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.

"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."

State GOP: No Birthright Citizenship to kids of Undocumented Immigrants

State GOP: No automatic citizenship for kids born in U.S. to illegal immigrants

[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2004450665_gop01m.html]

By Andrew Garber

Seattle Times staff reporter

SPOKANE — The state Republican Party adopted a platform Saturday that includes a provision aimed at opposing automatic citizenship for babies born in the U.S. to illegal immigrants.

The state party approved a similar platform plank at its 2006 convention that proved controversial. The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution recognizes citizenship for all persons born in the United States.

"Immigration is an issue that a lot of our party activists feel strongly about," state Republican Party Chairman Luke Esser said. "And it's certainly a very defensible position. It's not at all something that's based on race concerns. It's a matter of what is citizenship going to be based on."

State Attorney General Rob McKenna, one of the state's most prominent Republicans, said he doesn't support banning automatic citizenship for children born to illegal immigrants.

We have more than 200 years of history in which children born in the U.S. are deemed U.S. citizens," said McKenna, before reading the platform language. "What matters is where the children are born."

Not all delegates attending the convention support the position, either.

"The Constitution says that if you're born in the United States you're a U.S. citizen," said Scott Workman, of Sequim. "I'm not willing to change the Constitution. If we're going to let them in and they're going to have babies here, then they're U.S. citizens."

The plank containing the provision was adopted without discussion. It's part of a much broader party platform approved at the state GOP convention Saturday stating positions on issues ranging from national defense to health care and education.

The plank covering immigration and homeland security says, "We welcome those who wish to build a new and better life in America and Washington state and to recognize that the only price of such opportunity is their willingness to embrace our language, culture and legal system, beginning at our national borders."

The provision goes on to say that legal immigration "can best be facilitated by a transparent, traceable and enforceable guest-worker program that does not include amnesty or birthright citizenship and sanctuary cities."

Mathew Manweller, chairman of the platform committee, said the language in the provision is intended to oppose automatic citizenship for children born to illegal immigrants.

"We have no problem with them becoming citizens if they go through [the legal process] but not simply by virtue of birth," Manweller said.

Esser said the issue of birthright citizenship is broader than just illegal immigration. For example, he said, "I think if you ask the average person, 'Should a couple vacationing in the United States who are citizens of another country have a child on U.S. soil, should that child be a U.S. citizen?', that doesn't sound reasonable."

Esser noted that prohibiting citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants could "require a change in the U.S. Supreme Court interpretation of the 14th Amendment, so, obviously, if that's the case it will be difficult to ever accomplish."

McKenna said he doubts the citizenship provision of the party platform will have much impact.

"I think the attention span of the public on party platforms is very brief. I don't think platforms help you or hurt you very much," he said. "Voters look at the candidates."

Also at the convention, the state GOP assigned its 40 delegates to the national convention, with presumptive nominee John McCain ending up with the bulk of them. The state party's delegates are awarded through a complex system of caucuses and primaries.

Although there was a strong showing by Ron Paul supporters at the convention, McCain received a total of 33 delegates, Paul got four and Mike Huckabee three.

Andrew Garber: 360-943-9882 or agarber@seattletimes.com