http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/ ... 13837.html


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Forum becomes anti-illegal immigrant rally

By JASON HARRIS
Burlington County Times

RIVERSIDE — An event billed as an educational forum about federal immigration law quickly became a rally against illegal immigration yesterday as speakers decried an “invasion” of illegal immigrants and warned a second Civil War is brewing.

Addressing a supportive crowd of about 30 at Spring Garden Park, speakers from the Federation for American Immigration Reform, Connecticut Citizens for Immigration Control and the Buchanan 2008 Campaign — a grassroots effort to convince political pundit Pat Buchanan, who famously called for a wall to be built along the U.S.-Mexico border, to run for president — blamed illegal immigrants for driving down wages and sucking up welfare.

The angriest rhetoric came from Miguel Cruz and Carmen Morales of You Don't Speak for Me, American Hispanic Voices Speaking Out Against Illegal Immigration, who condemned illegal immigrants for ineffectual schools, debasing U.S. culture and bastardizing the English language.

“Go back to where you came from,” Morales said. “You are not citizens. You don't belong here.”

Standing in a pavilion draped with American flags, Cruz was even more strident, calling illegal immigrants murderers, rapists, child molesters, gang members and illiterate carriers of disease.

To those who disagree, Cruz said, “You are racists; you are traitors because you hate America. To some of us, it smells like there is a civil war approaching and this American is ready.”

“I haven't seen such hate since the March on Selma,” said Dave Verduin, the president of a coalition of local business owners and landlords opposed to Riverside's recently enacted anti-illegal immigrant ordinance. “I came because they said it would be a non-partisan forum. This is misinformation; they said it would be educational.”


Marsha Whitmore, the organizer of the event, wasn't completely comfortable with some of the language, though she admitted she had been angry enough in the past to agree with some of Cruz and Morales' sentiments.

No one in favor of a guest worker program or amnesty for illegal immigrants spoke at the rally. Whitmore feared emotions were still too raw for that.

“Everyone is talking with emotion,” she said. “We're not out to harm anyone. We just want what's best for this country; we just want what's best for everybody.”

That includes illegal immigrants, she added. “If they truly want to become legal, they'll make the effort and having nothing to hide.”

Whitmore's stated goal was to change minds, but it appeared most in the audience already agreed with increasing border security and punishing employers who hire illegal immigrants. Audience members frequently applauded speakers, and signs opposing guest worker programs and amnesty for illegal immigrants dotted the park. Many at the rally supported the forced expulsion of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S.

“Why should they come here, not pay taxes, get the benefits of America and take food out of the mouths of Americans who've earned the right to support their families?” said 44-year-old Tony DeFabis. “If that word "illegal' means anything, kick 'em out.”

E-Mail: JASON HARRIS


September 17, 2006 8:07 AM

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