LATINOS CALL OUT TOM EMMER ON SB1070 DURING CINCO DE MAYO PARADE

[roberterickson]

Run time: 06:19 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J4Mh889ydE   Posted on YouTube: May 10, 2010 By YouTube Member: roberterickson1 Views on YouTube: 31   Posted on DU: May 10, 2010 By DU Member: roberterickson Views on DU: 636

 
(ST PAUL)-Minnesota's grassroots reaction to the state Republican Party's embrace of Arizona-style anti-immigrant legislation reached a new high Saturday as the public joined protesters in chanting opposition to GOP-endorsed gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer during St. Paul's annual Cinco de Mayo parade.

Activists flanked the Emmer unit as it marched through the Latino neighborhood. Emmer, who greeted supporters before they joined the parade, failed to march with them.

The crowd joined protesters who drew attention to Emmer 's statement that SB1070 was "a wonderful start" during a live show on Minnesota Public Radio.

The comment follows years of Emmer's sponsoring anti-immigration legislation as a state representative from Delano. Emmer co-authored bills to make English the official state language, require citizenship for college financial aid, to eliminate health coverage except for labor and delivery for undocumented, pregnant noncitizens and other harsh steps targeting immigrant workers.

"Tom Emmer's fondness for Arizona-style racial profiling laws may be an obvious step for a bigot to take," protest organizer Alejandra Cruz said. "However, Minnesota's Latino and immigrant communities aren't going to let our dignity and rights be taken away.""We felt compelled to publicly call him out for his support of SB1070, a hateful law that encourages profiling of Latinos. We had to speak out against his presence at a parade that celebrates our culture, and say this is our neighborhood-show us YOUR papers!"

Robert Erickson, a young activist and prankster known for getting anti immigrant tea partiers to support the deportation of whites from the U.S., infiltrated the group of Emmer supporters and marched with them from start to finish, holding a sign that read "Emmer, dame tus papeles" which translates to "Emmer, show me your papers".

Though his supporters missed the obvious jab at Emmer, the largely Latino crowd did not.

Throughout the length of the parade route protesters held up signs condemning Emmer's support of SB1070, while bystanders joined in chanting "Listen! Emmer! We're not Arizona, No racist laws, here in Minnesota!"

Erickson says their anger was fueled by the fact that five of Emmer's key Republican allies in the House--including his campaign committee chair Mark Buesgens--unveiled a copycat bill mirroring the extremist Arizona law here in Minnesota - on Cinco de Mayo this week. Emmer supporter Steve Drazkowski introduced the bill (HF 3830) the next day.

"We sent him a strong message that Minnesota is not Arizona," Cruz said, "and we will not stand for this kind of hatred and intolerance in our state!"

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[EFerrari]

1. LOL! Nicely done.

ETA: I recommended this thread but I see that those open borders advocates have canceled my vote.
:)

[Dreyfus]

2. 5 de Mayo is Mexican, not a Latino holiday.

While I agree entirely with the anti-racist message against Mr. Emmer, I want to clarify that "5 de Mayo" is an exclusive Mexican holiday. Absolutely no other nationality is involved into. In fact, it doesn´t mean anything for any other Latino Country.

[EFerrari]

3. It's more of a Mexican American holiday than a Mexican holiday.

And as Latinos of Salvadoran extraction, my family celebrates it every year. Go figure. :)