Thread: Group to host anti-illegal immigration rally

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Group to host anti-illegal immigration rally
By Melissa Cassutt

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Citizen's Against Illegal Aliens, a Southwest Florida grassroots organization formed in response to recent immigration reform, is hosting an anti-illegal immigration rally in Fort Myers in October.

The organization has more than 200 members in the Southwest Florida area, said president Harold Poole.

Six presenters have been confirmed to speak at the rally, including: Tom Macklin, reform party candidate for Florida Lt. Governor; Andy Anderson, Palm Bay City Councilman; Gerald David, Jr., No Party candidate for Lee County Commission; Dave Caulkett, Floridians for Immigration Enforcement; Joyce Tarnow, Floridians for a Sustainable Population; and Mike Jarbeck, Florida Minutemen Civil Defense Corps.

CAIA will said it will present its petition "Close the Borders, Stop the Disorder" to local and state representatives. The petition can be signed online at http://www.petitiononline.com/CAIA/petition.html.

The rally begins at 11 a.m. on Oct. 22 in Centennial Park in Fort Myers. Starting at 3 p.m. a new Southwest Florida motorcycle group will host a "Secure our Borders" ride down U.S. 41 from Centennial Park to North Naples Country Club. More than 100 riders are expected, said Russell Landry, member of Citizen's Against Illegal Aliens.

Find additional coverage in Wednesday's edition of the Daily News.

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About 100 rally against illegal immigration
Originally posted on October 22, 2006

Greg Hodai felt like the luckiest man alive when his family won the green card lottery 10 years ago.

It was their ticket to leave his post-communist Hungary and start life anew in the United States.

He came to America legally, selling everything his family owned to afford the airplane tickets, and that’s why he attended a rally in downtown Fort Myers on Sunday against those who cross the border illegally.

“I am an immigrant, but I came the legal way,” said Hodai, 30. “I am now a U.S. citizen.”

About 100 people gathered for the rally at Centennial Park, saying that illegal immigrants drain public funding for schools, medical services and other aid. They come to America and take jobs for citizens and don’t speak English.

Russ Landry, president of Citizens Against Illegal Aliens and Southwes Florida Brigade of the American Freedom Riders Southwest Florida brigade, said the rally was organized to inform the public about political candidates’ stance on the issue.

“We have political report cards on all of the senators,” he said. “We have interviews with people who are aware of the collapse of hospitals, schools and criminal system.

We want people to know our government has failed us at the local, state and federal offices. If the wrong people get into office, this will never change.”

Cape Coral resident Jimmy Stafford Jr., 11, said he hopes that is not the case.

“I can’t take it anymore,” he said. “I can’t live like this. All of the immigrants are walking up to me and babbling. I can’t understand a word of what they are saying.”

Joyce Tarnow, president of Floridians for a Sustainable Population, said 87 percent of the growth between 2004 and 2005 was related to illegal immigrants.

“The illegal population is 12 to 20 million in our country,” she said. “If you close off the jobs, they would go home.”

Lee County Commissioner candidate Gerard David Jr. agreed, saying less agricultural labor would be needed if there were fewer illegal immigrants because they are the ones consuming the majority of the produce.

Additionally, he said that citizenship should not be granted to the children of illegal immigrants.

“Don’t vote for anybody who doesn’t support the position you do on the illegal invasion,” said Tom Macklin, a candidate for lieutenant governor. “We have to make sure our country remains our country.”

Leonardo Garcia, executive director of the Southwest Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said that while he understands the concerns that were raised at the rally, undocumented workers play a large role in the economy and work jobs that Americans will not.

“We know we have to work the borders, but at the same time, who will do these jobs?” said Garcia, who did not attend the rally. “I understand their concerns, but where is the solution?”

Naples resident Dave Dyson, 42, attended the rally to show his support.

“I have had enough,” Dyson said. “In the trades, nobody speaks English. Clearly, they haven’t been through the naturalization process.”

Fort Myers resident Ryan Lynn, 30, said he is distressed by the cultural and lifestyle differences that illegal immigrants are introducing into society.

“It is an infusion of foreign values from Third World countries,” he said.

Dressed in an Uncle Sam costume, Hodai said becoming an American citizen was a life-changing experience for him, but he becomes angry when he sees illegal immigrants who do not pay taxes or learn English.

“It’s almost like they have more rights than I do as a citizen,” he said.

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2006/oct ... local_news

Immigration foes call for reform
More than 100 gather at Centennial Park in Fort Myers for rally

By Melissa Cassutt

Monday, October 23, 2006

Dozens of American flags poked out of the ground, waving in Sunday afternoon's light breeze. People dressed in red, white and blue lounged in the grass extending from the pavilion at Centennial Park in Fort Myers, encircled by messages.

"Hate America? That's your business. Mess with America? That's our business."

"America is the land of the free, but it doesn't mean you get a free ride."

The words at Sunday's "Proud to be an American" rally were strong, and at times, angry, as more than 100 people waved American flags and cheered for speeches opposing illegal immigration. The rally was organized by Citizens Against Illegal Aliens, a grass-roots group started this spring, to increase local support for tougher immigration legislation.

"The fight still goes on right here in Fort Myers," said guest speaker Tom Macklin, former mayor of Avon Park and Reform Party candidate for Florida lieutenant governor.

Macklin urged supporters to vote out candidates who favor amnesty programs and support politicians who oppose "illegal invaders of this country."

Cape Coral residents Jim Holtschulte, 61, and Barbara Wilcox, 65, said they became supporters of the anti-illegal immigration movement shortly after the April 10 rally in Fort Myers where an estimated 80,000 people — mostly immigrants — walked in protest of an immigration bill working through Congress.

The Mexican flags waved at the spring rally angered them both, Holtschulte said.

"I'm just disgusted with the fact when you go to the polling booth, it's in English and Spanish," Holtschulte said. "(Illegal immigrants) pay for nothing. They send all the money back to Mexico."

Richard Fuchs, also a Cape Coral resident, said he supports tougher border control because of rising taxes and disunity in the country. Fuchs said the middle class is suffering for "the freebies at the bottom."

"We can't afford it," said Fuchs, 62. "We can't pay the bill. The social bill is unpayable. You're going to have children in the future. What are they going to have?"

Illegal immigration populations, Fuchs said, also break the country's unified voice.

"Divided we can't stand," Fuchs said. "It didn't work in Athens 2000 years ago, and it won't work now."

Americans Standing Tall, a Cape Coral-based anti-illegal immigration group, also showed support at the rally and pushed listeners to voice concerns to local politicians. The group recently sent letters to Lee County commissioners pushing for the adoption of an ordinance similar to the Avon Park proposal that would have made employers liable for hiring illegal immigrants. The proposal was defeated 3-2 in the third reading.

Mary Ann Redman, co-founder of Americans Standing Tall, said the group will continue to pressure Southwest Florida representatives in the next few months — a goal also set by the CAIA, said Russell Landry, the group's president.

"We plan on joining forces with some other activist groups in Florida and go after the government," Landry said. "We're here. We're strong. There's no turning back now."

© 2006 Naples Daily News and NDN Productions. Published in Naples, Florida, USA by the E.W. Scripps Co.