Hateful billboard campaign hits Tucson

Wed26Jul2006

Hateful billboard campaign hits Tucson

16:59 H | Topics: Controversia - Immigration - States

In Arizona, a state that's home to more than one million Latinos, a firestorm is brewing over the placement of a billboard off of Tucson's Interstate 10 which proclaims: "Stop the Invasion, Secure Our Borders".

The billboard, was placed by a group called Grassfire.org, an organization that claims its mission "is to impact key issues in our nation by equipping hundreds of thousands of citizens with tools that give our partners a real impact on issues."

Steve Elliott, president of grassfire.org says, "I think those six words express the sentiment of literally millions of people and I would say the vast majority of people in Tucson."

Grassfire raised roughly $150,000 to put 12 of the billboards in 7 states.

Elliott says the purpose is to educate.
He says, "In fact, we have 12-to-20 million people who are in our country illegally. This is an invasion, in fact, that's affecting our economy. It's draining our social services. It's a drain on our health care."

Elliott, who denies the message is racist and anti-immigrant, says, "I'm the son of a Jamaican immigrant. We believe in legal immigration."

Meanwhile, Arizona Latino groups such as the Derechos Humanos Coalition are up in arms over the campaign, which, according to its sponsors is making its way to various cities across the U.S., including Houston and Chicago.

Strangely enough, it looks like the group has a Flickr page to showcase their billboards. Even hate mongers love Flickr.

Via / KVOA.com (includes video)

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Jennifer

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1. Carl Lafong ~ Wednesday, Jul 26 2006 | 18:42H:

There is nothing in the least hateful about trying to protect our border from illegals.

2. Martin Limon ~ Wednesday, Jul 26 2006 | 20:05H:

Personally I think the message is too tame. It ought to read "Round up and deport these millions of miserable parasites." Illegals deserve to be despised with a passion.

3. Maegan la Mala ~ Wednesday, Jul 26 2006 | 20:20H:

Nice twisting of the facts.

4. Jesse James ~ Thursday, Jul 27 2006 | 02:12H:

It is called "Illegal Immigration". Otherwise it is perfectly acceptable to follow the laws an enter OUR country in a respectable manner and not run like the cockroaches of the sewers.

5. Maegan la Mala ~ Thursday, Jul 27 2006 | 08:34H:

Nice comparing people to animals- I'm so sure there is no hint of racism. Why not engage in a conversation about the why there are undocumented workers in the United States, looking at the causes on both sides of the border, instead of blaming people who are merely trying to better their lives.

6. Abelardo ~ Thursday, Jul 27 2006 | 16:39H:

The undocumented live among and and will continue to do so as long as disatrous economic condition persist in their home countries. These conditions are a direct outcome of U.S. policies which benefit major corporations at the expense of potential home country employers.

The billboard, the above hateful comments, the laws being passed by municipalities that would punish employers /landlords of undocumented, the increase in hate crime against all Latinos, and the hateful rhetoric of talk radio / TV / blogs are symptoms of a fearful and cowardly mindset.

7. Latitud 32 ~ Thursday, Jul 27 2006 | 18:07H:

there is one of these billboards placed at the San Ysidro/Tijuana border, where thousands of people ALSO cross legally to purchase everything from cars, to computers, to clothing, adding to the U.S. economy.

This whole farcical way of describing "illegal" is beyond ridiculous. After decades of recruitment/importation/taking advantage of desperate poor people to meet your labor needs, and after decades of ignoring the fact that "illegals" work as a majority in certain sectors, your childish rhetoric referring to people as parasites/coachroaches only demonstrates the low level of thinking you can reach.

In the meantime, the fields and factories are waiting for you. I suggest you round up your teens and start sending them to do the jobs that these "parasites" are currently filling...after all, UNEMPLOYMENT IS AT AN ALL TIME LOW. What are you waiting for? Put your mouth to action.

In the meantime, I find those signs totally enjoyable. Such a waste of money.

Invasion my a##...hipocrisy is more like it.

8. HATE BORDER JUMBERS ~ Tuesday, Aug 22 2006 | 12:45H:

HEY Maegan la Mala.

This is our country not yours go back and live the way you want in YOUR COUNTRY. We do not want you here. GO HOME AND SCREW UP YOUR COUNTRY LEAVE OURS ALONE

9. Maegan la Mala ~ Tuesday, Aug 22 2006 | 13:10H:

Hey idiot. I was born in the United States so guess what? It's my country too. Hate mongers like you are so quick to assume things about where people come from. Guess what else? The Uniteds States invaded where my family comes from, screwed that place up, and that's why now I am part of your country.

Too bad the anti-immigrant movement is full of uneducated people like yourself who can only speak in rhetoric instead of facts.

10. Latitud 32 ~ Tuesday, Aug 22 2006 | 14:07H:

What are border "jumbers?"

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