Posted on 03/26/2007 7:26:36 AM PDT by Krista33
Group protests GOP club's flyer
10:44 AM MDT on Friday, March 23, 2007
Associated Press
Protesters angered by a Boise State University student group's promotional flier - offering dinner at a Mexican restaurant to those who would "climb through the hole in the fence and enter your false ID documents into the food stamp drawing" - turned out Thursday night for a rally and vigil.
The College Republicans' flier promoted a Thursday night speech by Robert Vasquez, a vocal critic of U.S. immigration policy who is planning to run for the U.S. Senate in 2008. The student group sponsored the Vasquez appearance, which went on as scheduled.
Neither the College Republicans nor Vasquez, a former Canyon County commissioner, said they found the flier offensive.
About 150 protesters participated in a silent vigil.
Several speakers also addressed a crowd gathered on the patio of the Student Union Building.
"As a Mexican, as an immigrant worker, I am outraged," said Araceli Munguia, a student member of Movimiento Estudiantial Chicano/a de Aztlan. "On the poster, they are making fun of me, my family and my community. We are here because the Republican students think that coming here to look for work is a joke."
Other speakers said freedom of speech comes with responsibility.
"The church is outraged and deeply offended by the racist, mean-spirited and hate-filled propaganda used to promote a dialogue on illegal immigration in our state," said Adriane Wright, representing the Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise and Catholic Charities of Idaho. "The students clearly crossed the line."
The university president earlier apologized for the flier.
"I apologize most sincerely to those rightly hurt and offended by this controversy," Bob Kustra wrote in a Wednesday e-mail to students, staff and faculty.
The student group refused to remove the fliers, which were distributed around campus and posted on the group's Web site, but did delete the name of the restaurant after Chapala's Mexican Restaurant threatened to sue.
Headlined "America's Illegal Alien Invasion," the flier featured a photo of Vasquez as well as examples of a resident alien card, a Texas Health and Human Services Medicaid Card, Idaho driver's license and Social Security Card.
It also contained an image of a highway caution sign that showed a couple running while dragging a young child.
"Win dinner for two at a local Mexican Restaurant! Climb through the hole in the fence and enter your false ID documents into the food stamp drawing!" the flier read.
Graciela Fonseca, president of Idaho's Hispanic Women's Organization, Mujeres Unidas de Idaho, said earlier that members of her group were outraged.
Maria Mabbutt of the Idaho Hispanic Caucus called the flier "very anti-immigrant."
Kustra's e-mail apology went beyond the public statement the school issued earlier in the week, which said the flier "shows poor taste and judgment."
"Unfortunately, a handful of students have engaged in offensive and insulting behavior, most recently with nasty and hurtful fliers," the president wrote. " ... I was shocked when I first heard what was on the flier. ... I can assure the campus community that steps have been taken to ensure accountability in the approval process for any future event advertisements."
"It's an intellectual inquisition," Jonathan Sawmiller, president of the College Republicans, responded in a statement. "The university is absolutely intolerant of diverse views, and they're trying to silence our political opinions with threats and intimidation."
Michael Esposito, assistant director of student activities, approved the flier for distribution on the campus. He was on leave due to a family emergency and not available for comment, school spokesman Frank Zang said.
we need pictures of crying babies here.........
**"As a Mexican, as an immigrant worker, I am outraged," said Araceli Munguia, a student member of Movimiento Estudiantial Chicano/a de Aztlan. "On the poster, they are making fun of me, my family and my community. We are here because the Republican students think that coming here to look for work is a joke."**
He/she has the argument completely wrong. The college Republicans(I guess my peers do have some sense) made the fliers about illegal immigration. If the person is here legally, then why are they raising their voice about it?
Well done
Quick. Somebody call ICE and drop a dime on this a**hole.
L
i love it...........
"As a Mexican, as an immigrant worker, I am outraged," said Araceli Munguia, a student member of Movimiento Estudiantial Chicano/a de Aztlan. "Sheesh, figures AP would let this go without comment. It's a lot like a Klansman complaining about a "white trash" joke.
-Eric
Cry me a river, illegals!
He must have been referring to every leftist moonbat anti-war- anti government- anti America demonstration he's attended. Everyone of them have nasty fliers, insulting and perverted behavior, violence, destruction of property...
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