Groups Protest Amid Call To Build Border Fences
http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBENR0S6SE.html
Groups Protest Amid Call To Build Border Fences
CHRIS ECHEGARAY The Tampa Tribune
Published: Sep 17, 2006
TAMPA - Proposed fences along the U.S.-Mexico border - a measure passed by the U.S. House of Representatives - are being labeled an apartheid wall by some local immigration activists.
Even before Thursday's congressional action, activists had planned to gather Saturday afternoon in protest. About 40 people stood at the corner of North Dale Mabry Highway and Columbus Drive, handing out thousands of fliers calling for people to protest against anti-immigrant laws.
Organizers from St. Pete for Peace and the American Indian Movement of Florida had expected a larger turnout, said Oscar Salas, head of the Coalition of Progressive Workers of Dade City.
Their efforts, he said, might have been pre-empted when the House voted in favor of constructing double-layered fences at several sections along the U.S.-Mexico border.
"Maybe they [immigrants] are back to being scared again," Salas, 29, said. "I compare that to the Berlin Wall, an apartheid wall. We are the richest, most powerful country in the world. But it doesn't mean everything we do is right."
The demonstration was held to protest against the living and work conditions of orange pickers from the Dade City area. They work for $250 to $350 a week, 12 hours a day, six days a week - conditions that have remained the same for decades, Salas said.
Immigration advocates are divided on how to pursue immigration reform. Some factions want the battle waged the political route, by lobbying politicians instead of waving placards.
Protesting is the way to get the government to pay attention to an issue, said Serge Kostin, coordinator for St. Pete for Peace.
"It's empowering," he said. "Protesting does work all over the world. Look at Nepal, Mexico and other countries. People truly need to know the truth, not political rhetoric."
The fences along the border are a political tool, not a solution to immigration reform, Kostin said.
"It's a ploy by the government to appease some people," he said. "It's a fictitious barrier. It's not going to stop immigrants from coming. It's not going to stop their desperation."
The immigration movement also is seen from a historical prism. Stopping Mexicans, Guatemalans and other indigenous Central Americans from migrating to the United States is wrong, said Sheridan Murphy, executive director of the American Indian Movement of Florida.
"They are keeping them out of their own land," he said. "New Mexico, Arizona and California are their ancestral homeland. The policy is wrong. I don't see them building a fence along Canada, where terrorists have snuck in. They stop the brown people."
Reporter Chris Echegaray can be reached at (813) 259-7920 or cechegaray@tampatrib.com.
Re: Groups Protest Amid Call To Build Border Fences
The immigration movement also is seen from a historical prism. Stopping Mexicans, Guatemalans and other indigenous Central Americans from migrating to the United States is wrong, said Sheridan Murphy, executive director of the American Indian Movement of Florida.
What is wrong is that those migrating are breaking the LAWS of the United States. They are Illegal aliens in this country.
Instead of ranting about it in America why don't you place the blame squarely where it belongs....On Mexico for not caring for their own.
Also our own government for being much to generious but it needs to
Stop NOW!
Re: Groups Protest Amid Call To Build Border Fences
Quote:
Proposed fences along the U.S.-Mexico border - a measure passed by the U.S. House of Representatives - are being labeled an apartheid wall by some local immigration activists.
"apatheid"
These people are insane.
Quote:
"They are keeping them out of their own land," he said. "New Mexico, Arizona and California are their ancestral homeland. The policy is wrong. I don't see them building a fence along Canada, where terrorists have snuck in. They stop the brown people."
And if Canadians were sneaking into the United States over our borders at the rate of 4 to 5 million a year, we would have already built a fence on the border with Canada.
:roll:
