Immigration

Environmentalists Protest Anti-Immigrant Group Progressives for Immigration Reform

Written by Rebecca Poswolsky

Environmentalists and activists from around the nation participated last weekend in the 3rd annual Power Shift conference.  On the first day of Power Shift, Friday, April 15, a number of young activists stood outside Progressives for Immigration Reform’s (PFIR) office building with a banner that read, “Progressives for Immigration Reform does not stand for the environmental movement.”

All of the protesters wore green t-shirts that read, “Real environmentalists stand with immigrants. The group of environmentalists was there to expose the connections between PFIR and anti-immigrant group Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).

Politics

NY Times Profiles John Tanton, Creator of Powerful Anti-Immigrant Movement

Written by Jill Garvey

Anti-immigrant leaders claim they are too polite to eject white nationalist John Tanton from their circle.

A feature article in Sunday’s New York Times establishes that the man behind powerful anti-immigrant organizations such as FAIR, Center for Immigration Studies, and NumbersUSA, is a white nationalist.

The Times article cites such examples as:

He [Tanton] set off a storm of protests two decades ago with a memorandum filled with dark warnings about the “Latin onslaught.” Word soon followed that FAIR was taking money from the Pioneer Fund, a foundation that promoted theories of the genetic superiority of whites.

The article goes on to say that over the years Tanton has increasingly… Read more

Immigration

Tea Party Leaves the Fake Tea at Home and Brings Bigots to the Party Instead: “U.S. has a higher standard of living because it is populated by white people”

Written by Chris Griffin

In Arizona local Tea Party groups decided to hold a rally at the Arizona State capitol on April 15.  While you would think that this rally would be about spending or taxes or something like that, it was instead dominated by the message of bigotry and white supremacy.  When the Tea Party decided to invite the controversial Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the anti-immigrant extremist State Senate President Russell Pearce to be guest speakers, they had immediately and inherently created a platform for bigotry.

Arpaio, who is currently under two federal investigations for racial profiling and for abuse of power, has made headlines in the past for taking a friendly photo with a… Read more

Politics

Top 10 Reasons Why FAIR Should Drop John Tanton from its Board

Written by Stephen Piggott

Over 30 years ago, in 1979, white nationalist John Tanton founded the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). This began Tanton’s assault on immigrants and cemented him as the creator of the modern day anti-immigrant movement in the United States. Though Tanton has taken a back seat in recent years, he still holds a very prominent position on the board of FAIR. Despite all of Tanton’s controversies, FAIR has refused to drop him from the organization’s board of directors. Here are the top ten reasons why FAIR should immediately remove Tanton from its board.

1.       Tanton solicited and received over $1. 2 million from the Pioneer Fund for FAIR. The Pioneer Fund is… Read more

Politics

Video: What is the John Tanton Network?

Written by Imagine 2050 Editors

This video provides the facts on the Tanton Network, its creator John Tanton, and the many ties the anti-immigrant movement has to white nationalism.

The anti-immigrant law passed in Arizona last year was introduced by Arizona republican Russell Pearce (shown here hugging a neo-Nazi) and drafted by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (a designated hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center). 

Politics

A Boy and His Pink Toenails

Written by Amy Spicer

In a recent feature, J. Crew’s online catalogue portrays designer Jenna Lyons with her son Beckett. It’s a stunning shot of a mother and her very clearly adored child, a boy who happens to be sporting pink toenails. The accompanying quote by Ms. Lyons states: “Lucky for me, I ended up with a boy whose favorite color is pink. Toenail painting is way more fun in neon.”

Immigration

Powershift Attendees Challenge Efforts by Anti-Immigrant Groups to Green Bigotry

Written by Guest Blogger

By Jesse Sanes

This weekend youth from around the country are converging in Washington for the 3rd annual Powershift conference. Over the course of the next few days, students, other young people and allies will participate in movement building workshops, direct actions and organizing to combat global warming. Youth are coming to the capital to promote solutions to the country’s current addiction to fossil fuels and in order to curb deadly problems that propel climate change.

Powershift attendees are concerned with many different approaches to mitigating global warming. They seek solutions to global warming through invigorating a new green economy, tackling social inequalities that spawn over-consumption and bringing coal power to a halt.

Politics

Bigots on the Radio

Written by Glenn Hutchinson

“They say you better listen to the voice of reason
But they don’t give you any choice ’cause they think that it’s treason
So you had better do as you are told
You better listen to the radio . . . “ – Elvis Costello “Radio, Radio”

Elvis Costello sang about the commercialization of radio back in the 70’s, but in 2011, I was tuning into my NPR dial and guess what I hear?

Commentators with ties to white nationalism talking about immigration.

Two weeks ago, Diane Rehm invited Dan Stein of FAIR (Federation of Americans for Immigration Reform).   Although the program included other guests, why invite a representative of… Read more