Rocky takes illegal workers' side - Intended warning an illegal act, official says

Deseret News ^ | December 15, 2001 | Liz White

[sarcasm]

      Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson said at a rally Friday that had he known earlier about a federal roundup of illegal aliens at the Salt Lake City International Airport, he would have warned them to leave their jobs before they were arrested.

Friends, family members and supporters of the illegal workers rounded up at the Salt Lake International Airport protest outside the City-County Building Friday.

Laura Seitz, Deseret News

      Anderson said he knew about the roundup one week beforehand. U.S. Attorney for Utah Paul Warner says had Anderson given workers notice it would have constituted a criminal act.
      "It is the height of irresponsibility," Warner said. "I cannot disagree more with him about his view on this."
      Warner, who called Anderson's support of the rally "disappointing," said the workers are responsible for their own consequences and that the "United States is a country based on the rule of law." He said Friday's ralliers were "protesting the enforcement of the law."
      "While I am sympathetic to the family members, these are not innocent victims," he said. "It was audacious to protest."
      He added that he will not be deterred from plans to prosecute and will do so in an even-handed and expedited fashion. He said he is not seeking prison terms.
      Anderson said this week's roundup of workers, some of whom had access to highly secured areas, is the height of hypocrisy for the government, which essentially tells illegal workers to "play this little game with us" and then proceeds to prosecute them.
      "They are working hard to take care of their families but with the implicit agreement with federal authorities that they will not be rounded up in the workplace," he said.
      The rally in front of the City-County Building drew between 150 and 200 friends, family members and supporters of the 271 workers, 69 of whom were arrested. The majority in custody are Hispanic.
      Alejandra Alvarez said she believes Hispanic workers were targeted. "We're not terrorists, we're workers," said the restaurant employee, speaking in Spanish.

Protesters rally outside the federal courthouse before being forced to leave because they lacked a permit.

Laura Seitz, Deseret News

      Rally organizer Vicky Newton, whose brother was arrested in the roundup, believes Warner is the "number one terrorist," and went on to say in Spanish that she plans to continue setting up protests and rallies to defend and free the workers.
      Anderson acknowledged that it would be wrong for the workers to allegedly falsify Social Security documents, but said he thinks maintaining a secure airport as well as warning workers in danger are not mutually exclusive.
      Karina Melchor, whose father is one of the 69 arrested, said he will almost certainly be deported. Her father had to plead guilty to the charges, she said, because her family can't pay the fine for the infraction.
      Robert Gallegos of RazPac, a community group that fights for minority rights, holds the employers responsible, saying they knew the workers were illegal and used them for cheap labor. Gallegos said supporters are considering filing a class-action lawsuit against the employers.
      Anderson, who emphasized that "vibrant workers are welcome," said he doesn't believe these workers should be made an example of and wants to make certain the practice doesn't spread. He encouraged donations to his office or Centro Civico Mexicano to be used to support the cause.

[sarcasm]

ping

[20yearvet]

The word is "Illegal" there are legal ways to come to this contry and get work. And maby if there were not so many Illegals it would be easyer for people who are trying to follow the law to get in. I wonder if Rocky is running for office in Mexico? Try going down to Mexico and not following there laws.

[JCG]

Why doesn't this dumbass understand what is meant by "illegal?"  Maybe the following quote from his home page will suffice to tell us.

Progress Through Dialogue,
Strength Through Diversity

Mayor Rocky Anderson home page

Email Rocky Anderson

America's Fifth Column ... watch PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
Download 8 Mb zip file here (50 minute video)

[umgud]

I like their sign..We are honest workers, not terrorists

I agree they are not terrorists, but honest? They use false ID's and lie to gain employment to cover up their illegal entry and excuse this behavior by saying that we forced them to be dishonest by passing laws that are inconvenient to them.

[Brownie74]

U.S. Attorney for Utah Paul Warner says had Anderson given workers notice it would have constituted a criminal act.

Don't you wish every state had a thousand Paul Warner's.

Alejandra Alvarez said she believes Hispanic workers were targeted. "We're not terrorists, we're workers," said the restaurant employee, speaking in Spanish.

Don't speak to me in Spanish. Speak to me in English or go back where you came from!!

[AppyPappy]

We need to splain the word "illegal" to these people.

[dennisw]

Rocky? Who is this meatball?

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Obviously their honesty was an afterthought.

[Illbay]

Ironically, Salt Lake City proper is full of the most liberal leftist politicians in the country.

Funny, no one said these people are "terrorists," only that they are here illegally, and to top it off they are in jobs in a critical security area. Let 'em protest all they want; I doubt seriously that they'll get much sympathy from all but the lefties in SLC.

[Valin]

Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson said at a rally Friday that had he known earlier about a federal roundup of illegal aliens at the Salt Lake City International Airport, he would have warned them to leave their jobs before they were arrested.<p.Last time I checked interfering with a federal investagation was a crime. Boy you Salt Lake folks got yourself a real winner there.

[Squantos]

Ahhhhh a professional liar. Rocky states "had he known he'd have warned em" and in the same speech states "he knew a week ahead of the roundup" and these dumbassed aliens and liars who falsified their employment applications cheer him ........... The Flat Earth Society's membership is indeed growing large in Salt Lake City !!

Stay Safe Sarcasm !

[Squantos]

Bottom line.........

"We are Honest UNEMPLOYED workers LIARS not terrorist's"

Stay Safe HLL !

[lgllady]

Is there a recall petition pending? What is Salt Lake doing? The man is a criminal and supports criminal activity rather than support law abiding citizens. Any of those jobs could have been held by a citizen. Salt Lake City needs to start protecting their own and stop catering to and coddling illegals.

[FITZ]

Alejandra Alvarez said she believes Hispanic workers were targeted. "We're not terrorists, we're workers," said the restaurant employee, speaking in Spanish.

Most of the Mexican illegals aren't terrorists but there were some recently arrested for working to bring Middle Eastern terrorists into the US and obtain fake papers for them. I feel sorry for them to lose their jobs ---that's hard on anyone trying to feed a family but they chose the illegal route over legally coming to the US. Mexico itself doesn't allow illegal immigration to Mexico. It's interesting in that picture they are flying the US flag, where is the Mexican flag you see them flying at their parades and Cinco de Mayo festivals?

[Jay W]

Progress Through Dialogue,
Strength Through Diversity

That does, indeed, tell us all we need to know about this Mayor.

Progress is never achieved through dialogue. Diversity is divisive.

It looks like all is not well in Mormonland.

[eno_]

The really interesting thing is that an elected official is defending illegal immigrants. Hmmmmmmm. Begs a question, I'd say. Sounds like SLC voter registration roles should be a good place to look for deportation candidates. Vote fraud is a felony, I believe.

On another thread I compared the potential cost ($2.5B) of offering a $500 reward for every illegal immigrant turned in to the budget of the INS ($4.2B in 2000). I think we should have a bonus plan, say $2000, for every illegal caught with fraudulent voter registration. Wouldn't it be funny to see Hillary!'s face if that were implemented in New York. Muahahahahahahahahaha!

[Regulator]

The Mexican flag was there:

Salt Lake Tribune article

Nice world the mayor has created for SLC, huh? He's also the guy who sued the state when the voters passed an English Only initiative, along with one of the organizers of the demonstration (a guy named Yapias).

Without a doubt, Anderson is one of the ORGANIZERS of this illegal alien riot.

[Squantos]

Oh yeah, LOL ! The reason he's defending em is clearly votes. I haven't heard about the 500$ reward ?!?!? Heck I'll quit my day job and get rich :o)

Hillary is THE lowest form of trash on this earth IMHO. She should be in prison NOW ! But then that's a given here at FR.........

Stay Safe and have a Great Holiday Eno_ !!

[hattend]

If the people in the crowd are illegal aliens, then the bottom picture shows about 8 of them quite clearly... who should be rounded up and deported.

[madrussian]

"While I am sympathetic to the family members, these are not innocent victims," he said. "It was audacious to protest."

We have all known that the illegals are brazen in their disregard for American laws and "whatcha gonna do, deport us???" attitude? This is just one more example.

[madrussian]

These invaders have a knack for doing this sort of thing way too often.

The funny part is that they probably don't even understand what's wrong with that. And why would they? Has anyone tried to explain it to them?

They see that they can cross the border illegally as they wish, get employment, with authorities not paying attention to their illegal status, and politicians pandering to the illegals? Can you name one reason why they wouldn't want to shove a foreign flag in your face, gringo?

[Rustynailww]

hatten

[strela]

Methinks this "Rocky" took a few too many punches to the head.

[madrussian]

No, he's just a regular politician. If those illegals are good to give amnesty to and, eventually, citizenship, according to Bush, what's Rocky to do? Must follow the party line.

[hattend]

What the hell was that? LOL!!!

An ad for coke? A Turkish record album?

I'm still laughing

[Rustynailww]

i thought you might know, it is almost you screen name.

[AndyJackson]

How can one be an 'honest' worker, yet ...

In my book the way one is an honest worker is that one does a job that is prescribed by one's employer and one gets paid for it. If one becomes a dishonest worker because one is breaking other laws and regulations then we are all dishonest workers because all of us break laws and regulations all of the time - many of which you and I and your employer don't even know are on the books.

If your concerns is that they are in the country illegally then that is a legitimate concern, but a different one.

I presume that the concern is that they might be holding good jobs that legal residents could get - but that is rarely the case. Most of these are jobs that "honest" Americans refuse to do and they don't pay enough that anyone is willing to pay the attornies fees associated with "lawful" immigration to fill the jobs.

Illegal immigration is a can of worms that no one knows how to fix because our economy depends so much upon the workers who are here extralawfully.

[hattend]

Well, my family history (the Von Hatten family. Great grandpa dropped the "Von" when he came to this country...legally) is out of Southern Germany, that page looks and sounds Turkish.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Every time I have seen Hattend's name the Hatt Hatt Baby song has gone through my head. Isn't that just the greatest!!It is sure cure for the blues.

[Balding_Eagle]

economy depends so much upon the workers who are here extralawfully.

More accurately should read:

economy has adjusted to the workers who are here in violation of the law.

Liberals often try to present a false argument, don't assist them.

[HiTech RedNeck]

hatten in english

[Hacksaw]

Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson said at a rally Friday that had he known earlier about a federal roundup of illegal aliens at the Salt Lake City International Airport, he would have warned them to leave their jobs before they were arrested.

Someone mentioned that Anderson is or was an ACLU lawyer. If this is true, it is yet another example of how the ACLU mindset is a cancer on our country.

[Bernard]

Will the State Department be posting a warning or advisory about traveling through the Salt Lake City airport soon? I must have missed the first one.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Very nice. These people lied and cheated to get their jobs and Rocky is putting them up on a pedestal and telling the community that there is nothing wrong with obtaining a security job fraudulently. Way to go, Rocky!

[batter]

Thanks for the post!
This guy is a real nut-job. I also found another thread worth taking a look at:

Salt Lake Mayor irate over busts of illegal alien airport workers (My title)

Here is more contact information (from the above thread):

Mayor's Office
(801)535-7704
mayor@ci.slc.ut.us

US Attorney's Office
1855 S. State St., Suite 400
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801)524-5682
FAX (RE: Criminal Complaints and Attorney):
(801)524-6924

Freep 'Rocky' and I think it wouldn't hurt to send support to the US Attorney.
BTW, has anyone pinged some of the Utah freepers? If not, we probably should get them in on this one!

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

On October 25th, Rocky Anderson demanded that airport security be approached "proactively." Read about it here: Anderson’s Call for Tighter Airport Security Garners Unanimous Support from US Conference of Mayors

Now that the "proactive" approach has been taken, Rocky is whining about it. What do you want to happen, Rocky? You can't have it both ways!

[batter]

ping!

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

I really love the people who whine about how they can't get ahead because of racism while they partake in all kinds of freebies and special job considerations at taxpayer expense.

[batter]

ping!