Thread: ALIPAC: Dueling immigration protests in Alamance County

Thursday, April 9
( updated 8:38 am)
By Lorraine Ahearn
Staff Writer
Greensboro News and Record

GRAHAM — Rival protesters, kept a block apart by the very jail at issue, held peaceful immigration rallies Wednesday that nevertheless ended in the arrests of seven demonstrators, one dressed as the Statue of Liberty.

The protest and counterprotest in the county seat, each drawing more than 100 participants, came as disagreement mounts over immigration enforcement efforts by Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson.

Earlier this week, an Elon University political science professor released a study of court data showing that Alamance deputies pulled Hispanics for traffic stops 1,344 times over four years instead of the 494 times the sheriff reported.

The news fueled Wednesday’s march by a statewide immigration rights group, Witness for Peace. The march began in Burlington and ended at the Alamance Detention Center.

There, several demonstrators sat in front of the doors to the new jail. After a number of warnings from Graham police Capt. Steve McGilvray not to block the entrance, the protesters were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.

In a theatrical flourish, protester Patrick O’Neill was dressed as an ICE agent, and he demanded that police arrest fellow protester Audrey Schwankl, wearing a Lady Liberty costume.

Schwankl, already wearing her own handcuffs, shouted, “Liberty is arrested in Alamance County!â€

Photos from the story above:


The "Pilgrims" march past our street corner


Audrey Schwankl and her rendition of "We Shall Not Be Moved" just before she indeed was...inside to be booked!

[quote]“We built a new church to accommodate them and have four Masses,â€

Photo's and news real media of event. It was a great day. Our group at the protest remained respectful and rational. The demonstrators of the Amnesty march were the financials and ended getting arrested for disorderly conduct. I and several others from neighboring Chatham County attended this event in support of Sheriff Terry Johnson's 287g program. Funny, because all the legal citizens in Alamance County want the 287g, it's outside special interests groups who harassing all the county and local law enforcement. I'm glad Sheriff Jonson is a good honorable man that doesn't cave to outside groups who don't even live in the county. Rock on Alamance citizens and law enforcement, were all behind you. We in Chatham County got our work cut out for us to get out liberal Commissioners voted out of office and have a good look at the next Sherif election. Unfortuately Sheriff Webster upheld the decision to pass a resolutoin that prevents our county from contracting with any ICE program. But I also know that the Commissioners control the Sheriff's budget, so we will just have to let the legal process of campaigning for next elections.
Check out this site of photos I took during our counter protest to uphold the laws of our great land.

http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinbo ... 336.0.html