Protestors warn Hispanics "will remember"

 

 

Protestors of a Republican-backed bill that would allow local police to enforce federal immigration law on Wednesday acknowleged that they may be fighting a losing battle.

But they warned that Hispanics will consider the anti-sanctuary city legislation, which passed the state Senate on Tuesday and is now on its way to the House, a personal attack and will remember it in the coming elections.

Hispanics, the state's fastest growing population, have long been considered the sleeping giant in elections because they do not vote in proportion to their population.

Immigration rights advocates such as Fernando Garcia, director for the El Paso-based Border Network for Human Rights, who led a more than 300 person rally at the Capitol on Wednesday, believe the legislation may be a wake up call for Hispanics.

"They think that in two years we will no longer remember that they passed a law against our children and against our families," Garcia told the crowd as he listed off the names of each state Senator who supported the bill. "Are we going to forget?"

Protestors yelled "no!" They also screamed "shame on you!"

State Sen. Jose Rodríguez, D-El Paso, a staunch opponent of the bill and one of 12 Democrats who voted against the measure told the crowd that the 19 Republican Senators who supported the bill were "single-mindedly, politically hellbent on passing legislation that appeals to their constituents and their political ambitions."

"My friends, we need to fight back and we need to continue fighting back," Rodríguez said. "We need to register as many people as we can. We need to make as many legal residents citizens as we can. We need to get as many people out to the polls as we can. We need to build coalitions with the teachers, with the workers and the other people who didn't get justice in this Capitol."

State Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, on Tuesday told lawmakers that the anti-sanctuary cities measure was not an attack on Hispanics.

“Whether you are talking about human trafficking, drug smuggling or spillover violence, it’s real and it’s at our doorstep," Williams said, adding that the bill sends a message to "criminal illegal aliens that we will not tolerate their presence."

He added, “This debate is not about political parties, nor is it about race, or hate, or fear mongering."

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Bobby O]

A word to several people -
1. Fernando Garcia, US Citizens are against ILLEGAL immigration, not immigration.
2. Jose Rodríguez, I am from your district and I know that the only thing you are concerned about is re-election and that you will do anything to promote yourself without regard to legality. You have spent years trying to bend the laws of our nation to your will. Your call to fight back will bring violence and disruption; when it does, you should be considered a domestic terrorist.
3. UTEP, when this law passes, your police department, since they are deputized city police, will have to enforce it. If they don't, they will be breaking the law. You had better get the holding cells ready, Diana.

[Mario A. Montes]

State Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, on Tuesday told lawmakers that the anti-sanctuary cities measure was not an attack on Hispanics.

“Whether you are talking about human trafficking, drug smuggling or spillover violence, it’s real and it’s at our doorstep," Williams said, adding that the bill sends a message to "criminal illegal aliens that we will not tolerate their presence."

REALLY?

[Liza]

Diana and #2 Shame on You!
-Liza

[Ramon Hidalgo-Acosta]

How pathetic is that people keep claiming that we are against immigration? No, we are not because we are a country of immigrants since its concession. What we are against is about ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION! This country can not absorb anymore the masses of illegal immigrants coming across our borders and those who come with a visa and then decide to stay here after it has expired. The only concern that I have with police been allowed to pick up illegal immigrants is that they might use this law wrongly by profiling latinos that they would perceive to be an illegal aliens and we all know that illegal aliens come from many nationalities.

[Guillermo]

So, they think threats are going to gain them support?

[Jessica Gutierrez]

Everyone knows that most of the illegals are Latins, So Please don't say that they come from many nations, you all mean Mexicans i will NOT vote for any one that backed this BS Bill.

[Jo Ann Landeros]

We need to stand up to illegal immigration because it is costing us alot of money. This bill is a wake up call to illegals not hipanics. Jose Rodriguez needs to be voted out of office because he is intent on supporting people that break the law. Legal citizens put you in office sir and I suggest you start representing them. Way to go Texas!!!!

[American 1st]

I'm Hispanic and take no offense to the bill because I am AMERICAN first and completely agree will the bill. This is not an attack on the Hispanic community but an attack on illegal immigration. I'm quite frankly tired of this broken system of helping illegals but there are Americans that are homeless who are refused help because they aren't an illegal of some sort.

[Brad]

Wow, I can see that the local KKK can spell fake hispanic names. Nice to see the tio taco community putting in their two cents and acting stupid about the real intent of such bills. See you in the concentration camps, Jo Ann, Jessica, Guillermo and Ramon. I am sure they will remember your loyalty the way the Nazi's remembered those groups they persecuted later who initially supported them.

[Connie Cortez]

They've got a lot of nerve threatening the American people. As for those Democratic legislators, be careful who you decide to represent. Hispanics who can trace their roots back two-hundred years in this country will not take to kindly to your betrayal. Your job is represent America"s best interest and not a lot of law-breaking illegal alliens. Natural-born Americans are not likely to forget either.

[james w. russell]

I am not against anyone here that is here legally or is in the process of obtaining the necessary paperwork to become a citizen. I am against those who enter illegally and remain here hidden in the background until he issue comes forward to quash their idea of freedom without effort. I am against those who have obtained citizenship and have failed to assimilate and learn English. I am against those who willy-nilly support illegal acts.

[JR]

Enforcement of our nation's laws is essential at every level, federal, state and local.

I reject the idea that the majority of Americans of Hispanic heritage are in support of breaking America's law or manipulating immigration laws so as to render them meaningless.

Those who threaten lawmakers are NOT representative of Hispanics and they only represent themselves.

[SB4U]

Thanks republicans for reminding me that I need to register to vote.

[NunJoBizness]

Shame on them for WHAT, LIZA? Tell us all how terrible and racist we are for wanting a secure border - that drivel is nothing but noise anymore.

Keep pushing the American people, illegals and thier supporters. See where it gets you. Millions of us are armed to the teeth and are not about to allow this BS to go on much longer. I am not a promoter of violence, just sick to death of seeing my country turn in to mexico.

[Ana]

It is unbelievable and how ignorant the masses are...especially all of you that get your information from unreliable sources like popular media...I am sure most of you are fans of KFOX news. It is the same pattern over and over again throughout history...the economy is flourishing, and all of a sudden we welcome immigrants, the economy is hurting, and like all corrupt officials and multi-billion dollar corporations, they need someone to blame outside of themselves...and who do they blame? Immigrants!! This is what all of this is about!!! And of course, rather than tackling the root of the problem that has screwed our economy, the idiot masses believe in all this political rhetoric and how we need to "secure" our border and how immigrants are killing the economy and like idiots you follow along. Get educated, and step outside the "information" put forth by these so called "economists" that obviously don't know shit (just look at our economy) and understand how in fact, cheap labor (legal or illegal) helps so many rich folks in ways that you can't even imagine. I walked into that white house where these sorry ass bills just passed, and guess who built this palace? Yup, the same people that these racist republicans (or are they just being co-opted?) are voting against...you can see all the pictures of so many Latino looking men that built this comfortable, hvac installed, luxury building where these now very racist folks sit back, who are completely disconnected from reality, and instead of pouring money to education, and job creation, and the billion dollar deficit that Texas currently has... they are just going to pour more of your tax money to put these laws into effect...school, jobs, economy deficits, will not even be supported. And secure our border??? I live in the border, it is an extremely militarized border that it is fucking ridiculous that ignorant masses think that it still needs more securing...of course...and If i didn't know any better and was a complete foreigner to this border region I am living in, I would look at the border and feel uneasy by seeing how extremely militarized it is...I would think we are in a complete war...but i guess it needs a lot more securing, right?? these private corporations are banking from the billions that are spent on "securing the border," corrupt politicians make a cut from these profits, and all they need to do is tell the ignorant small thinking masses that "oh my god, immigration is problem...they are the reason for our economy downfall, not our corrupt asses that is driven by greed!!!" Come on man, can we fucking progress??!!...this kind of discourse is so fucking old, yet we consider ourselves the most "advanced country." give me a break...and someone further up mentioned nazi germany...you really want to get into that? how do you think the holocaust came to be in the first place? some racist fucker known as hitler manipulated the masses and blamed a particular group of people for the economy downfall and for all the problems Germany had at the time...does that sound familiar???

It is truly amazing (and I mean this in a disgusted kind of way) how media and discourse brainwashes the masses and implements small minded ideologies that look at an oppressed group to blame...rather than as Americans looking into ourselves and say, what are we doing? what are we doing good, what are we doing bad? Education people, would be a good answer to this...but even that is screwed up in this country...where it produces nothing but consumers, not thinkers!!! and this includes you very wealthy rich folks who practically own national and international profits though "private" corporations...you know...you rich folks that own media networks and decide what "right" news and information should be put forth!!!

God help us!!!!

[Brad]

Shame on being a blatantly racist pig. Not all who are armed support your parrot brained cracker or cracker wanna be butt. BS, ha! If we depended only on native born labor to do any real work the country would have gone down the tubes long ago.

[Samuel Owens]

It would be nice if people could maintain a civil discourse on these issues. Yes, it is emotionally charged because of the personal & family ties. Yes, the US immigration policy is badly in need of *REAL* reform. It is too complex, too expensive and takes way too long, which is why many choose to just skip the whole thing and chance their luck.
It is still wrong, and they are still breaking the law. I grew up & still live in Deep South Texas. Most of my friends & business associates are Hispanic. For those of you looking at my name, yes, I'm about as white as they come, so you can start screaming RACIST now if you like. Those with more intelligence will ignore you and move on.
I know personally that there are many just trying to make a better life for themselves. I understand, that's why everyone came to the United States of America. But things aren't what they were 100 years ago. If people want to come here, do it the right way; learn the language (yes, there are many programs to help with this...), and you will find us very welcoming! Keep trying to undercut (while many take advantage of services they're not paying for), and you will find us quite harsh.

[Mexican American]

It is a sad day when you can sit there and say that the law is ok or even sit there and make excuses. Do you not realize that we as hispanics are being put on blast because we have the correct skin color, hair color. How can anyone support this bill. White people will not be asked if they have "papers". Those hispanics who think they this bill is "ok" are so wrong on so many levels. The day the cops stop you and pull you out of your vehicle and ask you for "papers" then you can talk. We are all hear because of illegal immigrants and not all illegal immigrants are criminals. How is it that we want to stop them from coming over here yet there are people being randomly killed for no reason except that they were at the wrong place at the wrong time. Can we not have compassion of the immigrants that are here out of fear. I am offended by this bill because I know where I came from. I am Mexican American. I am not just american. I am proud of my heritage and feel that Texas is so rich in hispanic culture and history and to pass this bill is insulting all our ancestors and all of our family. and for you "hispanics" who agree with this bill to not take it personally means you are just as racist as the people trying to put this in to play because you think you are better than the immigrants who come here looking for a better future. Who denied you a better future. At times, I can not believe that I live in a country where the we are supposed to be treated equal. When did this get started? When non-mexican immigrants bombed the twin towers. How did they get here? Were they illegal? So why is it that the Mexican illegal immigrants are the ones getting the brunt of the punishment. Who does the work that we as lazy americans refuse to do? Who is going to get in the fields and pick squash or pick the oranges from the trees in california. Do you all realize the economic consequences because we as americans can not get off our butts to do some hard manual labor. You can sit there at your computer in your cozy home or cozy office on your computer and the majority of them are barely scraping by because they are trying to send as much money home so they can bring their family over here legally or better yet so their family can eat or survive in Mexico. If you dont know what each person is about dont judge. There is only one person who can judge. And it certainly is not any of you!!!