Thread: Groups Rally Against Use Of Illegal Workers

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-ap ... ines-local

Groups Rally Against The Use Of Illegal Workers

10:08 AM EST, January 7, 2006
Associated Press, Staff Writer DANBURY

Most days, contractors and landscapers can be seen at Kennedy Park hiring men and women who go there hoping to find work as day laborers.

On Saturday, the gathering of workers was replaced by protesters who say those jobs are being given to illegal immigrants.

About 50 people calling themselves the Connecticut Citizens for Immigration Control spent about two hours chanting and holding signs that read, "Speak English" and "Arrest Illegal Employers." It was one of several protests planned across the nation.

Paul Streitz, who organized the demonstrations, said they believe illegal immigrants are taking jobs from American citizens, and driving down property values.

"As individuals they are OK, but we have 11 million illegals and if 11 million Americans moved to Mexico they'd be thrown out too," he said.

Daniel Anastasia, 46, a construction worker from Westchester, N.Y., said illegal workers are costing him money.

"This is not a racist thing," he said. "They are making our tax dollars to up. They are taking away from us. We pay taxes they don't. I get paid what the union says. The contractor pays them cash. It's not fair to me."

Contractor Mike Nelson, 44, of Danbury said he won't hire illegals, and because of that his prices are higher than his competitors.

"I would love to hire them, because I could use the help, but I can't take any chances," he said.

The gathering was met with a counterprotest. David Stevenson, real estate agent from Bethal, was one of several dozen people who marched across the street to support immigrant rights.

They chanted in Spanish, "We're here, and we're not leaving."

"It's a big country, and there is room for a lot of people," Stevenson said.

Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton has been an outspoken critic of U.S. immigration policy.

The Republican mayor sparked controversy earlier this year when he proposed deputizing state police as federal immigration agents.

Boughton says the influx of immigrants from Brazil, Ecuador and other countries have strained schools, created overcrowded housing and led to other problems such as unlicensed and unregistered drivers.

He's lobbying Congress for more money to help deal with those problems, but denounced Saturday's protest as counterproductive.

"I think there is an element out there that can be racist in tone, that can project the very worst in human nature," Boughton told WTNH-TV. "I think that there are people that are involved in this particular rally that are doing that."

"It's a big country, and there is room for a lot of people," Stevenson said.

No matter how BIG this country is..we have NO room for lawlessness and those that support lawlessness.

RR

ALPAC Survey on Protest issue

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=Surveys

Originally Posted by butterbean

Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton has been an outspoken critic of U.S. immigration policy.

"I think there is an element out there that can be racist in tone, that can project the very worst in human nature," Boughton told WTNH-TV.

From the newspeak dictionary:

ma - yor, n. a respected public leader, an outspoken critic of U.S. immigration policy.

ra - cist , n. an invisible outcast, a disenfranchised victim of U.S. immigration policy.

A critic or a victim? Money talks; beggars walk.