Thread: Immigration foes: The brick is in the mail

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Immigration foes: The brick is in the mail
By M.E. Sprengelmeyer, Rocky Mountain News
May 1, 2006

WASHINGTON -- Sometimes, mail call hits Congress like a ton of bricks -- literally.

One-by-one, opponents of illegal immigration have been sending lawmakers real, red bricks with angry messages written on the side: "Build a wall. Deport them all."

While hundreds of thousands of immigrant rights activists took to the streets today, lawmakers in Washington dealt with an increase in mail from those calling for a get-tough approach to illegal immigration.

Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Loveland, laughed about the heavy bricks he has found in his in-box, saying he'll have to weigh them against the letters and calls he receives from both sides.

"The question I have is how do they get that through security?" Allard said. "The second thing is, how did they afford the postage? Now that is a motivated citizen."

Allard and fellow Coloradan, Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Denver, both have expressed concerns about the protest tactics used today, when massive groups of illegal immigrants and their supporters stayed away from their jobs, skipped school and marched.

Salazar, whose office also received bricks in the mail, said, "I would hope people could have demonstrated during their off hours, not during work and school hours. I believe it's important for all kids to stay in school and for workers to stay at their jobs."

Some analysts and immigrant rights supporters have warned that disruptive protests, work stoppages and boycotts could backfire by stirring up opposition.

That's a common theme of opposition mail Allard has been receiving.

One letter, which was wrapped around a brick and mailed to the senator, says: "I can't take a day off from work to go stand in the street and protest all day long like an illegal immigrant. But I did have time to send you this brick so that you could get started building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico."

The writer, whose name was redacted by Allard's staff, warned that he would oppose any politicians who vote to give "amnesty" to illegal immigrants. It was signed, "Mad as hell."

Now that is a good story, thank you for posting it. Instead of tea bags for taxes, mail them a brick for immigration!!

I love that, I have a few loose bricks laying around, I will put them to good use and sent them to oklahomas senators and representatives!I have been busy all day sending letters, calls and emails to my good ole boy's here in oklahoma.

Could someone dump a truckload of bricks on the capital steps or would that be terrorism?

Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Loveland, laughed about the heavy bricks he has found in his in-box, saying he'll have to weigh them against the letters and calls he receives from both sides.


Ummm, excuse me...WHAT other side? Either we have a country called America or we don't...isn't this senator suppose to represent the American people? sigh..................