Thread: 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.

"They are keeping them out of their own land," he said. "New Mexico, Arizona and California are their ancestral homeland.

Claiming that this land belongs to brown people only and people who enter the country illegally and statements to take it back is at the least a desire to overthrow the U.S. government. The idea that this land is their land is total propaganda and should not be tolerated by our government or the citizens of this nation.

"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."

Oh, I'm sure everything we do isn't right...I'm absolutely sure we make our share of mistakes!! But no matter how you slice it....HOW YOU CUT IT, INVADING ANOTHER COUNTRY IS ABSOLUTELY WRONG!!!! AND NOTHING YOU CAN SAY CAN MAKE THAT RIGHT!!! I can't believe the attitude that you people have that think we have to accept this. All these years there has not been a problem...until Mexico INVADED OUR COUNTRY!

"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."

Not one of these morons again !! Okay.....nice and slowly.......listen up fool !!!

THERE ARE NOT 4,000 PEOPLE SNEAKING ACROSS OUR NORTHERN BORDER WITH CANADA EVERYNIGHT !! GOT IT ?!! I HOPE SO !!

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!

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.

"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.

I am waiting for the UN petition to have their indigenous land returned to them. I really do believe that is the goal. It is also my opinion, that the "movement" is nothing but a land grab for Mexico.

Continent grab.......they've gone far beyond their fictional Atzlan.

The border isn't going to cross me!
Or my name isn't Dixie.

"They are keeping them out of their own land," he said. "New Mexico, Arizona and California are their ancestral homeland.

I keep hearing from the OBL that "just a few extremist" believe in Aztlan. How about the overwhelming majority! How many legal Hispanics also believe like this?