L-R: Schuyler Crist adjusts his video to photograph any day workers that might line up for work, US Border Watch President Curtis Collier, US Border Watch member, US Border Watch member shares verbal exchanges with an anti-protester, signs, woman holding protrest signAmerican Freedom Riders
The San Antonio Brigade of the American Freedom Riders, in a joint effort with US Border Watch, held its inaugural Day Labor Watch operation in San Antonio, Saturday, January 19th at the corner of N. Frio and W. Houston, known as Cattleman’s Square to ensure Day Labors suspected of undocumented status would not be allowed to sign up for day work.
During the time the Walker Report took photos of the event there were no workers in sight as the Freedom Riders videotaped anyone in the area to include the Walker Report. One lone San Antonio Police Officer was nearby to ensure no incidents occured. The surveillance was peaceful.
I recently viewed a video on KENS that showed a gentleman defending illegal workers at a spot Frio and Houston St. (shallow west side of town). San Antonio City Council tried to pass a resolution last year making San Antonio a Sanctuary City for illegal aliens but failed.
ReplyDeleteThere are certain individuals who like to perpetuate the myth that anyone other than Hispanics does not have a right to go to the Westside and protest illegal activity. One such person is Jaime P. Martinez.
Jaime P. Martinez is a close personal friend of Mayor Phillip Hardberger, is a National Treasurer of LULAC (League of Latin American Citizens), Organizer of the Cesar E. Chavez March for Justice and President of the Texas Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, IUE Local 780. This is an impressive list of his accomplishments and dedication to the Hispanic community. His parents were migrant farm workers!
Respect is due to all, no matter where in San Antonio they live or work. In this news spot above Martinez said we have outsiders coming into our Barrios and our communities, trying to denounce day laborers.. He is an artful dodger, stating misleading comments as to why the protesters were at this particular site.
The protesters were at a Day Labor Watch Operation. They were from the U.S. Border Watch and American Freedom Riders. They stood vigil at that corner to protest the hiring of Illegal workers. Jaime P. Martinez tried to make it sound that outsiders were coming to their neighborhood to cause trouble, not the stated purpose of showing illegal activity. Mr. Martinez should also know that it is a Federal crime to hire รข illegal! I am curious if his labor union has undocumented or illegal workers as members?
Why did the U.S. Border Watch and the American Freedom Riders know of this location and activities and the San Antonio Police Department and Immigration Services did not? Was it an oversight or an intentional selective enforcement?
My father-in-law was born in Mexico. His parents were actors and traveled both sides of the border. Some of his brothers and sisters were born in the U.S., some in Mexico. During Word War II he fought for this country in the U.S. Navy. After he came back from the war, he received his U.S. Citizenship, was married and had 4 children. He retired from the U.S. Government and lived a happy life. All of his children earned college degrees. He like everyone in the United States has an equal chance.
If everyone would just see the trees, there is a forest. There is only on race,
THE HUMAN RACE.
Allen Ellebracht