Posted on Wed, Apr. 23, 2008
Local protesters fight border wall
By MAURA POSSLEY

Wearing tie-dye or wigs while drumming and chanting outside U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan's office, protesters rallied against the building of a U.S.-Mexico border wall and controversial federal immigration legisla- tion.

Organized by New College students, the protesters stood in opposition to the wall and the Secure America through Verification and Enforcement Act in Congress.

"I believe that most of the immigrants are going back. The economy's so bad; we're wasting our money," said Cindy Everhart, of Palmetto. "It's all symbolic anyway."

The issue of the border wall, while opposed by protesters, is supported by others who want stepped up immigration enforcement. Such is the case too with the SAVE Act, a bill supported by Buchanan that focuses on immigration enforcement.

Protesters began at U.S. 301 and Main Street in downtown Sarasota, making their way into Buchanan's second floor office on Orange Avenue.

There they met with Ron Turner, Buchanan's deputy chief of staff and district director. Protesters wanted to meet with or talk to Buchanan, but were told by Turner he was busy on Capitol Hill.

Protestors did voice their views to Turner. Jose Godinez Samperio called the border wall "ridiculous," because immigrants can easily bypass it by building sand dunes.

"And it's against human dignity," he said. "We believe this is the rise of authoritarianism in this country."

Drew Hudson, of Bradenton, said the wall was the "worst form of imperialism."

"It is making us the ones who are the central empire," he told Turner. "To vote for that is an atrocity."

Protesters also rallied against the wall because, they said, it would run through environmentally protected land and Native American lands.

"This is a culture that doesn't have the power . . . to stand up and say you're not allowed to go there," said Bianca Beebe, a New College student, of the Native American culture.

Following the protest, Buchanan said in a statement:

"Illegal immigration undermines the rule of law while costing taxpayers billions of dollars each year. It creates an underground economy, places financial burdens on our state and local communities, and endangers our national security. Congress must do more to secure America's borders and enforce existing laws. The SAVE Act is one such illegal immigration enforcement measure."

http://www.bradenton.com/local/story/551464.html