Thread: 500 protest immigrant 'invasion' in Crawford

500 protest immigrant 'invasion' in Crawford
Minutemen join a Latino group to show disfavor with current policy


By MATT STILES
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

CRAWFORD - Hundreds of people fed up with the country's immigration policies brought their arguments to President Bush's turf Saturday, rallying for reform not far from his ranch.

In an event dubbed "A Rumble at the Ranch," the crowd of about 500 braved stormy, soggy conditions to voice concerns and hear speakers arguing against what some called an "invasion" of illegal immigrants.

"In our hometowns, we feel the effect of illegal immigration," said Missy Stebbins of Killeen, a two-time Bush voter disaffected by his stance on the issue. "So we're bringing this to his hometown."

The Texas Minutemen and Latino Americans for Immigration Reform organized the event, approved in advance by police, which drew an eclectic crowd from across Texas and as far as California.

The diverse participants — men dressed in camouflage, elderly couples and teenage girls — listened to roughly 20 speakers, some of them third-party and independent candidates for political office around the state. The speeches urged that the borders be sealed now, illegal immigrants be deported quickly and reluctant politicians be thrown out of office.

The speakers were cheered when expressing frustration with current policies and the discussion in Washington, D.C., about allowing illegal immigrants to work toward citizenship or be allowed to remain as "guest workers."

Others decried the dangers of unsecured borders during an era of increased vigilance against terrorism. "All of the United States is feeling it," said Gayle Nyberg of Murrieta, Calif., who has spend the last several months traveling in a caravan along the southwestern border with Mexico.

She voted for President Bush in 2000, but now calls him a "traitor" who ought to be "impeached," though she concedes that's unlikely. "Our country is in crisis. Time is short. We all need to fight to band together to save our country," said Nyberg, who wore a black-and-white, early-American outfit.

There was no counterprotest or conflict. A handful of immigrant-rights activists held a press conference at the nearby Crawford Peace House, not far from this small Central Texas town's main intersection. They said they came to educate the public, not confront the people at the rally.

Juan Torres of the Austin Coalition for Immigrant Rights said he was disappointed that a Latino organization had backed the event. "We find it hard to believe that an immigrant would be for deporting his brother, an immigrant."

Spencer Crowl, an Austin activist, said, "The current anti-immigration discussion is counterproductive to the American mission statement of cultural diversity and multicultural interaction."

At the rally, the crowd endured intermittent rain, mud puddles and steamy conditions at a park near Crawford High School's football stadium. The park is several miles from Bush's ranch. He traveled to Oklahoma for an event Saturday, and was not at the ranch.

Magda Rodriguez attended with her husband, Rafael, son, Jonathan, and Jack Russell terrier, Cowboy. She carried a cardboard sign that complained of an immigrant stealing her identity.

Rafael said the Internal Revenue Service first told his wife that she was underreporting her income. The family later realized that another woman had assumed Magda's name and Social Security number.

"It is hell. We still go through hell," he said of his family's attempts to recover from the fraud. He said he hoped Jonathan, who carried a sign that read, "Enter America The Right Way," learned about the "rule of law" by attending the event. Such handmade signs were popular.

"Mexico: Try a Day Without America," read one. Another pleaded: "Stop the Invasion."

http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headlin ... 45883.html

Horray, for the men and women who could make it to the crawford ranch protest for Legal Immigrantion . I would like to know if any media was there, I watched the news and so far haven't seen anything in the news about this protest?

500 protest immigrant 'invasion' in Crawford
Minutemen join a Latino group to show disfavor with current policy


By MATT STILES
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

CRAWFORD - Hundreds of people fed up with the country's immigration policies brought their arguments to President Bush's turf Saturday, rallying for reform not far from his ranch.

In an event dubbed "A Rumble at the Ranch," the crowd of about 500 braved stormy, soggy conditions to voice concerns and hear speakers arguing against what some called an "invasion" of illegal immigrants.

No, Mr. Stiles, the hundreds of people were fed up with the lack of enforcement of laws that deal with illegal aliens, fed up with a nation that is not listening to her citizens. This has nothing at all to do with immigrants which are lawful, respected, and welcome residents. You denigrate lawful immigrants to our country by lumping them in with illegal alien invaders. Lawful immigrants deserve more respect than you're giving.

Your use of quotes for "invasion" seems to deny that the influx of illegal aliens is truly an invasion.

INVADING
A
incursive, invading, invasive
involving invasion or aggressive attack; "invasive war"

INVASION
n.
1.The act of invading, especially the entrance of an armed force into a territory to conquer.
2.A large-scale onset of something injurious or harmful, such as a disease.
3.An intrusion or encroachment.

This is an invasion. It begins with the individuals decision enter into the homeland of another unwelcomed and against their wishes and in violation of the established laws in place to protect that land. Maybe you'll agree that this is deliberately unfriendly behavior and therefore aggression?

The decision of individuals to enter another's country in excess of quotas that a country has established at safe assimilation levels is injurious and harmful.

Entrance by force or without permission or welcome is an intrusion and encroachment.

You, the media, the President, and much of the Congress does not understand or care that we are being invaded, but we citizens know. The traitors to our land will pay their price in due time.

Geez, you'd think that people that make their living with "words" would know what some of them meant?

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http://www.alipac.us/article1200.html

Spencer Crowl, an Austin activist, said, "The current anti-immigration discussion is counterproductive to the American mission statement of cultural diversity and multicultural interaction."

Can anyone show me where America made that garbage a 'mission statement'?

I wish events like this were advertised in advance so more of us could go. Or maybe I'm not looking in the right places?