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Immigration reform rally planned in Morristown

July 21, 2006

By ADAM LONGO
6 News Reporter

MORRISTOWN (WATE) -- Organizers of the Morristown/Hamblen County area group "Tenneseans for Immigration Reform and Enforcement", or T-FIRE, plan to hold an immigration reform rally Saturday afternoon.

The group is not looking for less exposure, but fewer hassles. The rally will be held at the V.F.W. post on the east end of Morristown.

Last month, disabled veteran Teddy Mitchell was arrested on the steps of the Hamblen County Courthouse during an immigration reform rally.

Mitchell was zapped with a police tazer and arrested for refusing to comply with officers. It was supposed to be an immigration rally but the message got lost.

"Where it was impossible to educate and to communicate with the public," said T-Fire spokesman Wayne Dollar.

Dollar says the groups message is clear and simple.

"To try and force our elected officials to uphold the laws on the books right now," he adds.

Dollar is emphatic that his group is not racist in nature. In fact, he says all legal U.S. Citizens are invited to the groups meetings.

"I've seen Latinos working with Americans and each other. I help you you help me," says Morristown resident, and Mexican immigrant Pedro Carerra.

Carrera operates the Mexico Lindo restaurant in Morristown on Andrew Johnson Highway. Carerra says racial attitudes have changed sharply in his thirteen years in Morristown.

He says he encourages his Hispanic customers to learn English and to be good citizens. And he's heard little about these immigration rallies.

"I hear something, but, nothing to worry, nothing to get worried with hispanics," Carerra adds.

Dollar tells 6 News his T-FIRE group says that they have several priorities. One of which is to make the group a statewide organization.

As far as police involvement at Saturday's rally at the V.F.W post, a phone call to the Morristown police was not returned Friday night.