God Bless America!

Subject: Minutemen Go Inside Latino Immigration Meeting-Racism Espoused,
Calls for Violence
Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2007 14:21:47 EST

Title: Minutemen Go Inside Latino Immigration Meeting-Racism  Espoused,
Calls for Violence Against "Whites"
Source: The Minuteman  Project

Published: Feb 13, 2007

  (http://www.libertypost.org/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=177128)
(http://www.libertypost.org/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=177128)

There  are many radical Latino groups calling for the violent overthrow of
their  "white" oppressors and the return of the American west to the
mythical
Aztlan  from which they believe their land was stolen. Many Americans do not
believe  these fringe groups have any power and influence, so they dismiss
them
as  harmless. Yet these groups continually draw U.S. Congressmen and staff
members  to their meetings. Corporate benefactors and foundations contribute
funds
and  other means of support that enable these groups to thrive and
proliferate.  Recently, two representatives from Jim Gilchrist's Minuteman
Project
attended a  meeting of the National Alliance for Human Rights, whose
coordinator is
Armando  Navarro, a professor at the University of California, Riverside.
Minuteman  Project National Spokesman Raymond Herrera and National Rally
Coordinator Robin  Hvidston, two of Gilchrist's most street-savvy rally
organizers,
were alarmed by  the racist rhetoric that permeated the meeting, punctuated
by
calls for violence  against "white" people.

Two members of the Minuteman Project attended an  "Emergency immigration
meeting" in San Bernardino coordinated by Armando Navarro  of the National
Alliance for Human Rights.

The reason for calling this  meeting, according to NAHR, is that "Mexicano
and Latino efforts to push for a  comprehensive humane immigration reform at
this time lack the requisite  mobilization power to influence the now
Democratic
controlled  Congress."

The announcement for the meeting said, "Time is ticking and so  if we are to
be successful in pressuring the Democrats and Bush Administration  to act on
immigration reform, as a community must act now.

We need to  ignite the fires of activism that produced last year's
historically  unprecedented marches and mobilizations of millions of
Mexicanos and
Latinos."

The meeting was held in a library meeting room and during  introductions
Minuteman Project National Spokesman Raymond Herrera and National  Rally
Coordinator Robin Hvidston said they were with the Minuteman Project. 
Navarro said
even though he was barred from Minutemen meetings Herrera and  Hvidston
would be
allowed to stay.

"He then made a comment about the  Minutemen being racists," Hvidston said.
"I replied the Minutemen are  multi-ethnic. He said if the Minutemen
interrupted the meeting, he would have us  removed. I said I was merely
correcting his
inaccurate statement."

After  referring to the Minutemen as racists, Navarro gave opening remarks.
He talked  about the recent ICE raids. Then the floor was open for comments.
"I
was  astounded by the nonstop hate talk about 'white' people," Hvidston 
said.

"There was talk of how poorly Latino children are doing in school.  White
people were blamed. Talk about raids at work sites by ICE. White people 
were
blamed. Talk about not enough Hispanic school teachers. White people were
blamed. Talk about imprisonment of Latinos. White people were blamed,"
Hvidston
recounted.

"People stood up and gave testimonials about white people  being the cause
of
poor education, prison sentences, police brutality They used  slang such as
'gavachos' to refer to white people."

One man named Victor  said he had just gotten back from Washington, DC. He
said the Mexican congress  members, who were recently in Washington, were
not
treated right. He said the  Hispanic Caucus needs to do more for Latinos.
Most
of all, he said Latinos are  disturbed that the new Democratic congress is
focusing on Iraq rather than  immigration reform and this had better change.

Navarro is planning a  march for March 17th in San Bernardino. He said they
will be calling on cities  such as L.A. to join them. He said if  civil
disobedience is needed to stop any future ICE raids, so be it. One man 
stated that
if guns and violence are needed, they should use violence to  overwhelm the
white people. He encouraged the community to take what they want  by
overwhelming
and overpowering force.
Robin Hvidston believes the  group is nervous because they still do not have
amnesty, even with a Democratic  majority in Congress. Raymond Herrera
stated
at the meeting that Navarro's  leadership is much needed in Mexico, to fix
Mexico. Raymond believes that there  is a Mexican Revolution taking place,
but
that it should move down to Mexico  where it can do the most good.

Also in attendance at this February 13  meeting in San Bernardino were three
staff members from Congressman Joe Baca's  office. Baca represents
California's 43rd District and he is a member of the  Congressional Hispanic
Caucus.
According to Hvidston, most of the attendees do  not believe Baca is doing
enough
to help the Latino community. "They stated  repeatedly, that in the 'Inland
Empire' there are too many Republican congress  members."