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'Not a race issue'
Opponents of illegal immigration protest outside Hickory City Hall, demand enforcement of laws
BY JENNIFER MENSTER
Record Staff Writer
Sunday, May 7, 2006
Give your opinion on this story
Barry Reid, 41, a carpenter from Granite Falls protests illegal immigration in front of the Hickory City Hall Saturday afternoon.
Nathan W. Armes (Record Photographer)
HICKORY -- They put their demands on poster boards and chanted on the sidewalk.
Protesters of illegal immigration want the government to enforce laws against illegal aliens. They want no amnesty. They want no worker programs. They want to see passage of House Bill HR4437, which increases border security and detainment of illegal aliens.
More than 40 people, of all ages and from across many counties, showed up Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. outside Hickory City Hall.
Many wore American flags and chanted, “No amnesty” and “Illegals go home.” Signs read “End illegal immigration. Enforce laws” and “The American Dream is for legal immigration.”
Many of the protesters say they do not have a problem with immigrants who come to America legally.
“Half my family is Spanish descent, but they are legal,” said Conover resident Richard McNabb. “Illegal is illegal. What don’t you understand about illegal?”
McNabb came out to show his interest in the problem. His home is originally Los Angeles, and he says he’s seen what happens when a city is overrun with illegal immigrants.
Many of the concerns that opponents of illegal immigrants have are an increase in violence and disease, taking American jobs, obtaining driver’s licenses without citizenship and not paying taxes.
“We want to see borders closed,” said Tena Austin of Conover. “We want to see illegals deported.”
Jeanne Reid, of Rhodhiss, got active in illegal immigration opposition after Sept. 11, 2001. She says with thousands of illegal immigrants crossing the borders every day, it would be easy for terrorists to come to America.
“It’s not a race issue, but an illegal issue,” she said. “It’s about national security. It’s about jobs and our economy.”
Reid said she’d like to see House Bill HR4437 passed. She’d also like to see the government enforce immigration laws at the border and then later deal with illegals already in the country.
One of the reasons Mark Moore, of Hildebran, came out was for the children. He brought his 11- and 6-year-old sons with him to the protest. He’s afraid lawmakers are more concerned about sending children of illegal aliens to college than American students.
“We’re just going to pay more and more if the government doesn’t do something about (illegal immigrants),” Moore said. “They act like they can’t do anything about it. The law is the law. They can enforce our laws.”
Wayne Jones, of Burke County, was disappointed more people didn’t show up Saturday.
During Monday’s “Day Without Immigrants” protest in Hickory, more than 300 people protested in hopes of influencing Congress to help give citizenship to 11 million undocumented immigrants. Across the Catawba Valley region, at least half a dozen businesses closed their doors. Immigrants also boycotted American companies.
That upset some protesters Saturday.
“They protested the whole day,” Jones said. “Don’t they know that hurts my economy? They want to be in America so bad, but they disrespect my flag and they change the words to the national anthem. How dare they.”
Ron King, who helped organize the event, said he was pleased with the day’s protest. He hopes lawmakers get the message.
jmenster@hickoryrecord.com | 322-4510 x5409 or 304-6916