Feature Archives

On Wednesday June 22nd, at 7:00 PM, there will be a Strategizing Meeting to Fight the Minuteman Project. It will take place at New College, 777 Valencia, Room 4 (between 18th and 19th Streets). Following the lead of activists in Southern California who support immigrants' rights, people in the Bay Area will come together to attempt to formulate a plan of resistance to counter "those who would divide us with borders and selectively proclaim some human beings as 'illegal.'” Read more

In April, under the rhetoric of fighting terrorism and protecting the economy, the Minuteman Project, which is an armed and racist vigilante organization, organized patrols of the Arizona border with Mexico. These right-wing, anti-immigrant activists and their allies are now expanding the border patrol project to New Mexico, Texas and California. In California, one patrol is scheduled to begin on July 18th, another on September 16th (intentionally scheduled on Mexico’s Independence Day), and a third patrol will be held in October.

One action that will likely be discussed is BorderHack, which will take place along the US/Mexico border from August 3rd-7th this year.

On June 4, 2005, the "Minutemen" entered the town of Fallbrook, San Diego County, early in the morning. There had been no prior warning to their arrival as there has been in the previous demonstrations in southern California. Their objective: to stop Citibank and two other banks from allowing their Mexican patrons to use Mexican identification to cash checks or open accounts. They stood on the sidewalk on Main St. next to Denny’s with racist anti-Mexican signs. There were reports that the Minutemen intimidated and harassed a disabled Mexican man who was walking down the sidewalk. Full story at San Diego Indymedia

6/17 Update: Garden Grove Police pursue phony criminal charge against woman hit by Minuteman supporter
5/26 Update: Hal Netkin identified as driver of minivan which struck four protesters.
5/25/2005: Two people protesting the "Minutemen" in Garden Grove, CA were hit by a car driven by someone presumed to be a Minuteman or one of their supporters. Local TV news reports are confirming the attack and reporting that the driver of the car was arrested. No information on the condition of those attacked is available. Meanwhile at least eight protesters were arrested. Photos | Report | LA Indymedia

Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist, who describes himself as a "conservative and a left-wing wacko," announced that he would address his followers at 7:30 p.m. on May 25th in Garden Grove, in what seems to be an attempt to expand his project to Southern California. In response, some pro-immigrant activists pledged to be there to voice their dissent inside and outside the meeting place at 6:30 p.m. Virtual Sit-In Against Minutemen | Previous coverage

Immigrant communities in San Francisco joined labor, teachers, nurses and others in the fight-back against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. In a May 5th rally at the State Building, Schwarzenegger was denounced for his recent call to close the border and his invitation to the Minutemen, the Arizona border vigilantes who will be going to the California border with Mexico this summer, to come to California. Groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union have also criticized the Governator for his support of the Minutemen.

Photos | Video | Report by Beyond Chron

On April 17th and 18th, a California delegation of immigrant rights and human rights activists was in Douglas, Arizona to respond to the presence of vigilantes on the US/México border, and to their hate messages. This group of 15 activists, along with allies in Arizona, planned to "counter the national media coverage and international attention that the 'Minutemen' have received with our message: We will not tolerate vigilanteism against immigrant communities! Immigrant rights are human rights!" Video of Friday's "Despedida" Press Conference

Organizers of the delegation include La Raza Centro Legal, St. Peter's Housing Committee, Heads Up Collective, PODER, SF Day Labor Program, Women's Collective, Padres Unidos. More info about the delegation's plans

The Minuteman Project is an event planned for the month of April, that has invited up to 1000 critics of U.S. immigration policy to Arizona for the stated purpose of protesting the alleged lack of enforcement at the U.S.- Mexico Border.

Critics of the Minuteman Project say that it helps to fuel anti-immigrant bias, and interferes with the work of law enforcement and border patrol agencies. The Border Patrol has denounced the MinuteMan project, voicing concern that untrained civilians “could cause more trouble than they prevent.” For example, volunteers have disturbed the footprints agents use to track immigrants and set off carefully placed sensors along the border. Read more The ACLU of Arizona is providing legal observers at the Minuteman Project's site this month.

Border Action Network/Accion Fronteriza | U.S. Customs and Border Protection | Border Security Website | Border Patrol Website | Ongoing US Indymedia Coverage

4/3/2005: Today was the annual Cesar Chavez Holiday Parade in San Francisco. A similar event takes place every year in celebration of the anniversary of the birth of Cesar Chavez, the late labor activist. The parade was led by local politicians and activists, and it included contingents representing unions and other local organizations. The largest float was an advertisement for Safeway and there were many local radio stations handing out promotional stickers.
San Francisco Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | April 2 in Fresno: 1 | Salinas on April 2-3

2004 Coverage | 2001 Coverage | SF State's Viva Cesar E. Chavez Site | United Farmworkers' "The Story of Cesar Chavez"

A vigil was held Monday, March 21st, at the home of Senator Diane Feinstein. People gathered at 4:00 pm at Centro del Pueblo (474 Valencia Street at 16th). They planned to carpool to the vigil at Diane Feinstein's house, which is located at 30 Presidio Terrace, near Arguello. The vigil included speakers, music, candles, and a public display of driver's licenses on Feinstein's front lawn.

People who are in favor of the issuance of driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants planned to express their intolerance of Feinstein's support for the Real ID Act (HR 418). If this bill becomes law, it will be impossible for undocumented immigrants in California to drive legally. Protest organizers say that Senator Diane Feinstein came out in favor the Real ID Act, which, among other things, would deny undocumented immigrants driver's licenses at a national level. If this law passes (it has already passed the US House of Representatives and will be considered by the US Senate in the next few weeks), it will destroy our efforts to obtain driver's licenses for immigrants here in California..." Read more

Video of March 5th Fresno Protest Against HR 418 | Past Indybay Coverage of the Real ID Act