Thread: Minutemen target illegals

http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20051102 ... -3103r.htm

Minutemen target illegals
By Keyonna Summers
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published November 3, 2005

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As a utility van pulled into a 7-Eleven parking lot early yesterday in Herndon, George Taplin was perched nearby and aiming his camera at its license plate and the day laborers who swarmed the vehicle in search of work.

"The employers don't want to be filmed. They don't want to be seen," said Mr. Taplin, organizer of the Herndon chapter of the Minutemen, a grass-roots campaign to rid towns of illegal aliens by observing their employers and reporting them to employment, tax and immigration officials.

This was only the second time since the chapter formed about two weeks ago that members have staked out the convenience store on Alabama Drive at the intersection with Elden Street, where about 50 of the laborers, including illegal aliens, waited underneath a "No Trespassing" sign.

However, members said their presence has already had an effect.

"The population was up to 200 a day," said Bob Rudine, a 62-year-old Minuteman and retiree who lives a block away from the store.

Armed with whistles, video cameras and walkie-talkies, Mr. Rudine and about 14 other Minutemen -- including two children -- stood for an hour in the crisp morning air to watch vans and pickup trucks with ladders and other construction equipment circle the 7-Eleven.

Members have been instructed to avoid confrontations. Though none occurred yesterday, they said a contractor whose van was photographed Monday threatened to file a lawsuit.

Standing among the Minutemen were Town Council member Ann Null and members of Help Save Herndon.

"I consider this similar to a neighborhood watch," Mrs. Null said. "Citizens have come forward and generously offered their time. ... They're doing something very constructive."

The group patterns itself after similar ones along the Texas and Arizona borders with Mexico that are also grappling with the issue of illegal immigration.

This summer, the Herndon Town Council tried to resolve complaints about loitering, noise and other problems at informal gathering sites by deciding to use taxpayer money to build a day-laborer center.

The center is slated to open in mid-December and will be run by Project Hope and Harmony. However, some residents have responded to the plan by filing a lawsuit, which has thrust the town of 22,000 residents into the national spotlight.

Yesterday, Rep. Tom Tancredo, Colorado Republican, sent a letter to U.S. Attorney Paul McNulty urging him to investigate whether the center violates federal criminal-conspiracy laws.

Illegal aliens and day laborers are also key issues in Virginia gubernatorial and House of Delegates elections Tuesday.

House Speaker William J. Howell and other Republican delegates outlined plans earlier this week to bar illegal aliens from day-laborer centers, universities and voting booths.

The laborers said yesterday they were intimidated by the Minutemen's cameras.

"They don't understand that we need money to survive and support our families," Carlos Reyes, a legal Salvadoran immigrant looking for work, said in Spanish.

Bill Threlkeld, director of Project Hope and Harmony, said he was not convinced the Minutemen are as effective as they said.

"There's probably some influence," he said. "But we know when it gets colder, things slow down."

He thinks a silent majority of residents support the day-laborer center and said Project Hope and Harmony is trying to help fix a problem that needs to be resolved in Washington.

"There's an immigration problem in the United States, and people who have an issue with that should be addressing their congressman," he said. "What we're trying to do is solve a local problem."

On this issue, he agrees with Minutemen who say federal and state officials are not taking charge.

"We have to keep coming back and let people know we're in it for the long haul, [and] we need to let politicians know we're serious about this," said Minuteman and Loudoun County resident Diane Bonieskie, 60. "Everybody is passing the buck. This is grass roots, and this is what America is all about."

Jerry W. Kilgore, the Republican candidate for governor, has said he would use state troopers to enforce laws against illegal aliens in any locality that fails to do so, if he is elected.

It is true, that we despise and detest the methods and goals of the Minutemen. The most prominent reason is that they focus on Latinos. Most of our people, out of desperation, only seek a better life, just like your forefathers did. Can this problem be a result of corruption and failures of the Mexican government? Yes, but it is also a result from American foreign policy, colonialism, and NAFTA. The minutemen utilize high tech weapons to hunt down humans, as if they it were game. My people are not animals (not that animals deserve this treatment either). Nor do Minutemen have the authority to take it upon themselves to terrorize my people. This is why we call for Dignity and Respect. All people have the right to live. In addition, never has violence been utilized by our organization against anyone we have opposed. We believe in the circulation of free ideas and opinions as well as non-violence. Opposition is what you are encountering. If you were really concerned with threats to the Americans ideals of liberty and freedom guaranteed under the Constitution, then you would focus your energy on your current executive government who is dismantling the Constitution as you read these lines. Focus your energy on those with power. The people crossing the border in order to survive have no power. Or are you coward?

Brown Berets de Watsonville

I say we focus plenty of our attention on the racist and violent Brown Berets. I say we keep showing the country what you say and how you act. All that is needed is for the country to see and hear you.

Then, most of our job is done. You are finished!

Keep talking Brown Berets! More press conferences please!

W

Have you took a look at our website, go ahead look and read.
www.brownberets.info

For 12 years our group has combated gang violence by teaching youth from impoverished communities about their history and culture. We have directly participated in organizing youth and neighborhoods in order to make them safe for all people without having our young people placed in prisons or jails. We have fought against the dilapidated and inadequate conditions of our public schools. We have participated directly in civic politics in order to improve democracy and representation of the poor and marginalized segments of society. We have tough youth leadership skills and have inspired them to seek higher education. Many of our members are university graduates, including myself. We have reduced the number of incidents of police harassment. We have created alternative schools and mentoring programs. We have food distribution program and computer center for community members. We have organized countless community events in order to give kids thins to do besides getting into mischief in the streets. Tell me, have the minutemen come close to any of these civic duties, Educate yourself first my friend before making baseless accusations. The Brown Berets do not carry arms nor do they call police on people. We win the hearts of our community members by our actions based on the philosophies of people like Cesar Chavez and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In addition, the Brown Berets are a multi-cultural organization; yes there are white members in our organization who believe in social justice. We invite America to learn about our methods.

Watsonville Brown Berets
Autonomous Chapters

More than 150 turn out for annual Peace and Unity March
Register Pajaronian 10/17/05
Laura Norton
Friday October 21, 2005

More than 150 local residents, politicians, students and activists marched through gang-infested areas of Watsonville on Sunday afternoon, waving white balloons and signs decrying violence in the 12th annual Peace and Unity March, led by Watsonville’s Brown Berets.
“Violence does not have a place in our community for any reason,� said Brown Beret Ramiro Medrano, who helped organize the event. “We are here because we want to make a change. Everyone here has felt the pain and has decided that it is enough.�
Residents of the downtown area stood on their doorsteps or leaned out windows to watch the procession of families who had lost loved ones to violence in the Watsonville area since 1994.
Marta Valencia spoke about the pain of losing her son Eric Lopez, who was 19 years old when he was killed.
“In this month, I am feeling the pain of having lost my son because it will be six years ago,� she said.
Valencia said her son used to attend the Peace and Unity March. Now she marches alone in his honor.
“Now I am here every year marching for him so other families don’t know what this is to march like this,� she said. “We don’t know at what moment violence will come to our houses.�
Another mother, Rosa Ramirez, was given the Barrios Award by the Brown Berets for her work in schools teaching students about violence. Her son, 19-year-old Tony Valdivia, was killed in Watsonville.
“It hurts a lot what has happened to my family,� she said. “God willing, there will be no more violence. We all need to help.�
Mothers and local leaders such as Pajaro Valley Unified School Board President Rhea DeHart and Santa Cruz City Council Member Tony Madrigal joined the Brown Berets in calling for unity to combat violence.
“We talk about peace and tend to forget unity,� said Tom Alejo of Hope Ministries. “Whether we are raza (Latino) or not, Republican or Democrat, we want peace. We want unity.�

Watsonville Brown Berets

Nor do Minutemen have the authority to take it upon themselves to terrorize my people.

Our Minutemen have the authority by our constitution to do what they are doing. You will not get anywhere by saying that they are terrorizing your people. They are simply observing while being armed in case THEY are confronted. Anything else referring to them terrorizing people is nothing but LIES!! Calling them 'Vigilantes' is false and nothing more than a fabrication of propaganda by our own President.

It is true, that we despise and detest the methods and goals of the Minutemen.

That's really too bad. When someone crosses our borders without going through the immigration process, THEY ARE BREAKING OUR LAWS--something you obviously have no respect for.

Can this problem be a result of corruption and failures of the Mexican government? Yes, but it is also a result from American foreign policy, colonialism, and NAFTA.

It is not up to you to decide whether or not our foreign policy is incorrect. It is also not up to you to act upon that decision and blow off our laws by sneaking in over our borders. The very idea that you would 'take the law into your own hands' just because you don't approve proves why we must be vigilant to keep, not only Mexicans, but all invaders out of our country. It also proves what kind of people you are..arrogant with your attitude.

If you were really concerned with threats to the Americans ideals of liberty and freedom guaranteed under the Constitution, then you would focus your energy on your current executive government who is dismantling the Constitution as you read these lines. Focus your energy on those with power. The people crossing the border in order to survive have no power. Or are you coward?

We focus where we deem necessary and we don't need outsiders to tell us how to run our country. Your people need to go home and raise hell with your own government before you come over here ILLEGALLY and sponge off of us.

When President Bush refuses to secure our borders and ignores existing immigration laws by allowing scores of Mexicans to illegally cross our borders, that tells me he supports the Mexican government. It's the Mexican government that needs to be corrected, not the Minutemen.

The Brown Berets do not carry arms nor do they call police on people.

That's because they're not being invaded by illegal aliens. Our Minutemen are calling the Border Patrol because we are being invaded.

YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS WHAT SO EVER IF YOU ARE HERE ILLEGALLY!! YOU ARE NOT ENTITELED TO ANY BENEFITS IF YOU ARE HERE ILLEGALLY.
YOU ARE NOT WANTED HERE IF YOU ARE HERE ILLEGALLY, my freind.

Any more excuses for crossing illegally, NOSOY ILLEGAL??

Originally Posted by NosoyIllegal

It is true, that we despise and detest the methods and goals of the Minutemen. The most prominent reason is that they focus on Latinos.

I wonder why? Could that be because most illegal immigrants crossing the border are Latino. Also I'm sure any other illegals from other countries would be reported if they were found on the border, and the minutemen operation is on the Canadian border. So what is your point?

The minutemen utilize high tech weapons to hunt down humans, as if they it were game. My people are not animals (not that animals deserve this treatment either). Nor do Minutemen have the authority to take it upon themselves to terrorize my people.

What high tech weapons are they using? When has anyone been killed or shot by the minutemen? They are mostly senior citizens armed with binoculars and cell phones. How is reporting someone to the proper authorities terrorizing? The minutemen do not make contact with your people, or anyone they spot on the border. If they do they are quickly dismissed from the organization. Nice try in distorting the truth.

Why would you POSSIBLY waste your time teaching youth about THEIR CULTURE. Why don't you better utilize your time by teaching them to speak English and learn the culture of the country they have invaded?

I salute the concerned citizens of Herndon for taking a stand and trying to take back their town. I saw a segment on TV last night where the police were actually running a woman off who was TRYING to get into a 7 Eleven and couldn't get in because it was SURROUNDED by illegals. She was a citizen who couldn't even get into a store in her community but the police were afraid to disburse the crowd of illegals around the store. If the local law enforcement either won't or can't do the job, the Minutemen serve a very useful purpose. They certainly didn't have any "high tech weapons".

If your people are so desperate to come suck us dry, why can't they do it the LEGAL way? Or, better yet, stay in your own country and teach culture there. You could also organize to change your own government. It is certainly not your right nor responsibility to concern yourself with OURS.

Originally Posted by NosoyIllegal

Have you took a look at our website, go ahead look and read.
www.brownberets.info

For 12 years our group has combated gang violence by teaching youth from impoverished communities about their history and culture. We have directly participated in organizing youth and neighborhoods in order to make them safe for all people without having our young people placed in prisons or jails. We have fought against the dilapidated and inadequate conditions of our public schools. We have participated directly in civic politics in order to improve democracy and representation of the poor and marginalized segments of society. We have tough youth leadership skills and have inspired them to seek higher education. Many of our members are university graduates, including myself. We have reduced the number of incidents of police harassment. We have created alternative schools and mentoring programs. We have food distribution program and computer center for community members. We have organized countless community events in order to give kids thins to do besides getting into mischief in the streets. Tell me, have the minutemen come close to any of these civic duties, Educate yourself first my friend before making baseless accusations. The Brown Berets do not carry arms nor do they call police on people. We win the hearts of our community members by our actions based on the philosophies of people like Cesar Chavez and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In addition, the Brown Berets are a multi-cultural organization; yes there are white members in our organization who believe in social justice. We invite America to learn about our methods.

Watsonville Brown Berets
Autonomous Chapters

This article paints a little different picture of your group.

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/ts_mor ... 5_0_10_0_C

Brown Berets threaten Minutemen
Group urges group to think twice before patrolling

By Cari Hammerstrom
The Monitor

PHARR, July 28, 2005 â€â€

Thanks Brian for that article.

However, does this article say that violence was ulilized?
At present there is no functioning Brown Beret Chapter in Texas. As a matter of fact, we are the only active group in California. If this guy Pedro commented, he did this on his own accord. The Watsonville Brown Berets have no affliation with this person, but do support in denouncing the actions of the minutemen. However, we will not use violence against anyone! Both groups can agree that mainstream media sensationalizes issues and organizational efforts. Much of what we have known about the minutemen are articles we have read, pictures citizens have sent, and actual racist e-mail we get from MM members from all over the country. Recently, we received a racist attack from Stacey O'Connel from your Arizona Chapter.