http://www.chronwatch.com/content/conte ... ?aid=17445

Chicago Minuteman Project Holds Summit on National Security
Written by Robert Klein Engler
Friday, October 21, 2005


It was a beautiful, autumn morning with temperatures in the sixties. About 125 Minutemen and their supporters gathered at Christian Liberty Academy in Arlington Heights, Illinois, a suburb northwest of Chicago, to hold a summit on national security. Hosts Rick Biesada and Rosanna Pulido, cofounders of the Chicago Minuteman Project, brought together a diverse group of organizations and individuals with the aim of understanding how illegal immigration threatens our national security.



The summit also brought out protest groups from neighboring states and some Chicago college campuses. The socialists were there, looking tired and drawn, with their anti-Bush signs and bandanas covering their faces like Commandant Macros from Chiapas. The communists and the open border people were there, too, all marching to the sound of a drum and the pounding of plastic buckets turned upside down. Banners in English and Spanish called those attending the summit “White Hooded Vigilantes,� while another banner proclaimed: “Racist Scum--F@ck Off.� The protest was allegedly organized by members of the Coalition of African, Asian, European, and Latino Immigrants of Illinois.

Once registered, participants got a security stamp in blue ink on their hand and a copy of the program. The summit on national security had morning and afternoon sessions, with a break for box lunches at noon. A highlight of the morning session was a talk by Dr. Madeline Pelner Cosman about the disastrous effect of illegal immigration on U. S. hospitals and medicine. She claimed that “Illegal aliens’ stealthy assaults on medicine now must rouse Americans to alert and alarm.� During the afternoon session, Chris Simcox, founder of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, inspired the audience by his example.

The summit on national security focused not only on problems caused by illegal immigration. It also had a political focus. Robert Vasquez from Idaho was in attendance as well, along with some local Republican candidates. Keith Butler, the Republican candidate for the U. S. Senate from Michigan, addressed the summit and got applause when he argued for the idea that China is now “one of the greatest threats to our national security.�

As the summit proceeded with its business, the protesters outside grew more numerous and rowdy. To the credit of the Arlington Heights police, order was maintained, but not before an incident occurred. One of the security staff reports that a man was seen entering the building with a briefcase, then seen leaving without the briefcase. A search of the building followed and nothing suspicious was found. After that, private security guards were brought into the campus. The security guards came in full camo gear, and went on the roof to watch the protesters below.

Later that afternoon, the protesters and the police had a confrontation and arrests were made. Oscar Avila writes in the Chicago Tribune that “The protest drew a small but belligerent group of self-described anarchists that blocked the entrance to a school hosting the invitation-only Minuteman meeting. Police said five protesters were arrested for assaulting officers. Rosanna Pulido, cofounder of the Chicago Minuteman Project, said several attendees did not enter because they feared for their safety.�

“It’s disappointing that people here could not exercise their First Amendment rights,� Pulido said.

Protests against the Minuteman Project and other groups who want to do something about illegal immigration seem to be a common occurrence nowadays. A similar protest happened in Carlsbad, California, last August when State Senator Bill Morrow wanted to hold a meeting at the Carlsbad Cultural Arts Center to discuss the illegal immigration problem. He was refused by school authorities who feared violence if the subject of illegal immigration was discussed.

The forum, hosted by San Diego radio talk show personality Roger Hedgecock, threatened a lawsuit and was eventually allowed to use the school’s public facilities. The meeting was held on August 11 to the chagrin of 500 protesters with about 300 local police in riot gear stationed nearby (FAIR Immigration Report).

Could these protests be a sign that the pro-immigration and open borders lobbists realize they are losing? Do they now know that the free ride offered by the U. S. taxpayers to illegal immigrants is over? The diverse audience at the summit on national security in Arlington Heights proves the charge of racism made by the protesters is empty and without substance. The only plan the protesters have to solve the growing problems caused by illegal immigration is either blind opposition to secure borders, a worn-out and discredited socialism, or a simplistic “let’s be nice to one another� propaganda.

The Minuteman Project is growing in numbers and influence. The Minutemen have sound arguments to support their policies, and an expanding network of members. They also support candidates for public office who hold their views, and in some cases like Jim Gilchrist, founder of the Minuteman Project, are running for office themselves. Gilchrist is now an American Independent Candidate hoping to fill the Congressional seat in Orange County, California recently vacated by Christopher Cox.

The most important outcome of the Midwest Summit on National Security was the realization that while the mock protest was taking place outside, the real protests against policies that will destroy our nation were taking place inside the walls of Christian Liberty Academy. Here, a grandmother from Indiana, an African-American businessman, veterans, a retired communication worker, a musician, a lawyer, and a doctor and many more, all protested against policies the elites and transnational have for changing the United States as we know it.

It seems the Minuteman Project has set lose a force in U. S. society and politics. Soon, it will be a force to be reckoned with by both Democrats and Republicans. It could become a force that politicians and even the Minuteman Project founders can no longer contain. One thing is certain from the Minuteman Summit on National Security: it is no longer immigration politics as usual. As the autumn trees begin to show their leaves of yellow and red and then let them fall, so, too, may our self-serving politicians show their colors and begin to fall from office.