New Report Exposes Nativists, Environmentalism & the Hypocrisy of Hate | IMAGINE 2050

New Report Exposes Nativists, Environmentalism & the Hypocrisy of Hate | IMAGINE 2050

Astro-Turf Right-Wing Fringe And Connections to Immigration Policy

As I noted in previous blogs, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) has long been the face of the right-wing immigration control lobby. Similarly, we see offshoot organizations in Washington State that have paired with conservative groups to sponsor anti-immigrant state initiatives every year since at least 2005 (failing to gather the necessary signatures each year).

In Arizona, SB 1070 and SB 2281 (anti-Ethnic Studies Legislation) are two of the more recent concrete examples of draconian legislation at the state level that seeks to question nationality based on one's outward appearance (in other words, racial profiling). Likewise, both were promoted and backed by FAIR-organized sub-groups.

To get a better idea of FAIR's relevance and it's history, one need only look at the organization's founder, John Tanton and the subsequent anti-immigrant empire he's built since the late 1970s. Below are two videos that give a visual narrative of Tanton and FAIR.



Below is yet another video, courtesy of the Rachel Maddow Show.

"Frontiers of Racism" Video

As a change of pace (and to make the blog a little more user friendly) I will post a link to a video that makes the connection between institutional racism and hyper-nativism. More to come as time allows.

'Nativist Extremist' Group List (Produced by the Southern Poverty Law Center)

What follows is a state-by-state list of the 173 groups that constitute the nativist extremist movement, as fissured as it may be. In the case of three major groups — the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, the Minuteman Project, and the Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition — acronyms have been added to help identify affiliated chapters that use other names. Groups marked by an asterisk (*) are also listed by the Southern Poverty Law Center as hate groups.

ALABAMA (5)
Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE)
Birmingham
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Arab
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Blountsville
River Region Minutemen (MCDC)
Millbrook
Tennessee Valley Minutemen (MCDC)
Rogersville

ALASKA (1)
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps of Alaska (MCDC)
Homer

ARIZONA (17)
American Border Patrol (*)
Sierra Vista
American Freedom Riders
Phoenix
Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE)
Phoenix
Maricopa Patriots (MMP)
Maricopa County
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Cochise County
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Green Valley
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Lake Havasu City
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
La Paz County
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Phoenix
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Prescott
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Tucson
Mohave County Minutemen
Kingman
Patriots' Border Alliance
Phoenix
Riders Against Illegal Aliens
Phoenix
United for a Sovereign America
Phoenix
Warden Burns Mexican Flags
Tucson
Yuma Patriots
Yuma

CALIFORNIA (31)
Antelope Valley Minutemen
Antelope Valley
California Coalition for Immigration Reform (*)
Huntington Beach
Campo Minutemen
Campo
Carlsbad Citizens Brigade
Carlsbad
Central Coast Minutemen
Salinas
Crispus Attucks Brigade
Los Angeles
Desert Cities Minutemen (MCDC)
Palm Desert
East Bay Minutemen (MCDC)
Walnut Creek
Escondido Minutemen Brigade
Escondido
Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE)
Orange County
Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE)
San Diego
Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE)
San Juan Capistrano
Friends of the Border Patrol
Covina
Kern County Minutemen (MMP)
Bakersfield
Los Angeles Minutemen (MCDC)
Los Angeles
MCDC Camp Vigilance Field HQ (MCDC)
Boulevard
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
San Diego
Minuteman Project (MMP)
Ontario
Minuteman Project (MMP)
San Clemente
Mountain Minutemen
Jacumba
No Invaders
Running Springs
Northern California Minutemen (MCDC)
Napa
Oceanside Citizens Brigade
Oceanside
Rancho Bernardo Citizens Brigade
Poway
Sacramento Region Minutemen (MCDC)
Sacramento
San Diego Minutemen
San Diego
Save Our State (*)
Sacramento
Save Our State (*)
San Bernardino
Sonoma County Minutemen (MCDC)
Sonoma
Ventura County Minutemen (MMP)
Thousand Oaks
Vista Citizens Brigade
Vista

COLORADO (6)
Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE)
Loveland
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Denver
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Grand Valley
Minuteman Project (MMP)
Byers
Patriots' Border Alliance
Colorado Springs
Rescue Without Borders (*)
Boulder

CONNECTICUT (1)
Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE)
New Haven

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (1)
Defend DC
Washington, D.C.

FLORIDA (7)
Central Florida Minutemen (MCDC)
Orlando
Dixie County Minutemen (MMP)
Old Town
Floridians for Immigration Enforcement
Palm Beach
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Haines City
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Miami
Report Illegals
Pompano Beach
Space Coast Minutemen (MCDC)
Melbourne

GEORGIA (10)
Cherokee Minutemen (MCDC)
Canton
Dustin Inman Society
Marietta
Gainesville Minutemen (MCDC)
Gainesville
Middle Georgia Minutemen (MCDC)
Macon
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Athens
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Atlanta
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Augusta
Minuteman Project (MMP)
Atlanta
Northwest Georgia Minutemen (MCDC)
Dalton
Southwest Georgia Minutemen (MCDC)
Albany

ILLINOIS (3)
Chicago Minuteman Project (MMP)
Lindenhurst
Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE)
Elgin
Minutemen Midwest
Harvard

INDIANA (2)
Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE)
Valpraiso
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Southern Indiana

IOWA (11)
Cherokee County Minutemen (MCDC)
Cherokee
Des Moines Minutemen (MCDC)
Des Moines
Harrison County Minutemen (MCDC)
Logan
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Council Bluffs
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Denison
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Griswold
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Iowa City
Riders Against Illegal Aliens
Ottumwa
Shelby County Minutemen (MCDC)
Shelby
Taylor County Minutemen (MCDC)
Taylor County
Woodbury County Minutemen (MCDC)
Woodbury County

KANSAS (5)
Burlington Minutemen (MCDC)
Burlington
Heart of America Minutemen (MCDC)
Kansas City
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Emporia
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Topeka
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Wichita

KENTUCKY (1)
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Lexington

LOUISIANA (1)
MCDC of Louisiana (MCDC)
Leesville

MAINE (1)
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Hanover

MARYLAND (1)
Help Save Maryland
Rockville

MASSACHUSETTS (1)
Concerned Citizens for Immigration Law Enforcement (*)
Framingham

MINNESOTA (1)
Minnesota Minutemen (MCDC)
Mound

MISSOURI (3)
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Joplin
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Kansas City
Springfield Minutemen (MCDC)
Springfield

MONTANA (2)
Eastern Montana Minutemen (MCDC)
Ryegate
MCDC of Montana (MCDC)
Missoula

NEBRASKA (3)
Lincoln Minutemen (MCDC)
Lincoln
MCDC of Nebraska (MCDC)
Omaha
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Grand Island

NEVADA (4)
Americans4America
Las Vegas
Emigration Party of Nevada (*)
Henderson
Nevada Action Coalition
Las Vegas
Pahrump Minutemen
Pahrump

NEW JERSEY (5)
MCDC of New Jersey (MCDC)
Bound Brook
Minuteman Project (MMP)
Bergen County
Minuteman Project (MMP)
Trenton
New Jersey Citizens for Immigration Control
Carlstadt
United Patriots of America
Linden

NEW MEXICO (1)
Patriots' Border Alliance
Alamogordo

NEW YORK (3)
MCDC of New York (MCDC)
Freeport
Minuteman Project (MMP)
New York
N.Y. ICE (FIRE)
New York

NORTH CAROLINA (3)
Americans for Legal Immigration
Raleigh
Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE)
Raleigh
Triangle Minutemen Patriots (MMP)
Pittsboro

OHIO (3)
MCDC of Ohio (MCDC)
Cincinnati
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Cleveland
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Columbus

OKLAHOMA (2)
Minuteman Project (MMP)
Tulsa
Oklahoma Minutemen (MCDC)
Oklahoma City

OREGON (4)
Coos County Citizen Caucus
Coos Bay
MCDC of Oregon (MCDC)
Salem
Oregonians for Immigration Reform
McMinville
Oregon Minuteman Patriots Border Alliance
Salem

PENNSYLVANIA (4)
Great Lakes Minuteman Project (MMP)
Union City
Pennsylvania Minutemen
Quakertown
Pennsylvania Minutemen
Reading
Pennsylvanians for Immigration Control
Warminster

RHODE ISLAND (1)
Rhode Island Minutemen (MCDC)
Providence

SOUTH CAROLINA (3)
Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE)
Rock Hill
Horry County Minutemen (MCDC)
Surfside Beach
Low Country Minutemen (MCDC)
Charleston

TEXAS (7)
Border Guardians (*)
Livingston
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Austin
Minuteman Project (MMP)
Arlington
Minuteman Project (MMP)
Lone Star
Texans for Immigration Reform
Houston
Texas Border Volunteers
Conroe
U.S. Border Watch
Spring

UTAH (3)
Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE)
Salt Lake City
Southern Utah Minutemen (MCDC)
St. George
Utah Minutemen Project (MMP)
Salt Lake City

VIRGINIA (8)
Centreville Citizens Coalition
Centerville
Help Save Fairfax
Fairfax
Help Save Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Help Save Loudon
Loudon
Help Save Old Dominion
Old Dominion
Help Save Stafford
Stafford
Help Save Virginia
Herndon
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Herndon

WASHINGTON (3)
Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE)
Yakima
MCDC of Washington (MCDC)
Yakima
Minutemen American Defense
Seattle

WISCONSIN (1)
MCDC of Wisconsin (MCDC)
Oconto Falls

WYOMING (3)
Evanston Minutemen
Evanston
MCDC of Wyoming (MCDC)
Casper
Newcastle Minutemen
Newcastle

Intelligence Report
Spring 2009

"La Lista"

Reasoning for "La Lista"

The idea for this post (originally drafted in October) initially came from a bad experience I had at a taco shop in Yakima. Yet another source of inspiration came from watching a Simpson's episode (where Homer joins a secret society called the "Stonecutters"). Well, Simpsons and bland, overpriced tacos aside, I thought the 'list' should be more a critique of the right-wing and other elements that perpetuate repressive social norms. And on that note, here is the first entry in my list, which I will attempt to update at least once a month. Suggestions are most definitely welcome.

yours,

-El O
================

ANTI-IMMIGRANT GROUPS ADVOCATING FOR I-409

Where to begin on this one...first, a little background. According to the Washington Secretary of State's website, I-409 is an initiative that, if placed on the ballot and passed, "...would require state and local agencies to cooperate in enforcing federal immigration laws and would require verifying immigration status of persons seeking employment, receiving driver’s licenses, and receiving some public benefits." [for the full text see: http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/initiatives/legislature.aspx?y=2008]. Anti-Immigrant groups have attempted placing similar initiatives on the ballot every year since 2006 (months after the Minutemen Project started patrolling the Northern Border). And have failed...miserably.

Next, the organizations who prominently support the aforementioned proposed initiative are the following:

GrassRoots of Yakima [their website is down]. An organization in the Yakima Valley that came out roughly around spring of 2006. Most likely originated in the upper valley, can't see how they're from anywhere near eastside Yakima with all the smack they talk. That would no doubt earn you a shoe to the backside in that area.

RespectWashington [http://www.respectwashington.us/]. From the lack of information I found on their site, I gather that this is likely an umbrella organization. If anyone has additional info, let me know and I'll update this post.

Washingtonians for Immigration Reform or "WFIR" [http://wfir.org/]. Is a 'non-profit' organization based out of University Place (for my C. Washington folks, its located SW of Tacoma) that advocates 'reforming' (vaguely defined on their site) our immigration system. Furthermore they state, "Our membership includes Americans of multiple political persuasions, including both Democrats and Republicans. Our ethnic origins are as diverse as is our native population. We are not an arm of any political party or special interest group. Membership in our group is open to any American citizen without regard to race, color, creed or religion." (WFIR site). Yet oddly enough, they have a link to the American Patrol website, an organization listed as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Hmm...makes me wonder. "Open" group indeed...[for more info, see: http://www.splcenter.org/intel/map/type.jsp?DT=27].

Minutemen Civil Defense Corps, Washington State Chapter [http://www.minuteman-wa.com/]
And last but certainly not least, a group that continues providing fodder for alot of my more recent writings on immigrant rights, the Minutemen(digos). The Washington State chapter originated in October of 2005 with the intent of patrolling the Canadian border, making it the dean of all 'major' anti-immigrant groups. Since, they've been harassing day laborers in Seattle, acting a fool in Yakima and spitting xenophobic, incoherent vitriol across the state. Minute(mentes)* in Washington merely echo talking points from groups in the southwest and when speaking on local matters, revert to blatantly ignorant, even racist, stereotypes of people of color.

IN MY WORDS

I agree that people have every single right to talk whatever they feel like expressing, intelligent discourse or otherwise. Words do inflict pain that seeps into the innermost regions of the soul. But, as I have seen, when we deprogram our minds and deconstruct, delegitimize, and decipher the most basic elements of these words, we dissolve and disempower the original meanings of these less-than flattering figures of speech.

However, I must add that when hate speech transcends the realm of language and becomes action we must act and confront it. The aforementioned groups feed and help perpetuate an already existent rise in xenophobia across the country. In the wake of said immigration argument, hate groups have swelled in numbers, and hate crimes against latin@s and other people of color has increased. The link between WFIR and American Patrol as well as the very much publicized links between the Minutemen and the Nationall Alliance and other white supremacist groups should serve as an indicator as to their true intentions.

That said, because of their continued effort to polarize the general populace and for their continued role in perpetuating backward stereotypes about people of Latin American descent (and yes, they often assume we are all 'illegals' and that we're a monolithic brown mass that originated in Mexico) and spreading politics of fear that lead to increased hate crimes...

...the 'Anti-Immigrant Groups of Washington State' earn the dubious distinction of being the first entry in "La Lista."

As such, consider the nomination to this list a figurative "patada en las nalgas"* on my behalf.

OCT 2008, O. Rosales Castaneda, C/S


*Spanish for "minds." Throughout this series of notes I will incorporate bilingual wordplay. A more recent development in my own writing style.

*Spanish for "kick in the ass."