Nativists Now Mad They Can’t Deport the Dictionary

Written by Brian Schultz

Established in the sixties, the American Heritage Dictionary originally set out to address what its founders lamented as excessively lenient standards in other dictionaries, and it gained a reputation for its traditionalist resistance to new words and usages. It comes as a surprise, then, that it all too quickly relinquished this patent discipline, including the term “anchor baby” to its latest edition without disclosing the words’ obviously offensive nature. Though its executive editor, Steve Kleinedler, acknowledged the term’s apparent “political charge” in a November 13 interview, he insisted that the AHD chose its definition “objectively [and] without taking sides”; this, however, neglected the term’s contentious origin: a nativist invective to advance anti-immigrant sentiment.… Read more

New FAIR Press Release

Written by Imagine 2050 Editors

Anti-immigrant group Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) issued a new press release earlier this week after the Supreme Court ruled that it will hear the case of the anti-immigrant Arizona law, SB1070. FAIR applauded the decision even though it is unlikely that the court will decide in favor of the anti-immigrant side.

“And the Anti-Immigrant Grinch of the Year is….”

Written by Imagine 2050 Editors

Join us in congratulating Kris Kobach for winning the Anti-Immigrant Grinch of the Year award for 2011.

Kobach beat out some tough competition to take home this infamous prize. After SB1070 passed 2010 was the year that propelled him into the spotlight. In 2011, though, he went one better, writing Alabama’s HB56—the harshest anti-immigrant bill to date. Additionally, Kobach has also used his political power as secretary of state in Kansas to wage assaults on civil liberties in Kansas.

Let’s take a look back at some of Kobach’s Grinch-iest moments of 2011:

  • As mentioned, Kobach authored HB56, which was signed into law in Alabama earlier this year. The law has dozens

… Read more

Nativists Respond to Gingrich’s “Humane” Approach

Written by Guest Blogger

by Domenic Powell

Much to the chagrin of the anti-immigrant movement, Newt Gingrich has continued to move ahead of  his competitors for the Republican presidential nomination who have positioned themselves to the right of him on immigration.

Gingrich faced serious backlash from anti-immigrant groups after he argued for a “humane” approach to the 11 million people residing in the United States without a valid visa—some of whom hinted that the stance was the end of his run.

The Guardian, for example, quoted Ryan Rhodes, a Tea Party leader in Iowa, as saying: “I think he will take a hit […] I think that is an issue where he parts company with conservatives.”

A blogger… Read more

“Free Pancho!”: the Occupy Movement Steps Up for Immigrant Rights

Written by Cloee Cooper

“If you want to be a rebel, be kind: human-kind, be both.” – Pancho

Pancho Ramos Stierle was known by members of the Fruitvale community in Oakland as a spiritual leader. Following the Occupy Oakland General Strike of November 2, Pancho joined three people in meditation to peacefully defend the site against police removal at Occupy Oakland. During a police sweep of the encampment on November 14, police arrested him and entered his name into a federal database.

In a personal letter that was drafted by members of the community after Pancho’s arrest, it stated, “Pancho’s case is unique, in that he faces not only the charges in connection with his peaceful protest, but… Read more

Rick Perry: New Ad Brings Same Old Exclusions

Written by Amy Spicer

In his new campaign commercial, Rick Perry serves up yet another platter of homophobia with a side of religious zeal. In a campaign filled with gaffes including, but clearly not limited to, failing to name the three agencies he would dismantle if elected, entertaining supporters at his hunting ranch with an overtly racist former name aligning himself with the birther movement, and his overall inability to understand the separation of church and state, Perry has decided to introduce into lexicon Obama’s “war on religion”. And he’s vowed that if elected President he’ll end said war.

While Perry’s strident anti-gay rhetoric has become a staple of his campaign his “war on… Read more

Immigration

Cross-Post: Is NC FIRE Undocumented?

Written by Imagine 2050 Editors

Originally posted by The Progressive Pulse on December 9, 2011.

Attend any legislative meeting at the NC General Assembly related to immigration or documentation of identity and you’ll likely find James Johnson in the front row, shoulder to shoulder with Ron Woodard of NC LISTEN and/or William Gheen of ALIPAC. Johnson, an advocate of Arizona style immigration controls, is President/Founder of North Carolinians For Immigration Reform & Enforcement (NCFIRE). Described variously as a non-profit organization, accepting tax deductible donations, and specifically as a 501(c)3 organization*, NCFIRE is curiously MIA when it comes to documentation of its own identity.

The organization is not listed as a non-profit corporation with the NC Secretary of… Read more

Cross-post: Music Legend Manu Chao Protests AZ Anti-immigrant Laws

Written by Imagine 2050 Editors

Originally posted by World Music Central on December 9, 2011.

In September 2011, international French-Spanish music star Manu Chao ended his United States tour with a free concert in Arizona in collaboration with the National Day Laborer Organizing Network’s ‘Alto Arizona’ campaign. During his visit, Manu Chao participated in a protest outside of the office of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the enforcer of Arizona’s anti-immigration law SB-1070.

Manu Chao’s latest music video includes an acoustic interpretation of “Clandestino” while interviewing inmates from the Tent City jail in Arizona.

Directed by filmmaker Alex Rivera, the video features interviews with immigrant prisoners from inside the jail, where inmates are forced to endure the extreme temperatures… Read more

Friday Media Recall (12.08.2011)

Written by Imagine 2050 Editors

Every Friday we want to offer a collection of media pieces that we’re finding provocative, vital, persuasive, prophetic, genius, infuriating, mind-blogging, and other adjectives that gesture at all things thought-provoking. Some of these posts will, of course, focus on immigration, but some will not. Some of these posts will represent the foreground of our national attention, but others will have sunk far into its background. Regardless, we hope to pass on a bit of what we’ve been reading, and what’s been capturing our attentions. If you’d like to pass on any media, please contact us at Imag2050@gmail.com. Enjoy!

… Read more

Ilario Pantano Receives First Endorsement from Anti-Corporate Conspiracy Theorist

Written by Guest Blogger

by Domenic Powell

William Gheen, president of the Americans for Legal Immigration PAC (ALI-PAC), has endorsed Ilario Pantano, a former commodities trader for Goldman Sachs, in his run for Congress in North Carolina’s 7th District.

While Pantano might be “honored” to receive the endorsement of the state’s biggest bigot, he might want to have a critical glance at Gheen’s past railings against bankers and “traitorous corporations.”

Earlier this year, Gheen conceded defeat, check that, offered a truce to Bank of America after his three-year attempt to organize a boycott against one of the biggest businesses in the country. On the ALIPAC-owned website “bankofamericaboycott.com,” boycott operatives highlight the banks woes, including… Read more