Minuteman Project Begins Cross-Country Campaign

AP ^ | 5/3/6 | Peter Prengaman

[Crackingham]

In the shadow of this week's huge pro-immigrant demonstrations, the opposition Minuteman Project launched a cross-country tour Wednesday to rally support for tighter border control. The volunteer group, which patrols the border and opposes illegal immigration, hopes to mobilize voters as the caravan heads for Capitol Hill and the offices of the politicians debating immigration reform.

"Our power is not putting a million people on the street, our power is putting 10 million people at the voting box," said Stephen Eichler, the group's executive director. "Their voice is accompanied by a lot of bodies, but our voice is accompanied by even more bodies who aren't going to go out in the street."

The group hopes to counter the impact made by the more than 1 million illegal immigrants and their supporters who took to the nation's streets on Monday. Demonstrations by the Minuteman Project that day were scattered and small, often numbering fewer than 100 people per city.

Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist told about 40 supporters before the group left from a park in South Los Angeles that the recent immigration marches were a "declaration of domination."

"Ours is not a racial cause. It's a rule of law cause."

About 15 protesters repeatedly interrupted the speech with screams of "Minutemen go home" and "KKK go home."

[Americanwolf]

Go minutemen go!

[walford]

...In the wake of pro ILLEGAL ALIEN demonstrations...

So now if you're against that you're a Klansman? If you must distort/use logical fallacies to attack the position you oppose, that's a clue that you're probably WRONG!!!

[wolfcreek]

Looks like these illegals may just become Lib voters. Judging by their tactics, it's hard to tell the difference.

[petkus]

This is about securing our borders!

We support legal immigration!

[Arizona Carolyn]

Did you catch that woman on O'Reilly last night? Had a similar woman on Lou Dobbs -- they really, really do believe what they are spewing and talk so quickly and constantly that neither host was able to get in a word edgewise... I don't think a lot of people really understand what we are up against right now.

[La Enchiladita]

I've been monitoring local news re the Minuteman Caravan send-off. Shockingly, the reports on ABC (Ch.7) and CBS (KCAL9) have been good: showed Gilchrist speaking and the supporters as well as lead car. They also showed how thuggish the opponent demonstrators were, one arrested.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

(CBS) LOS ANGELES The Minuteman Project border-enforcement group launched a nationwide caravan in Leimert Park Wednesday, with members alleging that illegal immigrants take jobs away from Americans, particularly blacks.

But the beginning of the caravan was met by at least one vocal protester who tried to shout down the Minuteman gathering.

"The Minutemen is a white, racist ... group, and they need to get out of my community," the man shouted through a bullhorn, in remarks broadcast on KFWB radio. "They don't need to come down to South L.A., causing racial tension between blacks and Latinos."

The man, who was not identified, [thug Sunjee Ali] was briefly detained by police and was issued a citation for "impeding traffic," but he was not arrested, according to the LAPD.

Minuteman founder Jim Gilchrist, who was on hand for the event, told his supporters to "stand your ground.

The caravan, en route to Washington, D.C., is scheduled to stop in Phoenix and Crawford, Texas, where President Bush has a ranch. Gilchrist said the caravan was aimed at pointing out jobs taken by illegal immigrants.

Many local black community leaders have denounced the Minutemen Project's work. The Minuteman caravan begins just days after a massive rallies were held in cities nationwide, including Los Angeles, in support of undocumented workers and legislation that would provide a path to citizenship.

[kstewskis]

"The Minutemen is a white, racist ... group, and they need to get out of my community," the man shouted through a bullhorn, in remarks broadcast on KFWB radio.

LMAO!!

I dare that idiot to say that to the face of the 6'3" black gentleman who served out on the line with us last Saturday!

[stephenjohnbanker]

"The Minutemen is a white, racist ... group, and they need to get out of my community," the man shouted through a bullhorn, in remarks broadcast on KFWB radio."

KFWB = Kommie Freaks With Bullhorn : )
LMAO!!

[kstewskis]

Ain't that the truth!

Once upon a time I used to be within earshot from their public air pollution, LOL!

[Borax Queen]

Nic - ping to post 8, lol!

[nicmarlo]

Gilchrist said today that the Minutemen are composed of 20% NON-WHITE American citizens.

[Borax Queen]

Wow.

[La Enchiladita]

I have never heard/seen Gilchrist speak and the little clip that I saw on TV really impressed me!

He's a strong leader!

Minutemen=20% non-white=100% AMERICAN!!!

The race-obsessed must distract from the real issue.

[nicmarlo]

He's a strong leader....The race-obsessed must distract from the real issue.

That's why. Gilchrist is an effective leader, as are the Minutemen in what they are doing.

[RonDog]

We now have INTERNATIONAL coverage, from BBC News:

Drive for strict US immigrant law

Minuteman Project members have staged protests in recent weeks

Campaigners in favour of tightening US immigration laws are preparing to set off on a 12-city tour to try to build support for their cause.

The Minuteman Project, which patrols the US-Mexico border, is launching the 10-day convoy after pro-immigrant mass rallies across the country.

About 100 people will travel from Los Angeles to Washington DC for a rally.

It comes as the US Senate prepares to try again to break the deadlock on immigration reform.

The Minuteman group is made up of volunteers who strongly oppose illegal immigration, and organise border patrols to try to prevent people crossing into the US illegally.

MINUTEMAN CARAVAN TIMETABLE 3 May: Los Angeles, CA 3 May: Phoenix, AZ 4 May: Albuquerque, NM 5 May: Abilene, TX 6 May: Crawford, TX 7 May: Little Rock, AR 8 May: Memphis, TN 8 May: Nashville, TN 9 May: Birmingham, AL 9 May: Atlanta, GA 10 May: Greensboro, NC 11 May: Richmond, VA 12 May: Washington DC

It says it will use the caravan to mobilise voters and recruit members, and try to counter the impact made by the huge pro-immigrant rallies held earlier this week.

The caravan will leave Los Angeles on Wednesday, where it plans to highlight unemployment in the African-American community.

It says the problem is caused by illegal immigrants taking jobs "that Americans would be willing to do".

The group is planning to hold rallies in cities including Phoenix in Arizona, and Crawford in Texas, where President George W Bush has a ranch.

The convoy will finish by driving to Capitol Hill in Washington DC for a rally on 12 May.

US ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS About 11.5m illegal immigrants in the US Four out of 10 have been in US five years or less 75% were born in Latin America Most enter via southern US border California, Texas and Florida host most illegal immigrants Many work in agriculture, transport and construction Guide: Facts and figures

"Our power is not putting a million people on the street, our power is putting 10 million people at the voting box," said executive director Stephen Eichler.

The US Senate's majority leader, Bill Frist, said on Tuesday the Senate would try again within weeks to break the deadlock on immigration reform.

He was speaking after huge demonstrations on Monday illustrated immigrants' demands for recognition.

Congress is caught between competing bills that would either criminalise or legitimise illegal immigrants.

Mr Frist said his attempts at reconciliation would focus on "border security first and foremost".

But he acknowledged that legislation also had to address the issue fo the estimated 11.5 million illegal immigrants in the US.

We now have INTERNATIONAL coverage, from BBC News:

Drive for strict US immigrant law

Minuteman Project members have staged protests in recent weeks

Campaigners in favour of tightening US immigration laws are preparing to set off on a 12-city tour to try to build support for their cause.

The Minuteman Project, which patrols the US-Mexico border, is launching the 10-day convoy after pro-immigrant mass rallies across the country.

About 100 people will travel from Los Angeles to Washington DC for a rally.

It comes as the US Senate prepares to try again to break the deadlock on immigration reform.

The Minuteman group is made up of volunteers who strongly oppose illegal immigration, and organise border patrols to try to prevent people crossing into the US illegally.

MINUTEMAN CARAVAN TIMETABLE 3 May: Los Angeles, CA 3 May: Phoenix, AZ 4 May: Albuquerque, NM 5 May: Abilene, TX 6 May: Crawford, TX 7 May: Little Rock, AR 8 May: Memphis, TN 8 May: Nashville, TN 9 May: Birmingham, AL 9 May: Atlanta, GA 10 May: Greensboro, NC 11 May: Richmond, VA 12 May: Washington DC

It says it will use the caravan to mobilise voters and recruit members, and try to counter the impact made by the huge pro-immigrant rallies held earlier this week.

The caravan will leave Los Angeles on Wednesday, where it plans to highlight unemployment in the African-American community.

It says the problem is caused by illegal immigrants taking jobs "that Americans would be willing to do".

The group is planning to hold rallies in cities including Phoenix in Arizona, and Crawford in Texas, where President George W Bush has a ranch.

The convoy will finish by driving to Capitol Hill in Washington DC for a rally on 12 May.

US ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS About 11.5m illegal immigrants in the US Four out of 10 have been in US five years or less 75% were born in Latin America Most enter via southern US border California, Texas and Florida host most illegal immigrants Many work in agriculture, transport and construction Guide: Facts and figures

"Our power is not putting a million people on the street, our power is putting 10 million people at the voting box," said executive director Stephen Eichler.

The US Senate's majority leader, Bill Frist, said on Tuesday the Senate would try again within weeks to break the deadlock on immigration reform.

He was speaking after huge demonstrations on Monday illustrated immigrants' demands for recognition.

Congress is caught between competing bills that would either criminalise or legitimise illegal immigrants.

Mr Frist said his attempts at reconciliation would focus on "border security first and foremost".

But he acknowledged that legislation also had to address the issue fo the estimated 11.5 million illegal immigrants in the US.

[MHGinTN]

"The Minutemen Black Panthers is a white Black, racist ... group, and they need to get out of my community," the man shouted through a bullhorn, in remarks broadcast on KFWB radio. "They don't need to come down to South L.A.Durham, causing racial tension between blacks and Latinos anyone they can incite to hatred." I wonder where the bullhorn came from at just the right time to make the BM news? Oh, that's right, only the Panther events got covered in Durham as 'for a good cause'.

[walford]

I'm with you. Read my post again.
And see this thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1625360/posts

[mission9]

I am an American.... I have worked,
washing windows, sewing clothes,
pulling weeds, teaching school,
flipping burgers, shining shoes,
baling hay, hawking news,
selling insurance, pouring booze,
sketching portraits, twisting screws,
stripping roofs, playing the blues,
waxing hoods, hiring crews,
wiring houses, laying pipe,
mowing yards, dealing cards,
setting concrete, stirring brews,
delivering pizza, shoveling stables,
mopping floors, waiting tables,
fixing cars, pumping gas,
kissing behind, making breakfast,
washing dishes, slinging hash,
parking cars, treating rash,
slopping hogs, counting cash.
All this and more I have done
to support my wife and my son.
I thank God for every job
I have ever had, though I not rich,
I am glad....
That I am an American.

I deeply resent anyone who
says "that there are jobs
that Americans just won't do"
because he is lying about me,
and he is lying about you.

[blondee123]

I don't think a lot of people really understand what we are up against right now.

Oh, I totally agree with you, these are arrogant, pushy people & their numbers are huge. We are in for a bumpy ride, we worry about terrorists, but this could be the next civil war.