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Unity against anti-immigrant forces

Published Aug 16, 2005 9:41 PM

The city of Carlsbad, Calif., in northern San Diego County, was the scene of a racist, anti-immigrant rally on Aug. 11. Inside the auditorium, an audience of racists cheered each speaker's virulent attacks on immigrant workers.

But outside, a united protest of Mexican, Chican@, Muslim and white progressives gathered to denounce the hate-fest.

The racist, immigrant-bashing program featured U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo  of Colorado, who recently suggested that the United States should bomb Muslim holy sites in the Middle East; James Gilchrist, co-founder of the anti-immigrant Minutemen project; and California State Sen. Bill Morrow, who hopes to replace super-militarist Randy "Duke" Cunningham in the U.S. House of Representatives. Cunningham is currently under federal investigation for reportedly personally profiting from his votes in favor of federal defense contracts for the MZM Co., which is owned by a personal friend of his. He has announced he will not run for re-election.

Anti-racist forces who rallied outside were joined by Latin@ families from the apartment complex across the street. Many held signs reading "¡Caza migrantes no pasarán!"--meaning "Immigrant hunters are not welcome here!"

Members of San Diego FIST--Fight Imperialism, Stand Together--and the San Diego International Action Center held a banner with the message "¡La batalla de los obreros no tiene fronteras!--No borders in the workers' struggle!"

Police in large numbers from all over San Diego County mobilized. Their attempts to provoke protesters were unsuccessful, although as the protest drew to a close, a racist complained to the police that he felt threatened by the Latin@ people standing across the street. The police responded by charging the community residents standing in front of their homes, forcing them inside.

The struggle for justice for immigrant workers, both documented and undocumented, and against racist terror is heating up in San Diego County. The day before the racist Carlsbad rally, a community meeting against police brutality took place in the neighboring town of Vista. In the space of five days, in three separate incidents, police had killed three young Latino men, all unarmed, in Vista. Three hundred people gathered to denounce the police and demand an end to police terror against communities of color.

The anti-immigrant "Minutemen" have announced a second San Diego border mobilization beginning on Sept. 16, Mexican Independence Day. A united movement is mobilizing to challenge them.