Excuse me? They are worried about using taxpayer money? What about the taxpayer money that organizations like LULAC amd Maldef get via grants, etc.? Give me a break!



http://www.yakima-herald.com/page/dis/287343015313277

Published on Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Minuteman opponents rally
By ELOÍSA RUANO GONZÁLEZ
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

GORDON KING/Yakima Herald-Republic

Miguel Rodriguez, left, listens in as Tony Sandoval whispers to Maria Cuevas before the start of a news conference. The three immigration rights advocates Tuesday denounced a decision allowing the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps to meet at the Selah Civic Center. "I object to their being able to meet in a public venue paid for by citizens," Cuevas said.
Fearing possible violence, civil-rights abuses and improper use of taxpayer money, local immigration rights activists reiterated their opposition Tuesday to Selah's decision to allow the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps to meet in the Selah Civic Center starting in November.

Members of Águila del Norte-Yakima, a legal observation organization, and representatives of other activist groups announced their objections during a noontime news conference at St. Michael's Episcopal Church.

"I fear for my safety," said Yakima's Tony Sandoval, founder of the Washington State Democratic Party Latino Caucus. "I don't want anybody to get hurt."

Initially, the board that oversees the civic center denied a request by the local chapter of the Minutemen to meet in the building. But after pressure from Selah city officials, the board reversed itself last week and granted the group meeting space. The Minutemen, part of a national organization that sponsors citizen patrols of U.S. borders, plan to hold their first meeting in Selah on Nov. 12.

Águila del Norte-Yakima spokeswoman Maria Cuevas said she isn't disputing the Minutemen's constitutional rights to free speech or assembly, but she questioned whether citizens should pay to house such a group in a publicly owned building like the center.

She also said she's worried that other people's constitutional rights -- including protection against unreasonable searches and seizures and rights to due process -- could be at risk if the group is allowed to meet in Selah.

"When private citizens take the laws into their hands, there's a real potential for violence and abuse," Cuevas said.

The Minutemen already hold regular meetings on private property in Whatcom County, a state spokesman for the group said Tuesday -- and he said they don't understand the "hullabaloo" over the planned monthly meetings in Selah.

"We're just trying to get organized there because we've opened up a new chapter in Yakima," said Hal Washburn. "I guess they'd be happy if we were denied our civil rights.

"I don't know why -- we're all Americans. We just don't like the fact that our government doesn't do anything to protect our borders during a time of open war."

* Reporter Rod Antone contributed to this story.