Posted on 04/11/2007 2:48:42 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
Demonstration disrupts speech by controversial group's founder
Police escorted five protesters outside during a Tuesday evening speech by Chris Simcox, founder of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, arresting one and detaining another, said University spokeswoman Rhonda Weldon.
The Young Conservatives of Texas hosted Simcox, who spoke at the Geology Building. Constant chants and heckling from demonstrators hindered Simcox's speech, resulting in the police's intervention.
Weldon said one individual was arrested with a criminal trespassing charge, and another was detained briefly for "interfering with a police officer."
The Minuteman Corps, which consists of citizen volunteers, aids in the discovery of illegal border activity, according to the organization's Web site. Minutemen are required to complete a training session addressing immigration laws, contacting congressmen and using night vision and radio, said Clark Kirby, director of the Texas branch.
However, the organization has been called a vigilante group with the potential for violence and human rights violations by opposing organizations, such as the American Civil Liberties Union. No such incidents have been officially reported.
The Texas chapter, active since 2004, is the largest and most successful Minuteman unit extending from Rio Grande City to Hidalgo, Texas, Kirby said. He said volunteers range from business professionals to truck drivers.
It took administrators 10 minutes to quiet the chants of approximately 30 people attending the event.
Protesters shouted, "When I say racist, you say out! Racist! Out! When I say Simcox, you say out! Simcox! Out!"
Associate Dean of Students Margarita Arellano warned demonstrators three times before police officers escorted individuals out of the building.
"We have a duty to uphold free speech here," she said.
Austin resident Connor Reed, 26, helped lead the protesters' shouts.
"I think an attack on immigrants is an attack on native-born people," he said, "An attack on a part is an attack on the whole."
Simcox stood silently, arms crossed behind his back until the chants subsided.
"I don't blame the well-intentioned men and women who are coming here for a better life or for [the lives] of their families. I would do the same thing," Simcox said. "Actually, what I am doing now is revolting against my government in a peaceful way using the system, and that's the way we work as a nation."
Government sophomore Elizabeth Young, chairman of UT's YCT chapter, said the campus organization believes the Minutemen are doing what the government won't do.
"We view them as freedom fighters," she said.
Good. These left wing thugs need to learn some manners.
Yet the left again tries to drown out free speech.
Obviously Commor's mom did drugs during that pregnancy.
I wish I had known so I could have given them some support in the Peoples Republic of UT. I’m just a few miles up 183, and am itching to counter heckle some libs.
UT has been a hotbed of anti-Americanism since the 1960s. Thank god I’m an Aggie!
UT has been a hotbed of anti-Americanism since the 1960s. Thank God I’m an Aggie!
“I think an attack on immigrants is an attack on native-born people,” he said, “An attack on a part is an attack on the whole.”
It’s too bad the Libs couldn’t be running this guy. He’s got it all figured out.
I’ve noticed a lot of that verbal dyslexia from liberals these days.
If you can’t say anything that makes sense, don’t try. Just keep talking.
If I understand this genius, he said paraphrasing 'I think an attack on people who broke our nation's laws and are here illegally, is an attack on people who were born here.'
Don’t even attempt to understand this lad. He’s obviously a “Rocket Science” major. “Berkeley on the Brazos” is full of ‘em.
Guessing it might have something to do with Aztlan?
¿Quién sabe?
Berkeley on the Colorado?
So, if he believes the only sensible thing he managed to say, why isn't this 26 YO genius over fighting those who attacked the whole of us, when they attacked the part of us, on 9/11?
He sounds like he's smoking a 50-50 mix of Berkeley Brown and Apapulco Gold...without culling the seeds.
I wonder what their freeper names are.
Title could just as easily read Minuteman draws large crowd of supporters with very few protesters[UT Austin, Texas]
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