Immigration Reform - America’s Voice

Posted 09/17/09 at 01:40pm

Tweet

FAIR’s Annual “Hold Their Feet to the Fire” Event Brings A Whopping 50 Supporters to DC

After a huge push to drive up turnout, and after event organizers promised to storm Congress with anti-immigration citizen lobbyists this week, a mere fifty (yes, 50) people showed up for the Federation for American Immigration Reform’s (FAIR) annual “Hold their Feet to the Fire” event in Washington, DC this week.

Ironically, a prayer vigil held by faith leaders in support of immigration reform – organized at the last minute – turned out twice that number of people on Monday to pray for a return to moral debate on immigration. The pro-reform vigil was highlighted on the front page of the Washington Post Tuesday (picture at right):

"We must clearly say shame, shame, shame on those who depend on our immigrant brothers and sisters, use them and often abuse them, and then turn against them with their racism and hatred," said Bishop Minerva Carcaño, who helped put together the vigil.

As a show of political force, FAIR’s failure to turn out real people this week is a good reminder about the anti-immigrant lobby. It has a long history of generating lots of noise (phonecalls, faxes, and more) and scaring Congress into making terrible policy decisions, while failing to deliver on the angry threats with actual votes -- or actual people at events, in this case.  In 20 of 22 competitive elections in the 2008 cycle where immigration was a top issue, the hard-line anti-immigrant candidate lost to a candidate with a more expansive view of immigration reform.

FAIR, a designated hate group, is asking members of Congress to support an immigration agenda that has more to do with xenophobia and intolerance than real solutions to our dysfunctional immigration system.

As Washington Post reporter, Spencer S. Hsu, reported Monday, America's Voice helped launch an ad early this week to let Congress know who was coming to town:

This all came about as America’s Voice Education Fund, Campaign for Community Change, the Center for New Community, and the Service Employees International Union paid for an advertisement to run in Roll Call, asking that members of Congress not meet with the anti-immigrant group, stating that “extremist groups, like FAIR, shouldn’t be allowed to write immigration policy.”

Revealing of the group’s anti-immigrant views, the ad begins with a quote from FAIR’s founder, John Tanton:

"As Whites see their power and control over their lives declining, will they simply go quietly into the night? Or will there be an explosion?"

The advertisement goes on to feature Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-CA), Rep. Steve King (R-IA), Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), who have all had a history of collaboration with FAIR and other anti-immigrant groups. Also featured on the advertisement is – surprise, surprise – fear-mongering news anchor Lou Dobbs, who is causing CNN a lot of pain this week for broadcasting his radio show live from FAIR's festivities.

Take action now to Fight FAIR and let Congress know you want real solutions on immigration.

Also, check out media coverage of the hate rally so far:

Traditional Media:

New York Daily News: Anti-immigration group FAIR mars smart reform push by faith groups
By Albor Ruiz
September 17, 2009

Catholic News Service: Capitol prayer service calls for end to hatred of immigrants
By Patricia Zapor
September 17, 2009

Washington Post: Partisan Heat Shows No Sign of Cooling
By Joel Achenbach
September 16, 2009

NBC Washington: Smithsonian Reviews Policy After Renting to "Hate Group"
September 16, 2009

Hispanic Business: Hispanic Groups to CNN: Drop Lou Dobbs
By Rob Kuznia
September 15, 2009

Washington Post: Immigration, Health Debates Cross Paths
By Spencer S. Hsu
September 15, 2009

Baltimore Sun: After 'You lie!' Prayers to end 'hateful rhetoric'
September 14, 2009

- 

Blog Coverage:

Feet in Two Worlds: News Analysis: Obama, Jimmy Carter, Racial Politics and Immigration Reform

Washington Independent:  Illegal Immigration Foes See Opportunity After Wilson’s Outburst  

Feet in Two Worlds: Immigration Battle Heating Up: Group Accuses Talk Radio Hosts of Supporting “Hate Group”

Immigration: It’s Our Community Blog: Interfaith Peace Vigil Counters Hate Rhetoric

My San Antonio: Faith leaders gather in DC for prayer vigil against hate speech

Imagine 2050: Controversial Anti-Immigrant Network Invades the Nation’s Capitol

Imagine 2050: Top Ten Questions (and Responses) Members of Congress Should Ask FAIR Representatives

The New Mexico Independent: Illegal Immigration Foes See Opportunity After Wilson’s Outburst

The Colorado Independent: Polis: Wilson outburst boosted momentum for health-reform plan

• By Jackie Mahendra
• Permalink
• Send to a friend
• Comments
• 

• Tags
• America's Voice
• Extremism
• John Tanton Organizations
• Extremism

  « All Blog Posts