' T-shirts
Taco Cid in West Columbia insists T-shirts bearing slogan 'How to catch an illegal immigrant' with bait trap are 'witty and comical'
Adam Gabbatt in New York
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 8 January 2013 11.44 EST
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/...-shirt-010.jpg
Teacher Nathan Sloan and reporter Corey Hutchins captured the photo and posted it to social media. Photograph: Corey Hutchins/Twitter
A restaurant in South Carolina has been criticised for printing and selling T-shirts with the slogan "How to catch an illegal immigrant" accompanied by a cartoon drawing of two tacos placed beneath a box trap.
Taco Cid, in West Columbia, insists the T-shirts are a "witty and comical statement" about undocumented migration in the US, but the Mexican restaurant has been accused of racism.
The controversy emerged after a local high school teacher snapped a photo of a Taco Cid employee wearing one of the orange T-shirts. The T-shirt shows one end of a wooden box or crate held aloft by a stick. Two tacos have been placed beneath a box, apparently as bait.
Taco Cid responded to criticism this week with a statement on its website. The writer used capital letters for emphasis.
"Our T-shirts were created as a witty and comical statement regarding ILLEGAL immigrants," the statement said. "There are NO racial nor hate remarks towards any specific ethnic group."
The message on the Taco Cid website appears alongside photographs of an open-mouthed cow and a hearty-looking tostada. For clarity, the statement adds that "Taco Cid and it's [sic] employees are not racist".
"As most tax paying Americans we do believe ILLEGAL immigrants are taxing the system we support and live under, thereby, causing us to work harder and pay more taxes in support of their illegal activities which our government has simply chosen to look the other way.
"Is it racist to disagree with those who are not supporting the American system?"
Taco Cid is closed on Sundays in observance of a day of worship, according to the text. The note ends with a warning to potential restaurant visitors: "If you do not agree with our views on ILLEGAL immigrants, please do not visit our establishment."
An employee at Taco Cid told the Guardian on Tuesday that the T-shirts were available for general sale, priced at $35 plus tax.
"We have some in stock but we are ordering more," she said. Asked if the T-shirts were popular, she said: "Not until the other day."
The employee added that the T-shirts were not official uniform, but that staff have worn the T-shirts on shift. She then put down the phone. Upon calling back, the employee would only respond to the Guardian's queries by saying: "I'm sorry, I can't answer that." She put the phone down without giving her name.
A third call to Taco Cid was answered by a male employee. "I'm sorry, I cannot answer any questions for no newspaper," he said.
Taco Cid's taste in clothing came to light after teacher Nathan Sloan captured an image of an employee wearing one of the shirts and shared it with local activists and media, according to the Columbia Free Times.
Liberal website Think Progress reported that the design of the "racist T-shirts" was similar to a style available on clothing website bewild.com. The "illegal immigrant" T-shirts on that website are available for just $12.99, although tax and shipping increase the price to $21.09.
South Carolina taco restaurant in race storm over 'illegal immigrant' T-shirts | World news | guardian.co.uk
