Minuteman founder leaving border early but volunteers to remain [Minuteman Project declares victory]

Associated Press ^ | 18 Apr 2005 | Arthur Rotstein

[Spiff]

Minuteman founder leaving border early but volunteers to remain

By Arthur H. Rotstein

ASSOCIATED PRESS

1:32 p.m. April 18, 2005

TUCSON, Ariz. – The chief organizer of civilian volunteers who are spending the month watching for illegal immigrants and smugglers along the Mexican border is pulling out of the Minuteman Project early, a project official said Monday.

Jim Gilchrist, a retired accountant from California, will leave Arizona on Wednesday and plans to appear before the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus next week in Washington. He will be taking the official Minuteman Project name and a group of volunteers.

"He is claiming victory ... so he felt it would be appropriate to wrap up his participation this week and prepare to go to Washington," said Chris Simcox, the project's field operations director.

Simcox, who also plans to be in Washington next week, said Gilchrist isn't severing his ties to the project or with other organizers.

Despite Gilchrist's departure and Simcox's temporary absence, Simcox said patrols will continue as planned until April 30, albeit under the name of Simcox's organization – Civil Homeland Defense.

The volunteers, some of whom are armed, arrived on April 1 and began spreading out a few days later along a 23-mile stretch of desert between the border communities of Naco and Douglas. They alert authorities when they see someone cross the border illegally, but are not allowed to detain anyone.

Law enforcement officials have said they fear the project will lead to vigilante violence, an accidental confrontation between armed volunteers and authorities, or a dangerous encounter with the violent smugglers who use the area.

The volunteers claim their reports have led the Border Patrol to more than 260 illegal immigrants. The Border Patrol has acknowledged receiving more than 300calls from Naco and Douglas, resulting in hundreds of apprehensions, but the agency will not say whether any calls came from project volunteers.

[janetgreen]

We don't need to change the constitution. Well, you know, We just have to stop a Fox.

And the BUSH the Fox is hiding behind...

[HiJinx]

There are many business and civic leaders who would dis-agree with you

I'm sorry...disagree with me regarding what? This comment, perhaps?

But it would only last as long as it took for enterprising businessmen to convince their clientele that it really is okay to come back and shop.

That's the only comment I see in post 108 that you could be referring to, and I don't see how you arrive at your position.

If I didn't know better, I'd say you were trying to play Devil's Advocate and trying to get me upset. Sorry, I'm not upset. Just dumbfounded that you believe as you do.

[Serenissima Venezia]

Lou Dobbs did a great story on this tonight. Jim is leaving to pursue employers who hire illegal aliens and to get the rest of the border states organized with volunteers to protect both the northern and souther borders. This movement is catching on like wildfire.

Darn, I missed the Dobbs piece. But that is great news - Jim is certainly doing everything our paid politicians should have been doing. What a hero!!!

[Serenissima Venezia]

DP

DP

DP DP DP

DP Dp dP

[Serenissima Venezia]

Ladies in California are getting mean while they witness their once-beautiful state turning into Mexico...

Here here!

[Travis McGee]

"Oprima el numero dos para Ingles."

[Red Sea Swimmer]

Well Done to the Minutemen !

Individuals can change the world for the better. Never giving up on this belief is the key to sanity and health.

[HiJinx]

But I'm having such fun!!!!

Okay, gotta run, visiting hours are over soon.

[occutegirl]

You and me, MMP San Diego.

I'll drive!

[calawah98]

How much would the thermal/night vision and a parabolic microphone cost?

I think there would be enough of us that cannot join you that could come up with the money to buy one to be used by your unit.

[Liberator]

"The MMP, in their effort to close the border, have intimidated the mexican buyers and they are not coming to spend money."

Hey Benji-Boy -- Forgive the rest of us if we don't exactly share your box of kleenex and mug of herbal tea.

And let me clarify something for you:

The MM have "intimidated" a criminal enterprise -- unauthorized Mexican invaders -- from violating America's sovereignty.

HEAR HEAR!

[janetgreen]

You and me, MMP San Diego.

Count on it!

[shellshocked]

"The chief organizer of civilian volunteers who are spending the month watching for illegal immigrants and smugglers along the Mexican border is pulling out of the Minuteman Project early, a project official said Monday."


A lie. The man was on Fox tonight and said he was NOT leaving early.

[FBD]

"Picture here (Israeli girls buying Ice Cream) would really freak those gun fearing presstitutes to death. Wish I knew how to post pics. (sigh)"

~Nam Vet -You mean this one? Look for a freep mail Nam Vet, I'll give you easy instructions on posting pics, OK?

[Serenissima Venezia]

Me too! And we'll sing the 'Revolution' song all the way...

[Serenissima Venezia]

I SAY---no one should be able to vote if the don't speak English/read English and have a picture ID!!

When my mom came over here from Italy after WWII, she HAD to learn English to take her citizenship test. And she insisted that her 3 daughters learn English in the home BEFORE Italian. The end result? One's a nurse, one's a neurologist, and one's a metallurgical engineer. Better than picking crops, that's for sure!

[occutegirl]

The Vigil Aunties and the Vigil Grannies are going on a Fox Hunt.

[Serenissima Venezia]

The Vigil Aunties and the Vigil Grannies are going on a Fox Hunt.

LOL! I love it! Vigil Antie....hmm...wondering how to fit that into a tagline, if you don't mind if I plageurize (never could spell that word - does FR have a spell checker?) it?

[Petronski]

That's a beautiful screenname. "Most peaceful Venice?"