Anti-immigrant group Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) began its annual tour of the US/Mexico border this week. Cynthia Kendoll, the president of the anti-immigrant state group Oregonians for Immigration Reform (OFIR) is on the tour and is providing updates.
Last week Kevin DeAnna, the founder of Youth for Western Civilization (YWC), announced that he is leaving the group. Since its introduction into the conservative movement in 2009, YWC has been widely criticized for its associations with white nationalists and other assorted right-wing hardliners, which has seen DeAnna spend the past three years attempting to defend the organization from accusations of racism.
Doing so seems to have taken its toll.
YWC has solicited the help of white nationalist Jared Taylor for fundraising purposes in the past—just one of their moves which has drawn such intense criticism. Taylor runs the racist publication American Renaissance, stating back in 2005 that:
“The races are different. Blacks and whites are different. When blacks are left entirely to their own devices, Western Civilization — any kind of civilization — disappears.”
YWC has also continually invited many controversial figures to speak on college campuses, including white nationalist Richard Spencer of the blog Alternative Right. YWC’s own blog has also made headlines for the wrong reasons recently when a post called for the hanging of Nelson Mandela, labeling him a “bloodthirsty terrorist.”
But the question remains, with such a history embroiled in controversy and self-defense, why is DeAnna leaving now? There are a few possible reasons.
DeAnna cited being “old” as one of his reasons, but this doesn’t give us a clear indication. The stress of constantly defending YWC is one possibility, but internal strife could be another. DeAnna has stated that he is moving on to a new job, reportedly with World Net Daily.
So, in what state does DeAnna leave YWC? That is difficult to judge because it impossible to determine how active YWC really is. And so, another reason maybe extend from DeAnna also lamenting in his departure announcement the extreme difficulty involved in getting YWC chapters approved on campuses because of its history. YWC claims to have many more active members and chapters than it actually reports, but there is little proof of that these members actually exist. The YWC website was down for about a month recently, as well. Supposedly it was due to be updated, but when it reappeared again last week, nothing had changed.
Nevertheless, DeAnna’s exit comes at a traumatic time for YWC.
The controversy around the Nelson Mandela blog has yet to die down, and the group has come under attack from not only the left but large sections of the right, too, who have attempted to distance themselves from the group’s white nationalist leanings. DeAnna leaving does not mean that YWC will disappear, but the loss of the group’s founder and “visionary” could have an extremely detrimental effect on YWC and its future activities.
Photo: Photo from cernIO's Flickr page
The ethnic studies program (MAS) within the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) has been a very successful program with a proven record. Students that participated in the program received higher grades and test scores on average and were more likely to graduate high school than their counterparts. This, however, did not stop Arizona from passing a draconian law that would target the MAS program, would seek to eliminate that program, and would prevent others from developing such programs in Arizona.
Recently TUSD not only failed to stand up for this successful program and the students and families they are supposed to represent, the board went one disgusting step further.
The Board went into the schools and removed all the books that were being used in the MAS courses and placed them in storage, effectively banning those books in TUSD schools. The seized books are as follows:
While the libraries can still carry these books, most do not actually have them available. In addition, the MAS teachers are not even allowed to use other sources to teach students about race and oppression. According to an article in the Tucson Citizen, an online newspaper, the Interim Deputy Superintendent Maria Menconi was asked if the MAS teachers would be allowed to use, for example, “‘The Tempest’ by Shakespeare to talk about race and oppression as it relates to European taking slaves in the West Indies.”
Apparently the ban would include texts like Shakespeare’s, as well.
Following this decision, TUSD tried to launch a PR mission arguing that it is not a ban, and that they are only doing what they have to, to remain in line with the law, HB 2281. While you could argue that the book ban does seem to be in line with the intent of the original law, it is definitely a ban, and the move just illustrates how flawed the law is in the first place.
Regardless, there is no excuse for banning these books and TUSD’s actions are equally repulsive.
In another article in the Tucson Citizen, the Student Press Law Center, an advocate for student first Amendment rights, along with dozens of other free expression organizations, have since filed a joint-letter condemning TUSD’s actions. The article explains that “Frank D LoMonte, executive director of Student Press Law Center argued that, ‘Banning books is a radical step, and “protecting” students from controversial ideas in never a legally or educationally sound justification for such drastic action’.”
Knowledge is power, but in Arizona they are using power fueled by ignorance to restrain knowledge and consciousness. Who knew that allowing students to learn and read books about racism, oppression, and civil rights was such a dangerous thing? Makes you wonder what exactly they are trying to protect.
Photo: from crjp's Flickr page
On January 24, United Non-Discriminatory Individuals Demanding Our Studies (UNIDOS) staged protests in Tucson, Arizona, and presented plans to create a community grown School of Ethnic Studies, all as a way to reclaim their education. UNIDOS was formed after Arizona passed HB 2281, which bans ethnic studies programs in public schools, in the summer of 2010.
UNIDOS has been at the forefront of the battle against the ban on ethnic studies since it passed. UNIDOS and its supporters held a peaceful all-night vigil outside the Tucson United School District (TUSD) building, and conducted their own audit to review the positive impacts of ethnic studies. At the time, they found that ethnic studies had reversed national trends of drop-out rates and low achievement. The audit included testimonies from various college-bound students in the Mexican American Studies program.
“Ethnic studies played a vital role in my success as both a student and a member of the community. It provided me with the quality education that allowed me to make University of Arizona an option in my college career. Without Ethnic Studies, I wouldn’t have the tools I need in order to succeed at the university level,” said Gabriel Rocha, a University of Arizona Architecture student.
UNIDOS, in addition to creating a school where children could learn about their ancestors and culture, created a ten point resolution to keep ethnic studies in their schools:
In solidarity across the country, librarians, educators, writers, civil rights activists, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus are together mounting a series of national actions to call attention to these educational and civil rights violations and to support local efforts to counter them.
Also on January 24, the American Library Association issued a condemnation and pushed for a repeal of the ethnic studies ban. On February 1, teachers and schools around the country began participating in the Rethinking Schools initiative, which has published a nationally acclaimed textbook, Rethinking Columbus: The Next 500 Years, which was infamously confiscated and banned from Tucson schools.
In Georgia a network of educators is sponsoring a “Teach-in” in Atlanta on Saturday, Feb. 4, to inform the community about what’s happening and work together to fight censorship and racism in schools.
“While the institution continues to fail us, the community continues to rise. Ethnic Studies is abolished inside the gates of our schools but not the streets of our community. Education is ours, from the roots our knowledge will continue to grow with autonomous education.” ~ UNIDOS
Ethnic studies programs are not just the result of Civil Rights activism in the 1960s. They also an attempt to provide students with a mutli-perspective telling of history and literature. All students benefit from these classes, without question.
In these ways and so many more, ethnic studies plays an important role in building truly inclusive democracies and systems of education. Show your solidarity with the students of Arizona by supporting their struggle against the ethnic studies ban. We also encourage all students to push for a truly inclusive campus by promoting sanctuary campuses–“to them we say unidos jamas seran vencidos,” or united you will never be defeated.
Originally posted by Hispanic Tips on February 17.
Press Release:
The National Hispanic Media Coalition, NH
MC, applauds KFI managers for finally taking action against hate mongers John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou of KFI’s afternoon drive-time program, “The John and Ken Show.” For two decades John and Ken have spewed hate in the Los Angeles community while KFI has profited from their vitriol.
Today, KFI AM 640 suspended John and Ken for calling Whitney Houston a “crack ho.” Their suspension reportedly ends this coming Monday, but NHMC is urging KFI to take John and Ken off the air permanently. NHMC’s official Take John and Ken Off The Air campaign has been waging since the fall when John and Ken released the private cell phone number of an immigrant rights activist, which resulted in over 500 hateful calls and death threats. Dozens of community organizations and national civil rights groups have joined the campaign, and over twenty advertisers have ceased advertising on “The John and Ken Show.”
“A temporary suspension is not enough. How many times do John and Ken get to spew their hate, apologize and then do it again after taking off a long weekend? KFI must permanently remove John and Ken from the air. Los Angeles deserves better,” said Alex Nogales, NHMC President & CEO.
Continue reading the article here.
Originally posted by Colorlines on February 17.
54 Across: One Caught By Border PatrolAnswer: ILLEGAL
I do think “illegals” as a shorthand noun has an unnecessarily pejorative tone, and it is routinely used by the anti-immigration side … It might be worth cautioning against “illegals” in the style book entry, though if i do that, I will wait for a decent interval – otherwise some suspicious observer will assume the change is aimed at you.
Well, vigilant readers, the good news is, you seem to have gotten the style book updated. And I’ll resist that particular shorthand in the future.
State Legislators for Legal Immigration (SLLI) a coalition of nativist state lawmakers filed an amicus brief with the US Supreme Court in the AZ SB1070 case. SLLI were assisted by Judicial Watch in filing the brief.
Photo: via Alternet
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!
Yesterday in Kansas, a man was arrested after his truck was found allegedly packed with several homemade shrapnel-filled bombs near the Capitol. The Kansas legislature also began a series of hearings yesterday over different immigration bills.
The car found with the explosives had bumper stickers that said “Welcome to America. Now Speak English” and “Does my American flag offend you? Dial 1 800 LEAVE THE USA.” The car also had stickers and a license plate identifying the owner as an Army paratrooper. The man was arrested inside a tunnel underneath the Capitol, used by legislators and others to move between the Capitol and a legislative office building. The man claimed he was headed to a meeting in one of the offices.
At the same time, hundreds of pro-immigrant demonstrators were at the Capitol peacefully responding to the American Legislative Exchange Council and Secretary of State Kris Kobach. The demonstrators submitted dozens of public records requests in order to determine how much time Kobach has spent on his work with the Immigration Reform Law Institute (IRLI), the legal arm of the Federation for American Immigration Reform that writes anti-immigrant bills for state legislatures. Kobach is the author of Arizona’s SB 1070 and Alabama’s HB 56 and currently listed as an Of Counsel attorney for IRLI.
Sunflower Community Action, a leading organization focused on education, and immigrant and workers rights, released a statement in response to the bombing attempt, “As Kansans, we can lead with our values of family, faith and hard work and not with the message of hate being spread by Secretary of State Kris Kobach. If the rhetoric continues we will continue to see incidents like the one in Topeka on Wednesday.”
The bomb scare invokes memories of a shrapnel bomb found last year in Spokane, Washington, along the Martin Luther King Jr. Day march route. White supremacists detonated a shrapnel bomb in downtown Spokane in 1996.
This incident could be another indicator of the increasingly militaristic approach of nativists and racists to advance their agenda. In 2009, the Southern Poverty Law Center sent a letter urging the House and Senate Committees on Homeland Security and Armed Services to investigate the presence of extremists in the armed services. In recent years, we have witnessed the rise of groups like the Oath Keepers, Minutemen, and “Ready’s Rangers” (a militant group patrolling the border led by neo-Nazi JT Ready) answering the call to fight against a supposed immigrant “invasion.” Who is constantly sounding the alarm? Other more supposedly “mainstream” anti-immigrant organizations.
Yesterday’s scare is another reminder why deferring to the politics of invasion and riling up more extreme elements can have dire consequences. Perhaps Kansas’s Secretary of State should be more focused on threats from domestic terrorism than immigrant families.
Philip Cafaro is taking on the Sierra Club yet again. This time he is not only blaming the Sierra Club for its stance on “immigration-driven population,” but he is also painting immigrants as the main culprits contributing to US greenhouse gas emissions in recent years.
As the recently appointed president of Progressives for Immigration Reform (PFIR), Cafaro is known for merging anti-immigrant politics with environmental conservation and false notions around so-called environmental sustainability. He has also written for many Tanton Network groups, including Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) and NumbersUSA.
Cafaro is a professor at Colorado State University where teaches environmental ethics. That’s right, “ethics.” His close alignment with the anti-immigrant movement and reductionist politics should not be regarded as a simple concern, as his completely ridiculous claims are solely backed by other anti-immigrant groups and reports. Nothing ethical here.
For example, in 2010, Cafaro wrote a blog for CIS, titled “Oil Spills and Immigration Policy,” that addresses what he believed was the real cause of the oil spill. Cafaro wrote:
“Population makes a difference – and immigration levels make a difference to our overall population [….] In the long-term, regarding efforts to create a sustainable society, these demographic trends loom a lot larger than whether or not BP or Halliburton made some greedy, foolish decisions to cut corners in the Gulf.”
Such accusations are not only offensive to real environmentalists who attempted to hold BP responsible and engage with communities in order to respond effectively to the disaster, they are just plain way off-the-mark.
Similarly last week in his most recent blog post, “Sierra Club says, ‘think globally, don’t act locally’,” he wrote:
“In recent years, most growth in US greenhouse gas emissions has come from immigration-driven population growth. But you’d never know it from listening to the leaders of the Sierra Club.”
And there you have it. The above quote from Cafaro even links to a 2008 piece, “Immigration to the United States and World-Wide Greenhouse Gas Emissions,” by CIS. So according to Cafaro, population and immigrants are to blame not only for the BP oil spill, but also for greenhouse gas emissions as well.
While the Sierra Club recently took a positive stance in opposing the new immigration detention center proposed in Southwest Ranches, he and other anti-immigrant leaders continue to attack the Sierra Club for not upholding platforms around US population stabilization.
It’s hard to take people like Cafaro seriously. It’s almost impossible to imagine that he’s still teaching environmental ethics, as well, as his claims have as much chance to be backed by any source outside of the anti-immigrant movement as a climate denier’s claims have of being backed by actual scientists.