Posted on 06/21/2005 8:21:26 AM PDT by Happy2BMe
(GOLIAD, TEXAS) -- There was no shortage of volunteers last night as the controversial Minuteman civilian border patrol organization gathered in this historic south Texas town to organize anti illegal immigrant activities in Texas.
Many volunteers said illegal immigration needs to be stopped, and since the federal government is unable or unwilling to do it, then its up to civilians to step in and get it done.
"Our children can't get out into our yards," rancher and Texas Minuteman leader Bill Parmley told the group. "We're afraid. Something has to be done."
The location of the meeting in Goliad was significant. The city was the home of many of the volunteers who died fighting the Mexican army at the Alamo in 1836. The unit which delivered a cannon the Alamo along with a flag that carried the defiant message 'come and take it.'
Many volunteers complained that their lives have been 'turned upside down' by the surge in illegal immigration. They told of having illegals kicking down doors, damaging their property, and stealing livestock.
And there was a lot of frustration with what the volunteers perceived to be the federal government's inaction on the problem.
"We have met with our senators, we have sent letters to President Bush, we have gone all the way to Washington, and still no response," Parmley told 1200 WOAI's Charity McCurdy. "All we're doing is what President bush asked us to do after 9-11, to be observant citizens and look for suspicious activity and call it in. That's all we're doing."
But several civil rights leaders at the rally said the Minutemen go a lot further than that. Che Lopez compared the volunteers at last night's rally to the Ku Klux Klan.
"Just basically racially profiling people. Pulling them out of their cars. Intimidating them."
Minutemen organizer Chris Simcox said he plans to have four chapters of the group patrolling the Texas-Mexico border in October. A Minuteman action in Arizona in April had mixed results.
"We are here at the invitation of Texans," Simcox said. "Over 7,000 requests from citizens of Texans who are fed up with President Bush, and are growing weary of the situation we have on our borders."
But not all Texans are excited about the presence of the Minutemen in Texas, and one of them is Senator John Cornyn, who this weekend introduced a measure calling for comprehensive changes in border security, and the hiring of 10,000 additional sworn officers of the U.S. Border Patrol.
"I don't think that it is in the best interests of the country to have untrained people, who not withstanding their best of intentions, might find themselves involved in violent and unexpected situations along our border," Cornyn said, adding that he understands the 'frustrations' of the Minutemen and their supporters.
"I recognize that citizens think it has fallen to them in the absence of the federal government living up to its responsibilities to provide that security along our border."
But last night in Golaid, volunteers weren't interested in Senate resolutions or debates on international migration. They are increasingly frustrated with that they see as a growing threat to their lives and the security of the United States, and they want action.
"I don't think that the federal government has the ability to take care of it," one volunteer said. "I think they need help, and I'm ready to help."
"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,
1. The act of invading; the act of encroaching upon the rights or possessions of another; encroachment; trespass.
Agreed!
What a hideous way to live. It's no different than the inner cities, is it? Parents afraid to send their kids out to play....
Hi Happy, we were in Goliad a couple of weeks ago. Right before we were there they had had 81 illegals in three vehicles jump out and run away! They caught some of them but most got away.
Goliad is 25 miles south of us and our newspaper prints all the information about the minutemen, etc.
Minutemen in Goliad story;
http://www.thevictoriaadvocate.com/front/story/2865973p-3319037c.html
Falfurrias, near McAllan, Tx.;
http://www.thevictoriaadvocate.com/front/story/2865971p-3319022c.html
Ping!
Sorry, but if it been ME AND MINE, who had to endure such things, I'd sit up at night and wait for next wave of invaders.
"I don't think that the federal government has the ability to take care of it," one volunteer said. "I think they need help, and I'm ready to help."
It's not the "ability" that the government lacks, it's the "WILL". It "CAN" be done.
I don't think he'd make the same comment today. It turns out that the Minuteman Project (with one stupid exception by a guy who was kicked out) is equivalent to the Neighborhood Watch, except it's on the border.
I didn't hear of any situations that posed a problem. You have any details on this?
The minutemen kicked him out. No Abu Graib for them.
Red
Yes. So it would seem.
Me, too. I don't get it. If someone kicks in your door, I'd say shooting is the obvious response.
I guess mexicans are just messing with the texans the American people don't want to mess with.
MinuteMen bttt.
How about a Texas ping on this one?
Go Minutemen!
Warm Welcome in Texas for Minutemen
Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Texas ping list!. . .don't be shy.
No, you don't HAVE to be a Texan to get on this list!
Full Texas Ping List
Which never happened in Arizona with their Minutemen, and isn't planned by the Texas Minutemen. All they are intending to do is watch and report to the authorities.
A few years ago, was a member of a taxpayer group that did a budget study on a rural county in the Houston area.
Between law enforcement, judicial and public health services, about 7-8% of the budget was used for illegal immigrants.
AND, that is a county that is 400 miles from the border!!
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