2008 Woodie Awards
Simcox enflames immigration debate
TABITHA KEILY AND SONIA TREVIZO
Arbiter Staff
| |
|
Approximately 200 people filled the Lookout Room at the Boise State Student Union Building Tuesday evening to hear Minuteman Civil Defense Corps founder Chris Simcox speak. Simcox was invited by the Boise State College Republicans to speak about his organization and its view on securing our borders. More than half of the audience wore red shirts symbolizing their protest to Simcox' message.
"We want to let him know that his hate speech is not welcome," Lucia Venegas said. Venegas, a Boise State graduate student in counseling said she feels his presence made some students feel unwelcome at BSU.
The animosity began before the speech even started. Faculty, students and community members gathered in the Cultural Center beforehand, where Student Union Director Jack Rahmann spoke to the protestors about rules concerning conduct at events held in the SUB. Despite disagreements interpreting these rules, the protestors quietly made their way to the Lookout Room. The protestors purposefully filled every other seat to accentuate their presence.
Simcox began by thanking the College Republicans for inviting him to tackle this controversial issue. "There seems to be growing friction and ethnic strife," Simcox said. He claims this is the result of government inaction. Simcox expressed that both Northern and Southern borders have security problems and that this is the fault of the U.S. government. "We challenge federal authorities to do their job," Simcox said. "We are leading a reform movement." The organization was founded in October 2002 to address the issue of illegal entry to the United States. There are 117 chapters across the nation and 10,000 volunteers.
Simcox emphasized that some groups of the Minuteman split from the original organization; he apologized for their extreme rhetoric and stressed this is not what he represents. "I admire the messages on your shirts," Simcox said to the protestors. "No human is illegal, no oppression should be tolerated in our country." The shirts worn by the protestors were purchased by the Associated Students of BSU for the event "No Oppression Tolerated," held last spring. Many of the protestors added additional messages to their shirts such as, "BSU is too great for hate," and "Take your hate and get off our campus."
"This issue is out of control," Simcox said of illegal immigration. He claimed the solution was simple: to secure our borders. The protestors remained relatively calm throughout the majority of Simcox' speech. However his closing statement, a quote from Theodore Roosevelt, sparked outrage among the protestors while his supporters gave him a standing ovation. "We have room for one flag in this nation: the American flag. We have room for one language: the English language," Simcox concluded.
The floor was then opened for a question-and-answer session that turned into a heated debate between the protestors and Simcox' supporters. It came to a chaotic close when the majority of the protestors stood up and left chanting, "Si se puede!" (Yes it can be done!). Fernando Mejia, a Boise State student, said the protestors wanted to portray the message that immigration is an American experience. "[Simcox] wants to unify people but he's actually dividing them," Mejia said. "I think he is clearly misinformed."
Outgoing College Republican President Jonathan Sawmiller said the student club brought Simcox to Boise State because he has first-hand knowledge of what the situation at the borders is like. He added that he thought the protestors were disrespectful and had an immature attitude toward the speech. "We should be able to come together in an academic environment and discuss this," Sawmiller said.
The incoming College Republican President Trevor Grigg was in agreement with Sawmiller. "I honestly felt the hate in the room and that's not what we want to do," Grigg said. He said he was disappointed with how both sides handled the situation. "The College Republicans are not a hate group," Grigg said. He said he wants to fix the reputation the group has and build positive relationships with other groups on campus.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 40
Conor
posted 12/06/07 @ 12:32 AM MST
The people protesting Simcox's speech were there, admirably, showing their side of the issue. I was disappointed that there was some heckling, which I feel is disrespectful, but that's not really the point. (Continued…)
Felipe
posted 12/06/07 @ 3:53 AM MST
I was at the speech and was surprised to hear about how the Minuteman actually rescued 326 foreign nationals who would have died in the desert otherwise. (Continued…)
James
posted 12/06/07 @ 4:00 AM MST
Thank you College Republicans for having the nerve to bring someone to campus to tell the truth about what goes on at the border. Chris Simcox is a true patriot. (Continued…)
Robert
posted 12/06/07 @ 8:09 AM MST
The title of the article, Simcox enflames immigration debate, displays the pro-illegal alien and liberal bias of your newspaper. Simcox was there to discuss the issue, and to provide solutions. (Continued…)
Mal
posted 12/06/07 @ 9:22 AM MST
However you view his opinions, or the opinions of the protesters, the fact that it was brought to campus and aired in public is a step in the right direction. (Continued…)
Brown Surprise
posted 12/06/07 @ 9:37 AM MST
I heard those racial slogans...
"why don't you walk back to mexico"... While another looked at John Sawmiller and asked if he "brought his taser"
There were haters there. (Continued…)
Megan
posted 12/06/07 @ 11:11 AM MST
I was there at the speech and I was very disappointed on the behavior of some. Laughing and talking during the speech are just a few examples. I understand if you do not agree with the speaker but the behaviour shows disprespect not only to the speaker but those who were there to geniunely listen. (Continued…)
lauran
posted 12/06/07 @ 1:17 PM MST
From what I know about the Minuteman, these folks are nothing more than an armed Neighborhood Watch Group. Armed, because the events on the border which does not get any media time, provide the need to protect ones-self. (Continued…)
rtyrtyrty
posted 12/06/07 @ 1:36 PM MST
I've had spite towards college Republicans due to having read about all their hate-based event initiatives, and tendency to invite antagonizers, whether they've been homophobic, or islamophobic, or xenophobic related. (Continued…)
lauran
posted 12/06/07 @ 1:58 PM MST
I just saw the video clip -
The arbiter spend over 4 mins to interview some girl, spewing open borders and tolerance to those that come here through "criminal" means, and then spends only 1 minute with a guy who supports the speaker?
wow
Post a Comment