Posted on 05/07/2006 6:51:50 PM PDT by 11th_VA
(CBS) At least 400 opponents of illegal immigration staged a protest outside the presidential retreat in Crawford, Texas. The rally was part of a coast-to-coast campaign that set off earlier this week from a place many may find surprising — an all-black Los Angeles neighborhood, reports CBS News correspondent Sandra Hughes.
The anti-immigration group the Minutemen reached out to the African American community to join them.
Sean Jourdan is one of the people at the kick-off who believe that illegal immigration is having a devastating impact on the black community.
He says he doesn't buy the argument that illegal immigrants only take jobs no one else will do.
"When they say these are jobs we don't want. I don't know what jobs they're talking about but the jobs I was in — construction trades, telecommunication — it has definitely been affected," says Jourdan.
Jourdan claims he's making $2,000 less a month now, and blames the availability of cheaper labor.
"That border being as porous as it is, is like a loaded gun to any American worker's head ... We can get rid of you tomorrow for anyone who's willing to work for half the price."
But many black and Hispanic leaders disagree.
"It's not that immigrants are depressing these wages. Companies, corporations are actually ... subcontracting these jobs so the wages are very low," says community leader Angelica Salas of Chirla, the Coalition For Humane Immigrant Rights Of Los Angeles.
It's an issue that cuts both ways in the African-American community. According to a recent poll, blacks are more likely than whites to feel immigrants take away their jobs, but they were less likely than whites to be in favor of immigration restrictions.
But there is no denying tension between African Americans and Latinos. And much of it starts in urban areas like Los Angeles where many blacks feel pushed out of their neighborhoods by a growing Latino population.
And as Latino immigrants make their voices heard there is also political unease.
"And now we have the Latino explosion in America which is diluting black political strength," says Dr. Earl Hutchinson, a political analyst. "So that all brings up or plays to the fears and the apprehension. And as a result of that, many people are very, very angry or hostile."
But joining up with the Minutemen, well, to some that's an unholy alliance.
"We're being used. It's simple as that — by the Minutemen for their cause. They don't care about us," says Monica Morat, who was there to protest the rally.
Others wonder who will care about African Americans if the Latino movement grows too loud for black voices to be heard.
An American is an American.
Looks like any misgivings about the Minutemen tour starting where it did have been dispelled.
ping
Why is it "unlikely?" There are plenty of patriotic blacks.
...to the surprise of the author, evidently.
One of the idiots on the FOX financial shows has said a couple of times that Americans have no more right to those jobs than an illegal alien.
That tells me that the idea of getting rid of expensive American labor is already on the minds of some.
Liberal white elitist at CBS. They see blacks as votes, and not real people.
I think the marches have had the opposite effect then they were intended. People now see how many illegals have moved in. The Minutemen are stepping in to fill a void neither the RATs or the Pubbies want to carry.
What you said. It ain't about the color of the skin. It's about the content of their character. Hard working, law abiding, God fearing folk of whatever origin are welcome as long as they put America and Americanism first.
Nobody has a "right" to a job. Any job.
Just my opinion but . . . Americans DO have aright to those jobs -- and illegals have NO right to those jobs.
When one group of people has a right to be here and another group doesn't, the group with the right to be here certainly has more of an implied right to the job.
Which idiot?
That's the second piece I've seen where they quoted Monica Morant - the 1st suggested she was a resident, but now I'm thinking either she was the only resident in black LA opposed to the Minutemen, or she was planted there by the media to heckle the Minutemen for their stories.
Fox tries to have balance, even when it's faked. They always have a "pro" person and a "con" person on just about every show. Someone has to play the "defender person" on the illegal immigration issue.
I'm sure there are a lot of businesses that like keeping the overhead down, and illegal labor is a LOT cheaper than union labor. Union labor has a tendency to demand much, but gives little actual labor in return. Illegals demand little, but give much labor in return.
And what pisses people off the most is the fact that our elected representatives are actually pandering to people who are in this country ILLEGALLY!
I agree. No one has a right to a job, but the group with the right to be here has an extended right to the job. (if you catch my drift)
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