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Homeless paid $10 to attend immigration rally

By NANCY BADERTSCHER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 10/20/05
For some people, it pays to oppose illegal immigration.

Fourteen homeless people made $10 each Monday to hold signs in a crowd of several dozenpeople who gathered for an anti-illegal immigrant rally at the state Capitol.

D.A. King, an anti-illegal immigration activist from Marietta who spoke at the protest, acknowledged Wednesday that he paid "14 willing American workers to let their voices be heard about illegal immigration."

"I consider it very good use of the day labor laws," King said.

The rally, which was broadcast live on a local radio station, was designed to build support for passage next year of legislation that would deny state benefits to illegal immigrants.

King said the people he hired to hold signs at the rally are homeless, regularly congregate near the Capitol and share his views on illegal immigration.

"Trust me, they are angry," King said. "When the day comes when I cannot pay an American for an hour's worth of work for making their voices heard, it's a sad day," he said.

King Mitchell, 28, said he he was paid $10 to hold a placard, but also personally agrees with those who want to clamp down on illegal immigration. Mitchell said he stays at the Gateway Center, an Atlanta homeless shelter.

Anthony-Scott Hobbs, chairman of the Cobb County Republican Party and the rally's chief organizer, has said he had not hired anyone to attend the rally.

State Sen. Sam Zamarripa (D-Atlanta), who opposes the legislation targeting illegal immigrants, denounced the hiring of paid rally participants. "This is too complicated an issue. We don't need people to pay people to agree with them," Zamarripa said. "We need cool heads and moderate voices."

Employing hired hands at political rallies is an age-old tradition. Rick Dent, a campaign strategist who has worked for Zell Miller, Mark Taylor, Denise Majette and others, said he's seen it many times. He said most people who are paid to appear as supporters or protesters are quick to come clean when reporters try to interview them.

"What's amazing is how many times the people who do it get caught," Dent said.