Thread: Anti-illegal immigration conference opens in Nevada amid pro

Anoter article on the conference:

Anti-illegal immigration conference opens in Nevada amid protests
By CHRISTINA ALMEIDA, Associated Press Writer

Saturday, May 28, 2005


(05-2 17:39 PDT LAS VEGAS, (AP) --


Several anti-illegal immigration groups convened Saturday in Las Vegas to discuss efforts to tighten U.S. borders and to praise recent action by the Minuteman Project, as a large group of Hispanic protesters denounced the conference as racist.


The summit was hosted by the Las Vegas-based Wake Up America Foundation, whose motto is "It's your country, take it back." Between 500 and 1,000 people were expected to attend the two-day meeting held at the Cashman Center in downtown Las Vegas.


Speakers from various groups addressed the crowd regarding problems with illegal immigration.


"It's not just about poor immigrants coming to work," said Chris Simcox, president of Minuteman Civil Defense and a co-organizer of the recent Minuteman Project in Arizona. "It's about the world knowledge that our government can't stop drug dealers. It doesn't give me a whole lot of confidence that they can stop resourceful terrorists."


Simcox told the crowd that his group of 15,000 members is committed to securing the nation's borders and will continue to plan actions in California and in states along the Canadian border until the federal government begins military patrols.


"We want the border secured. Nothing less will be accepted," Simcox said. "There is no compromise."


Barbara Coe with the California Coalition for Immigration Reform called the border situation a "very real threat to our sovereignty and our lives."


Coe mentioned several law enforcement officers, including Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy David March, who were killed by Mexican nationals who later fled to their country to avoid prosecution.


She blamed President Bush for refusing "to protect us from these foreign invaders."


"He encourages more illegal immigrants to come here and take over, take our money and our jobs," Coe said, drawing huge applause when she derided him as "Senor Bush."


Outside, about 200 Hispanic protesters chanted "racists go home" and waved American and Mexican flags. A small child carried a sign that read "Racism is a deadly plague."


"They're just trying to take a certain group, a certain ethnicity, and make them the scapegoat," said Chelsie Campbell, a 25-year-old recent law school graduate from Las Vegas. "Let's work together and find a solution."


Martha Moreno, 38, of Las Vegas, carried a sign saying "Proud to be Mexican-American." She said she braved the nearly 100-degree heat because she feels everyone has a right to make life better for their families.


"We all came to this country from other places in the world," Moreno said. "We're all immigrants."


Robert Gallegos, president of a Hispanic political action group called RAZ/Pac, drove from Salt Lake City to participate in the protest. He said claims on the Web site of Wake Up America Foundation that illegal immigrants are to blame for rising unemployment, hospital closures and troubles in the public school system are disingenuous.


"All that is is a cover for racism," he said. "All Americans need to stand up and make sure this racism stops here."


Simcox dismissed claims his group was racist, saying the border issue is one of national security and public safety and that those caught at the border represent dozens of nationalities.


"I don't care what color your skin is, what language you speak or where you're from, if you are breaking into my country illegally, that's unacceptable." Simcox said.


He defended his philosophy as pro-immigrant, mentioning recent deaths along the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona.


"There is no reason human beings, regardless of where they come from, should die horrible deaths," Simcox said.


Michael Leon, a member of the Minutemen Project, said he has endured strong criticism from within the Hispanic community, but felt compelled to join the group after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.


"It's security for me," said Leon, who said he's been called a traitor to his race. "I love my community, but I love my country more."


The conference was scheduled to conclude Sunday with speeches by Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist and Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado, a leading congressional voice against illegal immigration.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... 915D71.DTL

Well, I've sent it to every newspaper I have an email address for, and we'll see if they cover it. Perhaps they will since it's an AP article.

They didnt mention the threats aginst the summit.

Michael Leon, a member of the Minutemen Project, said he has endured strong criticism from within the Hispanic community, but felt compelled to join the group after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.


"It's security for me," said Leon, who said he's been called a traitor to his race. "I love my community, but I love my country more."

WAIT just one little minute.........I thought that WE WERE THE RACISTS!!

Now THEY HAVE JUST SEPARATED THEMSELVES INTO ONE RACE and not IMMIGRANTS looking for a better life

What a dychodomy they've produced

Michael, is one that will stick to his gun's come Heboublesticks or high water. He is a true American.

Just an FYI, here is another version of the AP article from the Omaha World Herald.

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=675&u_sid=1423646

It has a later pub date, drops some quotes, but adds:

Critics of the program, including Border Patrol officials, have said the group was little more than a nuisance. Bush expressed his opposition to ''vigilantes,'' and many people on the Mexican side of the border referred to the Minutemen as ''migrant hunters.''

and

Last week, a protest against Gilchrist in California turned violent when demonstrators hurled rocks and unopened soda cans at police and people attending his speech.

I didn't copy the entire article in here because of the possible violation of the copyright notice.

If they would just go ahead and send in the Military or National Guard, we would not need to send in the MMP. Then they should be happy.

They might be PO'd, but they would have to shut up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reading the posted article, the observation of the sign carried by one Martha Moreno that states "Proud to be Mexican-American" brings to mind this bit of wisdom:

"There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism. When I refer to hyphenated Americans, I do not refer to naturalized Americans. Some of the very best Americans I have ever known were naturalized Americans, Americans born abroad. But a hyphenated American is not an American at all. This is just as true of the man who puts "native" before the hyphen as of the man who puts German or Irish or English or French before the hyphen. Americanism is a matter of the spirit and of the soul. Our allegiance must be purely to the United States. We must unsparingly condemn any man who holds any other allegiance. But if he is heartily and singly loyal to this Republic, then no matter where he was born, he is just as good an American as any one else.''
- Theodore Roosevelt

Nice quote and well said, Teddy Roosevelt!! Welcome by the way!