Thread: Group Recruiting Anti-Illegal Immigrant Militia

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/geor ... ryid=72008


Group Recruiting Anti-Illegal Immigrant Militia


WATKINSVILLE, GA (AP) -- A chapter of the Minutemen, self-appointed border-watchers, is forming in north Georgia and Hispanic activists are worried that it might lead to violence in its fight against what it calls the "invasion" of illegal immigrants.

The first organization meeting of the Georgia Minuteman Corps was held in Oconee County on Tuesday and organizer Todd Walker highlighted that the chapter would have no place for racists.

The Minuteman Corps requires prospective members to submit to a background check and a vetting interview before they receive a militiaman ID card, Walker said.

He and his wife, Lizzie, however, were asked disturbing questions when they went recruiting at a Gainesville gun show recently.

"There are just a lot of crazy people out there," Lizzie Walker said. "When we were up in Gainesville, we met them. We had some people ask us, 'Can we shoot them?' The mind just boggles. No, I said, they're human beings."

The Walkers recruited 13 of the 24 members needed to start the state's Minuteman chapter at the show. They say the group is nonviolent and most of its activities would revolve around notifying immigration officials and the public about employers who have hired illegal immigrants and educating the public about the "invasion of illegal immigrants." In border states, Minutemen patrol the border and report illegal immigrants to authorities.

Still, immigrant rights advocates fear that the organization uses inflammatory and sometimes false information that can heighten anti-immigrant sentiment.

The group uses rhetoric -- such as calling immigrants part of the "invasion" and those who oppose them "patriots" -- that incites the public against the state's Hispanic population, including legal immigrants and U.S.-born Latinos, said Jerry Gonzalez, executive director of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials.

"This kind of rhetoric could lead to a situation where the frustration people are feeling over our country's failed immigration policies starts to become expressed in nonproductive ways, through violence and harassment of immigrants," he said. He added that many Hispanics are already afraid of violence.

"The fear is real," Gonzalez said. "It is palpable, and it should concern all Georgians because it will start to turn communities against each other and that is not in the state's best interest."

"Militia" conjures up all kinds of questions. Doesn't look as though any of those were addressed though

I don't think we have to worry about the minutemen becoming violent. If anything, the millions of illegal alien invaders that have stormed and marched in our streets without even being arrested will become violent.

I don't think we have to worry about the minutemen becoming violent. If anything, the millions of illegal alien invaders that have stormed and marched in our streets without even being arrested will become violent.

I think you are exactly right, those who are willing to enter a country illegallly will be violent. They are the ones who have no regard for the laws of this land.

The group uses rhetoric -- such as calling immigrants part of the "invasion" and those who oppose them "patriots" -- that incites the public against the state's Hispanic population, including legal immigrants and U.S.-born Latinos, said Jerry Gonzalez, executive director of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials

Actually, we are being invaded and the Minutemen are Patriots.

History tells us that Minutemen love America enough to protect its borders by reporting the illegals crossing the border.

History tells us that illegals incite violence and are involved in numerous criminal activites...now who is more likely to engage in senseless violence?

The ones trying to help enforce the laws of our country or those that are actively breaking them?