Hatewatch Tweets
Hatewatch is managed by the staff of the Intelligence Report, an investigative magazine published by the Alabama-based civil rights group Southern Poverty Law Center.
Border Watch Group to Form ‘Private Military Company’
Bill Davis, the founder of an Arizona border vigilante group called the Cochise County Militia [motto: “Doing the job our Government refuses to do!”] has taken pride in recent years over what he says is the group’s responsible and safe surveillance of Mexicans coming illegally into the United States. “To this day, it is the most effective, safest and active of the border watch groups,” the group’s website claimed last year. “We have a perfect safety record since 2001 with nobody hurt while attending a Border Event!”
Now Davis is aiming to take a harder line at the border. On Monday, he told supporters via email that his Tombstone-based militia will be forming a PMC — a private military company, which is “completely legal!!!”
Davis said he prefers combat veterans for his venture but will consider others. There is no pay. “We can be considered paramilitary, but not vigilantes, mercenaries, etc.,” Davis wrote in the email. That’s in sharp contrast to his website’s discussion of weapons, which says that “we don’t want to appear as a para-military group in any way.”
Davis didn’t respond to a phone message or email from Hatewatch as to why he changed his mind about becoming a paramilitary group and whether doing so could increase the chances of somebody being shot. But he told Tim Steller of the Arizona Daily Star that the philosophical shift was due to frustration at calling the Border Patrol when smugglers or others were spotted, only to see them get away. His paramilitary unit will stop border crossers as needed, he said.
Aggressive tactics such as those have backfired on others. The Southern Poverty Law Center sued a border vigilante group called Ranch Rescue in 2003 after some members detained two immigrants they caught trying to enter Texas illegally, allegedly striking one of the immigrants in the back of his head with a handgun. Both were released after an hour or so. One of the Ranch Rescue members had to forfeit to the immigrants a 70-acre paramilitary training compound, complete with obstacle courses and a firing range, in order to settle a judgment against him. He also was charged with being a felon in possession of a gun and sentenced to five years in prison. The owner of the ranch on whose property the immigrants had trespassed also was a defendant in the civil suit and settled for $100,000.
Davis told the Daily Star that his group will operate legally either on private property or public lands. He didn’t say how many people have signed up for the troop, but added, “They all have confirmed kills, from Vietnam or later on.”
on April 23rd, 2010 at 1:05 pm
Perhaps the best solution to Arizona’s immigration concerns would be to simply cede the territory back to Mexico. After all we have grown used to recession over the past couple of years.
on April 23rd, 2010 at 1:58 pm
This is interesting! Again, I kept urging people to keep an eye on Arizona. Last week, Gov. Jan Brewer signed into law that allow concealed weapons w/out a permit, this also allows weapons in public. This law is scheduled to take effect in about 90 days. This will, in fact, be the 3rd state to have such laws. This will cause a loss of ‘tax revenues.’
Based on what’s happening in Arizona, I will never, ever, visit this state. IMO, it is hostile to minorities, and other governmental agencies. More so, that I have seen the article, “Nativist Go Nuts at a Phoenix Walmart, and the Arizona Republic Belittles the U.S. Attorneys Investigation of Sheriff Joe Arpaio.”
Now what’s also a mystery, the governor said “our state is being overrun….” and is demanding that Obama send 150+ National Guard troops for the border at Washington’s expense. So the mystery is, will she not sign the immigration bill in order to let it automatically go into effect? Did she sign this new weapons w/out permit law to ensure safe passage with the focus being highlighted on immigration bill? – meaning, everyone’s focus is on the other bills – the birth certificate and immigration.
Either way, I’m with Frommer, the famous travel advisor, it’s not safe to visit – I personally view Arizona as the ‘Wild Wild West.’
on April 23rd, 2010 at 4:57 pm
So Bill Davis and his crackpot paramilitary militia to stop Mexicans from crossing the border is supposedly peaceful but is signing up people who “all have confirmed kills, from Vietnam or later on.”
If this group is “peaceful” why does it want members who “all have confirmed kills…”? It’s pretty obvious that irrational hatred spurs this group and that its motivations and intentions are utterly violent. Time to stop these radical nuts. Isn’t what they’re doing illegal?
on April 23rd, 2010 at 5:06 pm
Well, they won’t have to worry about law enforcement “not doing their job” anymore…those idiots in Arizona passed that anti-immigration bill!
Seriously, can someone tell me what in the HELL is passing a law that quite frankly cannot be enforced gonna do? All this, just to score points with the damn Tea-hadists!
on April 23rd, 2010 at 8:56 pm
Some really weird things have been happening in Arizona lately; like http://www.politico.com/news/s.....36281.html, for example. What’s in the water down there?
on April 24th, 2010 at 11:39 am
As a matter of record, the idea of private military companies is illegal; take, as example, Minnesota Statutes 624.61 (Armed Associations):
(The provision protecting social and benevolent groups vis-a-vis swords is out of consideration for Knights of Columbus and Knights Templar regalia.)
on April 25th, 2010 at 3:25 am
This is the same Bill Davis who in February 2009 claimed that his Cochise County Militia was “looking for Asians carrying weapons of mass destruction,” according to the Douglas Dispatch in Arizona.
This is the same Bill Davis who told the Sierra Vista Herald Review that his Cochise County Militia had the objective to intercept “illegal immigrants” who are “the military” or are “police dressed as military” who are “escorting the gun smugglers over.”
He should leave law enforcement to those legally responsible for and trained to conduct such operations.
on April 25th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
IludiumPhosdex, perhaps you are not aware that Minnesota state laws do not apply to Arizona. If you want to convince anyone that Bill Davis’ plan is illegal (not just foolish) you have to cite an Arizona statute.
on April 25th, 2010 at 9:15 pm
Here’s an equally interesting article from the Phoenix New Times, “Russell Pearce’s State-Funded Vigilante Force, and the Democrats Who Rolled Over For It.” The article goes on to say, “State Senator Russell Pearce and State Senator Al Melvin have added an amendment to a bill that creates an anti-immigrant vigilante force on the Arizona-Mexico border, and grants it $200k with which to do business…..In essence, with recent collapse of the minuteman groups MCDC, Pearce is creating a minuteman force in Cochise County, this time back by state funds…..”
on April 26th, 2010 at 8:06 am
I think the most effective solution is a boycott against Arizona. Stop tourism, don’t shop with merchants or online with an Arizona company, etc. Tell the state government you are part of a protest boycott of their state.
on April 26th, 2010 at 8:47 am
I totally agree with Laurie.
on April 26th, 2010 at 9:05 am
A lot of people in Arizona are really worried at the moment. Mainly in very left bastions like Tucson and certain areas of Phoenix. We are surrounded by racists and anti-government radicals (and religious zealots). Jan Brewer, Russell Pearce, Al Melvin and all other Republicans at the state level are radicalized and dangerous at this point.
It is not a pleasant situation in this state at the moment and becoming more dangerous to be outside the radical camp daily.
I strongly urge people to stay away from this state. Honestly, we may soon be to a point that we need Federal intervention to keep some semblance of the US Constitution in force here.
on April 26th, 2010 at 9:53 am
100% agree with skinnyminny and Laurie! Glad to see there are still folks, who consider these steps illegal and ridiculous.
on April 26th, 2010 at 11:28 am
” What’s in the water down there?”
As a native Arizonan, and from an authority on the subject with whom I’m acquainted, there may be trace amounts of benzine in the water. Arizona tap water sucks.
on April 26th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
If exposure to benzene produces the desire to form nativist paramilitary groups, the Rust Belt would be heavily militarized.
What is a private military company without the sanction (and funding) of a state agency? It seems as though it would be only a bunch of armed thugs to me.
on April 26th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Buck, oh yeah! Glad you’ve mentioned the ‘religious fanatics.’ Steven Anderson, the man that allegedly said “Obama should die and his children continually be vagabonds and beg. And calls for shooting of GLBT community.” Yet, it’s even more scary that there are rumors some of his followers knock on residents doors with guns on their hip to recruit more/new followers.
Then there’s my favorite (meaning he’s interesting) Roy Warden, from the Patriots Border Alliance and/or Nativists. I’ve read that Mr. Warden is alleged to ‘threaten to blow people’s head off at times.” And he allegedly to a newspaper writer, “Put this dow, if I had John McCain here, and I thought I’d get away with it, I’d hold him down and saw his head off right now for the camera. Because people like him sold this country out for money.”
Then there’s allegations that NSM member, JT Ready was a candidate for Mesa City Council.
There’s allegations of something about the “Millionaire Web Club,’ in Arizona.
No, actually, I think I’ve heard enough of the rumors/truth!
on April 26th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
BTW, there’s an article in Phoenix New Times entitled, “Steven Ander’s Yuma City Warrant for ‘Disorderly Conduct, and RP4409′s Moronic Use of the Word Nazi (w/update)” – this also have has videotapes/youtube of this group allegedly asking the U.S. Border Patrol agents if they are U.S. Citizens in public places – I let you be the judge on this one!!!!!
on April 26th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Robert Jensen anti-racist activist discussed this topic, he says stuff like this will happen because white people fear lsoing control and majority power in the USA.
http://abagond.wordpress.com/2.....ople-fear/
on April 26th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
Now there’s articles on the internet “Mexico warns it will retaliate for Arizona immigration law.” Wow! Did any of the sponsors of this bill take into consideration that there are Americans living in Mexico? Did any of the sponsors of this bill take into consideration this is/can be an issue for the International courts of Human Rights? Just sayin’!
on April 26th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Ever notice that most of the folks complaining about this law are white? Ever notice that most of the folks compalining about this law don’t even live in AZ? 70% of Arizonians support the law. It is an Illegal Immigrant measure. Not a Latino or Hispanic or any other race measure. All you whiote folks who are so passionate about showing minorities how much you really care and empathize, shut the hell up already! You and your weenie race-card opinions are worthless in the real world. But then again that’s what weenies do. They try to make everything about race. Go ahead and boycott AZ. We don’t need you here anyway. When was the last time you came here? Ever stop to think that your boycott will undoubtedly hurt the lowest wage earners who work in the service industry, idiots? By the way, Mexico has very strict illegal immigration laws themmselves, if you care to check it out. Tell, me intelligent sir, exactly what human rights have been violated? I would like specifics if you please will…just sayin’!
on April 26th, 2010 at 9:11 pm
Sorry about all the typos. I get a little in a hurry and hit keys too quickly and my fingers are too fat!
on April 27th, 2010 at 10:12 am
Who’s next Afro-American, People of Jewish faith?
Wife and I have already canceled plans for a late vacation this fall. There other states that would be glad to have our revenue dollars….
on April 27th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
I think it would be interesting to see if hotels and resorts in Arizona are reporting an upward trend in cancellations. Corporatism always wins with these types; if their pockets are hit, they might get the message.
on April 27th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
Daemonesslisa,
I think part of the problem is politics, in addition to being discriminatory. Here’s why I think politics is involved – the GOP always try to ‘block’ legislation as a way to ‘waterloo’ or called the Obama Administration a failure. If there is a Immigration Reform Bill presented, guess what, I think they will not vote for it.
Then you have the TEA PARTY groups yelling ‘less government.’ So, as government is laying off workers – like teachers, librarians….my question is, who will buy a home at this time? Meanwhile, the same radio/television personalities leading or talking points about less government are still banking million+ salaries, example, Glen Beck made something in the area of $32 million! LOL!
I’m thinking Arizona thinks that with the Grand Canyon being a popular tourist attraction – they will still come out ahead in the end – however, this is making national news!
I won’t personally go to Arizona, because for one, I might get detained. I’m not a Latino. However, in 1999 I went to San Diego with a few people. On the way back, I crossed the Border Patrol check point near Temecula – BP stopped me, asked for my I.D. but none of the passengers, and they didn’t stop every car going through.
I don’t know all the circumstances, but, I’ve heard that Pearce’s son was killed and/or died in 2004 – I believe it may be behind an immigrant.
But again, as always, they are protesting the wrong person – government! To give an example, please see “The Raw Story/Human Trafficking of Indian Gues Workers Alleged in Mississippi Shipyard, ‘contractor..” http://www.rawsotry.com/news/2....._0412.html This story talks about how there are recruiters to bring immigrants here to the U.S., some are living in company sponsored housing. Hint: vans with immigrants crashes while speeding/or van with immigrants crosses statelines……
“Indian Guest-Worker Slits Wrists After Being Fired for Complaining About Squalid Work conditions” http://www.democracynow.org/20.....fter_being
So again, they can protests government, but it’s not the government, it is the big corporations.
on April 28th, 2010 at 12:38 am
As a person that was born and raised in a small town in Arizona, I am so upset with what our leaders are doing. There are good people and bad people in every race and religion across this world. These decisions on Illegals should be made on an individual basis and not on a general misconception and prejudice by the “higher” ups. I do belive that we need strict guidlines in regards to imigration and they should be centered on keeping the drug dealers and criminals out and letting people who are looking for a better LEGAL life in. My biggest issue with this law is that the folks who are here legally are going to end up being harassed and put through extra troubles. It seems to me that the E-verify law went a long ways in this direction. My daughter and son look hispanic, but are 1/2 Navajo. Will they be harassed even though they are not even hispanic? Probably. Considering that a lot of these Mexicans are good, responsible, hard working people, I feel discraced that the Arizona government would pass such a law. You give a snake an inch, and he will take a mile. Whats next????
on April 28th, 2010 at 8:18 am
The ONLY way illegals get into this country through Arizona or any other place along our border with Mexico is with the aid of coyote’s who work for the Mexican drug cartels. That means that either the illegal has paid $2,500 per person to ensure that they have gunmen in Mexico who will show them the way into the U.S. and make sure they get in or they carry drugs in and deliver them for the cartel.
The “Americans” who live along the border are suffering from daily theft’s, home invasions, and countless other crimes by illegals. Isn’t our governments job to protect us from this? At least that’s what is stated in the Preamble to the Constitution or has anyone actually read it-
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,[1] promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
Why is it that Obama and his administration would rather protect people who are coming in illegally, and furthermore, protecting the coyote’s and drug cartels rather than our own U.S. citizens? I’m not against ANYONE coming to this country to have a better life, that’s a beautiful thing! However shouldn’t it be done legally?
Instead we have groups like La Raza who “demand” rights for people who are here illegally. Now, if we as Americans are what we say we according to our constitution we should have a fair amount of compassion for the plight of the illegal. We can’t deny people their basic rights to life (food, health, education, etc.) even if they are here illegally, but we must draw the line and end the daily assault on our border. We have to say enough and strenghten our border to ensure the safety of those who live close to it.
We have to do this and at the same time reiterate to the Mexican people that the best way to make there country better is to emulate ours.
on April 28th, 2010 at 9:20 am
@JAMES SCAMINACI III said,
on April 25th, 2010 at 3:25 am
Not a gainsay, great post. I wanted to point out that the Justice Department has already identified normal ports of entry as the gateway for drugs.
You can thank NAFTA for that (and inadequate ICE customs enforcement at the borders considering how bloated the budget is for those thugs — maybe if they stopped harassing undocumented leaf blower operators they might get something accomplished).
It’s a particularly common cliche from the nativist playbook, but it also goes widely unchallenged so I thought I’d call it out.
on April 28th, 2010 at 9:25 am
Laurie said on April 26th, 2010 at 8:06 am
I think the most effective solution is a boycott against Arizona.
———–
All for it but even more effective would be to cut off the head of this serpent by strangling off federal funds, or maybe shutting off the water from Colorado.
Arizona’s pathetic economy is sustained primarily by three US military bases. Stop the flow of federal money and the state will revert to hardscrabble.
The federal government used highway funds to force states to raise the legal drinking age to 21. So why not?
on April 28th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Is it legal for these militias or paramilitary groups to “patrol” public land? Seems kind of stupid to have cops harassing brown people instead of regular law enforcement, and then put these gun nuts who have no authority in “charge”. This is simply UN-AMERICAN; by singling out a group for racial profiling, it’s excluding them. What do you do when your group is on the list?
on April 28th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
This immigration problem didn’t start in the last two years. Remember, when word got out that GW was going to pass an Amnesty Bill – immigrants came from everywhere!
I’ve read in the Phoenix New Times blogs about the screening of a documentary on Border Crossing – some of the commenters said something else no one knew about – they reported the Indian Reservation is under “martial law,” and “total lockdown.” Can anyone else confirm this? Is it true?
As for the paramilitary groups receiving state funds – why not hire more law enforcement officers? From what I’ve seen in the past some of the anti-immigrant groups have used racial slurs while yelling at the immigrants/citizens at protests? Who will be held legally liable? Is this another form of ‘outsourcing?’
on April 28th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
Okay I have looked up the information for clarification, Russell Pearce’s son Sean, a sheriff’s deputy was shot and wounded while serving a homicide warrant on an ‘illegal’ immigrant in Dec. 2004.
on April 29th, 2010 at 11:01 am
WOW hard to imagine how the people of AZ can support hundreds of thousands or millions of illegal Mexicans in their state in these tough financial times.
I have to admire their willingness to take a stand and do what is right in their mind. I can’t say it is a hate thing when you only want to follow legal laws of the land!
on April 29th, 2010 at 11:06 am
What are you butting into this STATE’s BUSINESS for?
I agree 100% with Roberto
Roberto said,
on April 26th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Ever notice that most of the folks complaining about this law are white? Ever notice that most of the folks complaining about this law don’t even live in AZ? 70% of Arizonians support the law.
I don’t live in AZ, but I support their right to protect their state. STATES RIGHTS should triumph over THE USA Federal Government which before Lincoln was THESE USA!
on April 29th, 2010 at 11:13 am
I think that a people have the right to defend their home, neighborhood, city, state and country from illegal actions.
That includes illegal acts of law enforcement and illegal border crossings as well!
This works both ways.
on April 29th, 2010 at 11:29 am
Forgive me for asking but, do we or do we not make a distinction between illegal immigration and legal immigration? The USA has the most liberal immigration policy in the world, and when it comes to illegal immigration our people (and government) show extraordinary amounts of tolerance (look to most European countries to see examples of super strict laws and wide spread riots of intolerance). Most nations (excluding the US) have real laws that restrict entry, have real borders that are patrolled by real military and on the rare occasion that someone does try to cross illegally, they are turned around at the point of a bayonet. And we are the bad guys??
Having many friends who have come to this country legally, I know very well how archaic, time consuming, encumbersome and just plain arbitrary our system is. The process of legal, permenent entry into this country has to be made more modern and efficient and less costly (to the immigrant), that’s a no brainer. But ignoring, or even worse allowing/encouraging illegal entry is as stupid and short sighted as private military groups patrolling the borders.
on April 29th, 2010 at 11:43 am
The time has come for the Federal Government to take strong action and settle this immigration situation immediately. Admittedly the issue is complex and involves many aspects.
One thing that cannot be tolerated are these pseudo-patriot “militias”…which are nothing more than Ku Klux without
the white sheets and pointy heads….these groups should be suppressed immediately as insurrectionists and insurgents.
This claim of so-called “states rights” as a rationale for instituting racist laws and regulations such as the most recent Arizona act and similar measures in Georgia is absolutely untenable and Federal Pre-emption should be used wherever possible to render these acts ineffective. Make no mistake…these peoples’ hero George Bush never hesitated to use pre-emption to aid and abet crooked banks and mortage brokers back in 2003 and 2004…so there is plenty of precedent for such measures.
“States Rights” has always been used as a rallying cry for racists and elitist oppressors of the poor whenever the Federal Government instituted measures to ensure the rights of minorities and oppressed peoples. We recall the “States RTights” rallying cry from the 1940′s through the 60′s to justify
segregation. We recall “States Rights” as rationale for
“Separate but Equal”…and “Jim Crow Laws”….and of course
the so-called Confederate States whose entire system was based on “States Rights” to protect the rights of white people to own black slaves. (If you neo-Confederates doubt this last assertion, please read Article Four of your Permanent Constitution of the CSA.).
Any assertion of STates Rights is a completely uninformed
interpretation of the 10th Amendment.
The time is at hand for strong and decisive Federal action.
Bill Kinsland
on April 29th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
I’ll go with what Steven Colbert said, with the Arizona produce industry employing so many Latinos this bill or law will result in less workers for Arizona agricultural businesses and they stand to lose $29 billion. This will get someone’s attention.
on April 29th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
Roberto, you are right that Mexico has very strict immigration laws, if not rather cruel, but I’m not sure why that should really matter. It’s sort of like smacking your neighbor and then saying it shouldn’t matter because the neighbors brother tried to drown him. The neighbor still got hit.
It will be interesting when people who never thought of themselves as non-white start getting stopped. I say this because my daughter, who is not Latin was marched off to Mexican tap dancing classes for 2 months by a well meaning ESL teacher and on one occasion had two women come up to her at the laundromat when our washer went out and proceed to ask in slow loud voices “do you fold the laundry too” and apologized for not speaking any “est -pan-ial.” My daughter has black hair light olive skin and light hazel eyes – we thought she looked black Irish.
Racial profiling or stereo typing is a pretty natural thing, we all do it to some extent – it just seems this law is making it mandatory. I feel bad for the police who have to figure out what the hell they are supposed to do with it and not get themselves in trouble one way or another.
And not everyone carries ID at all times. Kids often look older than they are and will not have ID. The law is going to be really hard to enforce and will eventually piss someone off – maybe even someone who was for it.
Once we start eyeballing people for skin color, accent or whatever, at what point is white – white enough, American – American enough?
The boarders are a mess, and I guess if 70% of Arizona wanted this law, they get it – warts and all. I do know I have a right to fight tooth and nail not to let such a law pass here in Oregon.
on April 29th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
I was Born In Tucson Az, 53 years ago.I was very ashamed to call myself a native Arizonaian when Gov. Brewer signed this law. I just read the text of Sb1070 which should be called the “Crazy Joe Araphio law” Since he’s chompin at the bit to excercise his new authority. I was pleased to find out the Pima County Sherriffs Dept and the Tucson Police Dept as well as the Phoenix police departments are not keen on this new bill. Perhaps there may be hope for Arizona and may one day rejoin the United States Of America, a anation of rights and laws
on April 29th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
I think it’s hilarious. Right wing Americans complain that illegals are taking American jobs. Progressives claim that these are jobs that Americans don’t want. At least not at the wages the illegals are willing to take. Minimum wage I’m guessing. Which in Mexico is probably a good wage. Beats $2.20 in the sweat shops and American owned factories along the border if the work is available.
If the wages on the Mexican side of the border were as good as the wages on the US side maybe the problem wouldn’t be so bad. So who’s to blame the illegals or the other guy.
And just who is the other guy? Could it be the same guy who claims his taxes are too high. Or the same guy that claims government is too big and there are too many regulations. Is it the same guy that thinks the US is becoming a socialist state comrades. Same guy that thinks only the wealthy should have healthcare and that it’s alright for huge insurance companies and medical businesses to make huge profits off someone’s misery. Say like cancer, heart disease, alzhiemer’s disease and many more.
I think it is that guy. Those rich ultra conservative right wing business men love illegal immigrants. Without them they wouldn’t be rich.
on April 29th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
Roberto,
Your comment was “Ever notice that most of the folks complaining about this law are white? Ever notice that most of the folks complaining about this law don’t even live in AZ?”
I am white, and yes, I don’t currently live in Arizona (but did in the past). My family arrived in this country before 1776. However, your line of thinking assumes my entire family is white.
I have immediate family in Arizona who can trace their ancestry to Mexico, have Spanish surnames, dark eyes and dark hair. After 300 years in this country, you want me to accept that some of my family will be stopped and asked for their papers based on what would undoubtedly be their appearance alone? You will see my white and brown family lawyer up.
There are other ways to address immigration reform and actually get at the root cause. This is election year grandstanding at the expense of civil rights.
on April 29th, 2010 at 11:43 pm
Why doesn’t someone ask for an injunction from a Federal Court to stop the enforcement of this law until the constitutionality of the law is decided? As for the Neo-Nazi paramilitary nuts, have them arrested by Federal Marshals with warrants and enough armament to convince these cowards to crawl on the ground, ask for mercy. Treat them like the poisonous snakes that they are!!!!!!!!
on April 29th, 2010 at 11:57 pm
Wow Buck. That’s a very powerful statement. Thank you for being corageous and writing about what’s happening to residents like you who are currently living in Arizona. I am very sad to hear that those people are becoming radicalized, and I believe you. I oppose this bill like many good Americans do. I believe with the mounting pressure coming from external forces against Arizona’s politicians, we will see this radicalism, extremest domestic terrorist like vibe coming out of Arizona quelched.
Arizona was the last in these United States to pass Civil Rights laws, and do away with government sanctioned segragation (yep, it’s true). It appears that the whole state from its judiciary, legislative, local etc. is filled with hate and bigotry, and those racists carry the hateful legacy of their ancestors not too many decades ago. Arizona’s largest recipient of its exports is Mexico, and Wal-Mart is Arizona’s largest employer. It doesn’t have much going for it, add the economic boycotts that are following, and Arizona will feel the heat. Add the lawsuits that are coming, and this state is going to put itself in a handbasket to hell having to scrap the minimal resources it has to defend itself.
This law will be defeated because big brother just woke up, and the people of Arizona who supported this bill will be put to damn shame. And that’s coming from an American of Mexican descent.
on April 30th, 2010 at 12:45 am
This law could be used to harass (and deport) Native
Americans, many of whom are indistinguishable from
Hispanics. When that happens, I think the law will be
changed or repealed in a hurry.
on April 30th, 2010 at 10:26 am
Bill Davis has taken a copyrighted photo of me, a former Special Forces Soldier, and pasted it on his absurd and dangerous website without permission. All efforts to remove the photo clearly indicating Green Beret is part of his BS outfit have failed. He will not return calls, remove photo, and he has destroyed my professional reputation. Bill Davis is a criminal. I am the man on his website and I do not advocate Davis, his stupid Militia, or violence against any on US Soil! I don’t live in AZ, don’t know anyone in AZ, and have not been to AZ.
on April 30th, 2010 at 10:54 am
I live in Arizona, am WHITE, and am against Arizona’s new “immigration” law. As for this “militia,” that is just TYPICAL of what “organizers with their own agendas” can do in sparsely populated areas like Cochise County. THis group needs to be investigated carefully, taking names and addresses and doing background checks, and then done away with – just another embarrassment for Arizona, caused by racists and ultra-conservatives with too much time on their hands and wacked-out ideas.
on May 4th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
i can’t believe what is happening in arizona!i am a veteran of hispanic decent and am outraged by this law!…this is nothing less then government sanctioned ETHNIC CLEANSING!.. legal immigrants and u.s born citizens of hispanic decent harassed to the point of leaving this racist state!…which i believe is there ultimate goal.i thought we were fighting these far right extremists in iraq and afghanistan?….but they are alive and doing very well here.the extremists in the middle east hate you for your religion the white right in this country have the worst kind of hate that a human being can harbor in his heart….hatred cuz your skin is not the same color as theres.i believe that these people are far more dangerous to me and my family and my people then any muslim i have met.
on May 4th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Obviously something has to be done about our country’s illegal immigration problem. Arguing that anyone who is displeased with the situation is “racist” is ludicrous. Not only that, it is prejudiced and hateful.
Most postings here slam the legislation passed in Arizona, and Arizonans themselves (probably the most ridiculous of them all; calling for Arizona’s federal funding and water supply from Colorado to be cut) but, you offer no alternative solutions. None. 40+ posts of name calling, not one suggestion of a solution…
Nor a single post considering that the U.S.’s de facto acceptance of illegal immigration promotes the exploitation of immigrant workers.
I’ll offer a solution, feel free to distract from the problem at hand with the silly cries of “racism”;
1) Close the border.
2) Hold corporate America accountable for any undocumented workers they hire. Fines should be considerable, enough to negate any financial benefit, and then some, that the company could realize from hiring illegal workers.
3) Deny all entitlement services to anyone not in the country legally. Qualifying emergency medical care, regardless of ability to pay, being the only exception.
4) Streamline the naturalization process for all immigrants currently in the country. Set a reasonable deadline by which all immigrants in the country must be naturalized.
5) Deport immediately anyone who attempts to enter the country not via legal means, or any who remain in the country after the deadline for naturalization, having failed to naturalize by that time.
6) Stop all foreign aid to Mexico for the purpose of the failed drug war. These funds should be re-appropriated to fund the construction needed to secure the border, and, after the border the border has been secured, to fund deportation on the US side, and the acceptance of deportees back to Mexico on the Mexican side.
on May 4th, 2010 at 9:31 pm
I’m so tired of hearing the left cry and whine “racist this” and “profiling that”. This is about America, no matter what color you are. Thank God that some states are finally stepping up to uphold the law where the Federal government has failed. I wish every state would follow their example.
Since when is enforcing the law wrong? Or do the “anti-legal immigration” left just want to enforce the laws they personally like? What would you have us do, just open the borders and let everyone just walk on in unchecked? Sorry but I love this country too much to allow that to happen. Sorry left, someone has to take responsibility!
When the moral minority stands up and says enough is enough, not just with immigration, but with taxes and bad policy like ObamaCare, we are called racist. What? Really? What does racism have to do with it? The only racism is what’s spewing from the mouths of the liberals because they can’t accept the truth. The majority of people in Arizona want the new law. Does Obama or the left care what the people want? No. Just like with the health Care bill. Obama and the leftist government don’t care what the people want. If they don’t get their way they cry “Racism, Racism!” like a little kid throwing a temper tantrum.
It really eats me up that Obama and the immoral left keep fueling racism and blaming it on the right. Is crying racism the only way they can justify not taking responsibility for themselves and for their own bad policies?
I sure hope this country can survive until we can vote Obama out of office.
on May 5th, 2010 at 1:26 pm
jim,
religion is the opiate of the masses.
that Republican party you worship second only to Jesus also has a prominent and powerful contingent that benefits from the presence of illegal immigrants in U.S., American agribusiness. you might keep this in mind the next time you vote for the party that would have the Chamber of Commerce running the U.S. government.
since law and order has been an ongoing theme in Republican party propaganda over the decades, perhaps you could explain the remarkable decline in the prosecution of civil rights cases by the Department of Justice during the Bush administration.
we’re all highly impressed with your love for this country, as well as your insinuation that anyone who does disagrees with your views, does not. patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels.
on May 9th, 2010 at 12:47 am
Jeff,
Wow, that was really boring.
Let me give you some civics insight to chew on. The biggest reason we still have a so called civil right racism problem in this country is due to the liberals keeping it alive. Everyone in this country has the same opportunities as everyone else, no matter what color. The Conservatives aren’t talking about race. But everytime someone doesn’t want to take responsibility for making a better life for themselves they cry racism. There was once a need for afirmitive action in this country but that time has long since passed. If the libs would stop spewing the reverse racist rederic people would be forced to stop leaning on it as an excuse.
on May 10th, 2010 at 10:36 am
the conservatives ain’t crying about race? man….what rock have you been living under these last few years!….race wedge issues are the conservatives best friend these days….every election year they drag out the lets “blame the illegal mexicans” for all of americas problems instead of campaigning with creative and intelligent solutions to the countries many problems.just look at all those conservative tea party people and the anti obama signs picturing him as a monkey or head hunter!…i have never seen a president so disrespected by the right in my life….and if you don’t think that its not about race then you are out of touch with reality my friend.listen to all the right wing radio stations these days and you will here all the racial poison that they spew out on a daily basis….but i guess in the eyes of the hypocrite conservatives thats not bringing out the race card! if it looks like a duck,walks like a duck and quacks like a duck…..its a DUCK!!
on June 12th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
okay first of all to you people claiming u will never visit arizona we truly dont care we dont want u here anyways
and to be blunt and to the point the immigration law that we passed has already been a federal law for many years
thats all there is to it
on July 6th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
I am glad to hear that most of the people who left comments will not be coming to Arizona. But I guess you don’t care how the lack of immigration inforcement has inpacted the border states. All you listen to is the seven second propaganda that the government spews. You don’t have drug runners crashing your or your neighbors fence. You don’t have illegals killing your cattle and draining your water tanks in a desert. You don’t have the Mexican government paying for law suites against your state citizens. You don’t have hundreds of school children coming over the border daily to come to a school system that their parents don’t pay for BUT YOU DO. You don’t have illegal alien gang members crossing into your county to KILL your your resident.
Maybe you people should REALLY look at what is going on, not just listening to the government propagandest machines and BLINDLY following a political party.
on August 13th, 2010 at 10:57 am
As a member of the U.S. Military (current active duty for 4 years now), all I can say is that anyone who talks politics on this subject is wrong. People are dying on both sides. There is a war going on, whether you want to see it or not. Due to the US Posse Comitatus Act which makes us about the only country in the world which outlawed its own military in its own country, these militias, local police, state police, private security and military companies, and other armed citizens are the only defense we have.
In case nobody has ever heard, IEDs have already been discovered along the border. You can all talk politics and moral authority, budgets and economics. Do you honestly think the Cartels care? They care about a profit from drugs, instability, bribes, human trafficking, and other crimes. They will kill any one of YOU on this forum without thinking twice about it. In the end, bad people with guns can only be solved one way, by good people with more powerful, bigger guns and better scopes.
on December 16th, 2010 at 11:48 am
My opinion is that the National Guard should be on the border with Mexico with loaded weapons but the regular army should be in Mexico to knock out the drug smugglers and bandits. Having said that; Any milita units should be very closely monitored by the state gonernments to make sure rights are not violated by these units. They should have difinative responsibiliities.
Those who are against such units should be very cautious in their statements. It is very easy to make statements that have no basis of fact or worse are simply lies to stir up those who read this blog.