Catch an Immigrant Day in Texas
Announced on the Austin Democrats list earlier this week:
The YCT (Young Conservatives of Texas) have organized an "Immigrant Hunt" for this Wednesday, March 2nd on the West Mall on campus-- they have reserved the space from 11:00am-1:00pm.
They recently organized a similar event at the University of North Texas.
This time around they plan to wear color-coded anti-immigrant shirts and "hunt for immigrants" who will be YCT-ers dressed in brown for Latina/os, yellow for Asians, etc. and offer rewards.
The idea didn't go over well in the People's Republic of Austin, however. The uproar resulted in some quick back-pedalling:
Here's an update on the reported illegal immigrant hunt:
The information you received is false. Somebody made this shit up, and I'm extremely pissed off. We're having a friggin' Texas Independence Day Celebration tomorrow.... AND THAT'S IT!!! Cakes and Cookies and Lemonade!!! I got a hold of the original email that I'm guessing you received, and it was all lies. Email whoever sent you your information, and ask them to research their information before they sent it ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES!!!
Lauren E.Conner
Chairman
Young Conservatives of Texas - UT Austin
Lauren.Conner@bba02.bus.utexas.edu
http://studentorgs.utexas.edu/yct/
Too little, too late, too false, however:
For Immediate Release: Wednesday March 2, 2005
University Democrats begin "Hate is not Activism" campaign on UT campus
(AUSTIN) - Today, students filled the West Mall on the University of Texas campus to stand up against hate and radicalism. According to a conservative student group's webpage, an event deemed "Illegal Immigrant Hunt" was scheduled to occur today. The event would have been both a failed attempt to protest President George Bush's immigration policies and a desperate cry for media attention. The student space was instead filled with more than 200 students demanding a higher level of discourse at The University.
"What happened today was amazing," said Marcus Ceniceros, president of University Democrats. "We realize that the event did not happen, but the fact that it was even considered was reason enough to come together. College activism still has a place in America and it should be celebrated, but the fundamental principles of an event like this are unacceptable. There is no place for hateful actions in our country, in our state, and especially not at The University of Texas."
[snip]
University Democrats joined students from other groups and students passing by to hold up posters reading, "Hate is not Activism" in several different languages including Spanish, Chinese, and German.
[snip]
The University Democrats will continue this campaign by asking elected officials to help start dialogues about immigration issues as well as activism on college campuses.
Contact: Marcus Ceniceros 915-383-2800 president@udems.org
But then, there's no need hunt immigrants when you can herd your own:
Anklets for Immigrants:
The Department of Homeland Security is experimenting with a controversial new method to keep better track of immigrants who are applying to remain in the United States. It is requiring aliens in eight cities to wear electronic monitors 24 hours a day.
The ankle bracelets are the same monitors that some rapists and other convicted criminals have to wear on parole. But the government's pilot project is putting monitors on aliens who have never been accused of a crime.