Thread: Group holds illegal immigration talk

http://news.newstimeslive.com/story.php ... gory=Local


2006-02-26
Group holds illegal immigration talk
Forum draws speakers, protesters
By Robert Gold
THE NEWS-TIMES


The News-Times/David W. Harple

DANBURY —— An illegal immigration forum with national speakers brought protest and support Saturday night.
The local group, U.S. Citizens for Immigration Law Enforcement, which has argued for illegal immigrants to be deported, sponsored the event.

Nearly 50 people lined outside the entrance of Rogers Park Middle School for the 7 p.m. event, protesting the event as divisive.

They carried signs like "No human being is illegal" and "Let's Respect Each Other's Differences"

"Danbury is all one people," said Danbury resident Leonel Villavicencio, who helped organize the protest.

Villavicencio said it bothered him the forum was held in a local school.

"A school is supposed to be about love," he said.

Inside, the forum featured several national speakers, including Terry Anderson, a radio talk show host from Los Angeles who focuses on illegal immigration; and Michael Cutler, a former federal immigration officer.

The speakers decried claims they were racist. They stated it wasn't immigrants they were against but illegal immigrants. They argued that illegal immigrants stretched American resources and could be unknown threats.

"Any country without secure borders couldn't stand like a house without walls," Cutler told the crowd of about 100 people. "And yet, we're a house without walls."

Another speaker, Peter Gadiel, argued that an illegal immigrant's background can't be accounted for. Gadiel's son, James, died in the World Trade Center attacks while working in the North Tower.

"Any illegal immigrant may be a terrorist sent by Bin Laden or a violent thug," he said.

Anderson argued that he understood why people moved into America. But they should not come illegally.

"Stay home and build a country you will not run away from," he said.

Danbury resident Sandy Murphy said she came to the event as a "silent protester."

Murphy said Danbury was about "love, respect, tolerance. What they're saying is hate and exclusion."

She called the speakers' statements about opposing illegal immigration "just a smokescreen."

Danbury resident Elise Marciano, who organized the forum, said she hoped the event brought change.

"What I want this to do is wake people up and get them motivated to act," Marciano said.

Danbury police said there were no arrests or problems at either the protest or forum.


Contact Robert Gold

at rgold@newstimes.com

or at (203) 731-3350.

I'm sick of hearing Illegals tell American citizens, that because we want the borders closed and illegals deported....we are racists.

They only use the "R" word, because they absolutely have no real argument to use. Illegal is..illegal ! So, they use the "R" word to try to shut us up.

They can't come up with anything else..they know they are wrong by breaking our laws to be here, and they should go home and fight their government to better their lives there....they should not be allowed to try to change our laws.

They have no right being here, therefore no right to protest! THEY ARE ILLEGAL!