http://dnj.midsouthnews.com/apps/pbcs.d ... 00316/1002
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Article published Jul 30, 2006
Minuteman group brings immigration issue to small crowd
By ROGER GARFIELD
rgarfield@dnj.com

The Tennessee Minuteman Civil Defense Corps held a rally on Murfreesboro's Public Square Saturday to speak out on the hot-button political issue of the year: Illegal immigration.

Joe Carr, a candidate for 48th District state representative, kicked off the assembly with a frank message.

"This isn't a Democratic Issue. This isn't a Republican issue. This is an American issue," Carr said. "At the end of the day, it's not an immigration problem, it is a state and federal problem. We need to change the minds of people in Nashville and Washington. If we don't, we're all in a lot of trouble."

The 50 people gathered on the Square all seemed to share the common stance that illegal immigration should be stopped. But discussing how to go about stopping it created some heated discussion.

Tom Kovach addressed the people after Carr and spoke passionately on the topic.

"A whole lot of people are worried about this, but only a few are doing anything," said Kovach, who's on the November ballot for Congress in Tennessee's Fifth District.

"The Minutemen put this issue on the map, and I'm one of the few candidates for Congress that's a member."

Kovach, the state PR coordinator for the Constitution Party, said local police are told they cannot enforce federal immigration laws.

"But what about a bank robbery? A kidnapping?" Kovach asked. "Those are enforced. Why can't they enforce immigration?"

He also touched on border control, proposing two fences along the U.S.-Mexican border with a 1/2-mile gap between them.

"We call that the free-fire zone," he said, which drew applause from the listeners, several of whom hoisted U.S. flags in the air.

"No border equals no country," Kovach said. "It's that simple."

Jim Carter, state director for the Minutemen, was disappointed with the small crowd. He had anticipated having five or six more speakers than Carr and Kovach, but he said they canceled Saturday morning because of the rain.

The issue, Carter said, is more severe than many people realize. He and Kovach mentioned a potential merging of borders between the United States, Mexico and Canada, something they say has been in the works for years.

"Our government, I feel, is possibly trying to suppress the information," Carter said.

If elected to Congress, Kovach says he'll do what he can to convince President Bush to make a change.

"I'm not advocating impeachment, but if that's what it takes, I won't shy away."

— Roger Garfield, 278-5102

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