http://www.connpost.com/news/ci_3071117

Article created: 09/29/2005 04:24:18 AM

Hispanic hiring practices queried
EDWARD J. CROWDER ecrowder@ctpost.com

An anti-immigration group Wednesday demanded an investigation into McDonald's hiring practices, claiming to have collected evidence that the company disproportionately hires Hispanics in Connecticut.

But state officials declined, questioning the group's findings. And the state's official liaison with the Hispanic community said he found it "offensive" that anyone would go to such lengths to monitor McDonald's hiring practices.

"This sounds to me more like systematic persecution," said Fernando Betancourt, the state's commissioner for Latino and Puerto Rican affairs.

The group, Connecticut Citizens for Immigration Control, visited 152 McDonald's restaurants statewide â€â€