It's time for Congress to stop legitimizing hate groups
The recent double murder of Brisenia and Raul Flores is just the latest act of violence flowing from the anti-immigrant sentiments of groups like FAIR and the “Minutemen.” Please join us in calling on leaders in the House and Senate who oversee immigration policy to renounce these groups and stop giving them an audience. Congress must stand up to this kind of hate and extremism!
Here is the statement we’ll send on your behalf to members of the Congressional committees overseeing immigration issues. You can also add a personal comment in the box provided.
Dear Members of the House and Senate Subcommittees on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law Membership:
Last month, 9-year-old Brisenia Flores was murdered, apparently at the hands of Shawna Forde and other individuals connected to organizations like the “Minutemen” groups and the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). There has been a documented increase in the level of anti-Latino violence in recent years, and it can be connected to the ideas promoted by these groups.
Unfortunately, representatives from FAIR and other anti-immigrant groups have regularly appeared before you as immigration “experts,” as many as 30 times in the past 8 years. These organizations have been labeled hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center, and they pollute the immigration debate with anti-immigrant and anti-Latino sentiment and rhetoric. It is improper for them to be legitimized by Congress, and especially by the Immigration sub-committee.
I am calling on you to renounce FAIR, the Minutemen, and other extremist anti-immigrant groups, and pledge to no longer invite them to testify before you. As members of Congress, you have enormous responsibility for facilitating public discourse. There are two sides of the immigration debate, and both should be given a hearing. But hate and extremism do not deserve a place at the table.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]