Today, I participated in a demonstration (along with 25 or so other concerned citizens) against the Oregon SEIU Local 503 because they donate money from member's dues to organizations who openly promote illegal immigration.

Mike Forest, an SEIU member and an employee of the Oregon Department of Agriculture, organized the protest.

"I believe in what the union does, but they've overstepped (boundaries) and they need to be held accountable," said Forest, a 15-year member of Local 503 and the director of Oregon's Minuteman Civil Defense Corps.

"They're taking people's dues and spending it on groups that support open borders and illegal aliens," Forest said.

The Mexican Solidarity Network, CAUSA, and Voz Hispana are among the organizations to which Local 503 gives funds and support.
I stood on the corner of a busy intersection in Salem, Oregon with a sign that read "Illegal Immigration Is Illegal". I was the first person that people saw as they passed by the protest in front of the Union Hall.

What I found fascinating and encouraging was the reception that I received from passing motorists. Hundreds of cars passed in the 5 hours that I stood with my sign and waived at passers by. Out of the hundreds of cars that passed, 3 gave me the middle finger and one the thumbs down sign.

What was encouraging was the hundreds that blew their horns and gave the thumbs up. One carload after another, many times four or five cars at a time, gave signals of approval and encouragement.

What was even more encouraging was the number of Hispanic motorists that gave us signs of encouragement. Salem (Oregon's Capitol) is a city that has a large Hispanic population. Dozens of cars that came by with Hispanic passengers slowed down, read my sign, blew their horns and gave a window down thumbs up. Most of them went out of their way to make sure we knew they were in support of our protest.

I drew an assumption from what I observed in the 5 hours on the corner. Hispanic citizens don't necessarily feel the solidarity that the mainstream media portrays. Perhaps, they are as repulsed by the absolute contempt illegal aliens have for American law.

I call on every Hispanic who is tired of seeing our laws ignored and disrespected, to make their voices known. Exercise your legal right to call and write their State and Federal representatives and tell the politicians, you are against illegal immigration.

If you know a Hispanic citizen who has not called and written, please encourage them to do so. I believe their opinions will weigh more heavily with our elected officials, by dispelling the insulting generalizations put out by mainstream media.

To everyone who drove by and supported our rainy protest, Thank You.