Hate Crimes Linked to Immigration Debate

[TZ]

NEW YORK (AP) - Anti-immigrant sentiment is fueling nationwide increases in the number of hate groups and the number of hate crimes targeting Latinos, a watchdog group said Monday.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, in a report titled "The Year in Hate," said it counted 888 hate groups in its latest tally, up from 844 in 2006 and 602 in 2000.

The most prominent of the organizations newly added to the list, the Federation for American Immigration Reform, or FAIR, vehemently rejected the "hate group" label, and questioned the law center's motives. FAIR said the center was using smear tactics to boost donations and stifle legitimate debate on immigration.

"Their banner may be 'Stop the hate' but it's really 'Stop the debate,'" said FAIR's president, Dan Stein. "Apparently you can't even articulate an argument for immigration reform without being smeared
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=104&sid=1361083

This is not a surprise to me. Funny how when you hear the 'immigration debate" its only ONE group of people that seems to be attacked. Cause we all know that illegal immigrants only come from ONE country....:eyes:

[UTUSN]

1. K&R #3, for, NOoooooo, CAN'T be!1 n/t