Posted on 03/13/2005 6:53:59 AM PST by occutegirl
http://www.dailybulletin.com/Stories/0,1413,203~21481~2759793,00.html
Small, anti-illegal immigrant group takes on Home Depot
By From staff reports
Nearly 50 anti-illegal immigrant activists on Saturday shouted slogans and clogged checkout lines at the Home Depot in Rancho Cucamonga, which they accused of hiring undocumented day laborers. The retailer, however, took early precautions by having extra security on-hand and diverting protesters, who later entered and purchased nails, bolts and other small-ticket items, to separate lines from legitimate customers. A sentinel - complete with binoculars - was even positioned on the store's roof to watch for trouble from members of Save Our State.
Shouting slogans such as "Illegals are illegal," activists at times verbally clashed with store clientele, but received honks of support from some passing motorists.
The group planned to continue its protests at different store locations.
------------------------------ http://www.sbsun.com/Stories/0,1413,208~12588~2760116,00.html
Illegal immigrants protested
By Staff Reports
Nearly 50 anti-illegal-immigrant activists Saturday shouted slogans and clogged checkout lines at the Home Depot in Rancho Cucamonga, a store they accused of hiring undocumented day laborers. The retailer, however, took early precautions by having extra security on hand to divert protesters who later entered and bought nails, bolts and other small-ticket items to separate lines from other customers. A sentinel complete with binoculars was even positioned on the store's roof to watch for trouble from members of Save Our State.
Shouting slogans such as "Illegals are illegal,' activists at times verbally clashed with store clientele, but received honks of support from some passing motorists.
The group planned to continue its protests at different store locations.
Hi
Good idea.
Take this fight to the employers, challenge the authorities to intervene.
I wonder if the INS will have a surprise raid? Probably not.
"A sentinel - complete with binoculars - was even positioned on the store's roof to watch for trouble from members of Save Our State."
Taking care to see that Legal residents do not interfere with those who bleed the social services that the Legal residents pay for
What happened to the federal law that was passed some few years ago to punish employers who hire illegals? After all, that is why we have to show our employer our SSN card and DL when we are hired.
pictures here:
http://www.saveourstate.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=761
The police should have been called and the protestors arrested for public nuisance and trespassing on private property. I don't think protesting at a retail store is going to solve illegal immigration.
Talk about cutting off your nose...
Good news, and good post!
Tick off every other customer in the store so they will never listen to your cause. That's a brilliant PR move. Sounds like they took the "Futile Gestures & Moral Preening 101" class at the local liberal university.
Totally agree, very idiotic way to send a message.
"The police should have been called and the protestors arrested for public nuisance and trespassing on private property. I don't think protesting at a retail store is going to solve illegal immigration."
The police should have been called to investigate, take the leader of the protest and the boss of the store in for questioning. If the store was hiring illegals then a crime has been committed, if not then charge the protesters under the nuisance law.
How else are supposed to get the laws enforced?
Thanks. Better to light a candle than curse the darkness.
The corruption is at the grass roots, right where the protests are.
Folks gotta stop givin'em jobs.
Immigrants, both legal and illegal send BILLIONS home to Mexico. That is also part of the problem. For them, "home" is/was/will be Mexico, NOT the U.S.A. There is no real investment in or commitment to the U.S. -- the place where they live, work and have babies. We are just a means to an end, and that end does US no good.
I'm surprised California even has a Home Depot. Instead of wood and building supplies, they probably sell burlap and cloth tents.
Maybe at their next protest they can bring giant papier mâchè puppets and shout inane chants. I think the "Home Depot 50" was actually a pro-illegal group trying to give conservatives a bad name.
Uh, illegals are a federal problem, not a local police or state matter.
I would change vendors, but it's just as bad outside any local hardware store.
And how would you suggest dealing with the problem of illegals?
Writing a letter?
Posting something online?
I prefer Loew's.
?
So they'd have to go to Washington?
[I honestly don't know]
Nah, I truly believe that these people are sincere in their actions. I understand what they're going through and how the illegal immigration problem has escalated out of control while the Jorge Bush administration continues to turn a blind eye. I just think they should have done something better than protesting at a Home Depot, with no proof and which really doesn't solve anything other than to frighten children shopping there with their parents.
I don't have a silver bullet. I just know that aggravating the demographic most likely to support your cause is not a good strategy. I understand these folks are frustrated, but this is, as an earlier post mentioned, cutting off your nose to spite your face. They will lose more support than they gain.
My problem with Home Depot isn't what goes on inside the store, its the 100+ day laborers who hang out in the parking lot all day. Just about every Home Depot in San Jose, Ca has this problem.
I put in my time of attending rallies and organizing groups.
Have you?
True enough.
Illegal immigration, like Walmarts and cheap goods from China, are complicated issues because they all feed a genuine desire for low cost goods and services, whilst at the same time weakening communities.
I think the problem may be intractable.
Now, I have no idea what the labor dispute is -- maybe the company is shafting their workers. But while I'm working my butt off all day, these idiots are sipping lemonade sitting in the warm spring sun instead of working. I'm automatically hostile to their cause.
If I had to get one last gallon of paint to finish my kid's bedroom, and these activists were delaying my purchase by half-an-hour, I would be furious. Not at Home Depot, but at the protestors and their cause -- whatever it might be.
I think they could have do it differently, but ANY public outrage at illegals is fine with me. I hope to see more. Without Chicoms at 35 cents an hour there would be no Home Depot.
I hope not, but I don't see a way out. I'm not trying to impugn the protestors' intentions, only their tactics. I think this may have done more harm than good to a worthwhile cause.
The police should have been called and the protestors arrested for public nuisance and trespassing on private property. I don't think protesting at a retail store is going to solve illegal immigration.
I think you had better get used to actions such as this. This issue is just starting to come to a head. People as a whole are getting real fed up with policies that allow and illegal invasion of hemispherical proportions. Something is bound to give here.
I often go to Home Depot to buy nails, bolts, and other small ticket items. If I see a sentinel with binoculars, or am sent to a "special line" because I wish to buy a small ticket item, I will take my business elsewhere!
No they are a homeland security problem, local authorities accept FEDERAL taxpayers money, to implement HLS. that includs illegal immigration. If they don't want to arrest them then don't take part in homeland security. I wonder how the CITIZENS would like that.
Here`s a good story, 10 years ago the Home Depot near me started new hires at 9 bucks an hour (New York city). A few weeks ago I found out they start new hires at 8 bucks an hour. Oh I guess in New York city, a city with the highest local taxes in the country, a city that has the worst tax-a-holic Senator in the country, the cost of living has suddenly gone down. Riiiiiiight.
So you are for arresting American citizens for protesting, but you aren't for arresting ILLEGAL ALIENS for commiting a felony (being illegal immigrants).
What happened is that another law was passed (do to an EEOC ruling) that forbids employers from verifying with government agencies like SS or the local DMV, if said documents are legit. As such, once a prospective employee produces a DL, Green Card or SS card - no matter how phony they appear, the employer must assume they are real and hire said person - or said employer will face the full wrath of the EEOC and DOJ.
I'm series, the above is TRUE.
It is the ultimate Catch 22. One one hand the federal gubmint forbids employers from hiring illegals but THEN forbids them from verifying if documents produced proving citizenship or legal residence are real.
Well, maybe you "hit the nail on the head" without even realizing it.
Ten years ago, Home Depot profits were greater, there was less competition and taxes were lower. After NY voted in Hillary! and Bloomberg and the rest of the tax crowd, perhaps HD couldn't afford to pay 9 per hour for new hires.
Then again, 10 years later, maybe the latest crowd of high school grads is even less prepared to join the job market, and hence only worth 8 bucks an hour or less.
If Americans want a bloodless coup against the socialist conspirators, then start finding common cause and sue the cabal of business, universities, and armies of social services, and government officials. The illegals are wrecking the environment (ask California's environmentalists), our medical health, our welfare, and retirement system (20 quarters and a Mexican can go back to Mexico and retire while you have to work 40).
If you want to wait and hope things get better, then you should also prepare for an America that devolves into bloody anarchy. That outcome is more likely than things fixing themselves.
Moral: sue the suers and the greedy.
(My question is if HD were hiring illegals, where was the INS?)
================================
Shouting slogans such as "Illegals are illegal," activists at times verbally clashed with store clientele, but received honks of support from some passing motorists.
No, Illegals are EVERYONE'S problem
So you are for arresting American citizens for protesting, but you aren't for arresting ILLEGAL ALIENS for commiting a felony (being illegal immigrants).
Now that is what I call irony!
You got a point there!
Attila the Hun got his military training from the Romans--who he fought later.
"Nearly 50..."
Actually, it's the same unwashed 37 socialists that show up to all of these protests. They do not learn. Very ineffectual way to endear yourselves to the masses so they'll actually listen to your beef.
You're solution sounds great for Home Depot business. That would be a good way to drive away even more business, whether or not Home Depot could prove their innocence in this case.
So, the police are free to overlook all federal law violations? I don't think so. That's just a liberal lie.
There are two within a 20 minute drive of my home. I for one had no idea the money I spent there was going to reward illegal immigrants and will now take my business to Orchard Supply and a local construction supply store.
That's not Home Depot's fault, that's the fault of our bad business climate brought to you by government.
Never said that.
There's no proof that the particular Home Depot was hiring illegals, remember?
Besides, I don't think illegal aliens should be arrested. They should be deported.
There is no silver bullet so don't try looking for one.
There is also not a lot of public support at this point, but that's changing.
If I lived in California, I would have been at this protest. I do live in DC and will be at ours in April.
What do you plan to do? Do you see illegal immigration as a threat to our country or not?
Those of you who wish to do nothing will get exactly that.
If these people behaved themselves properly, they will gain support in the community for our just cause. Too bad people like yourself only wish to denigrate their efforts.
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