Colorado Governor’s Race Gets Ugly as Candidates Jump on Anti-Immigrant Bandwagon
Thursday, July 17, 2014 | Imagine 2050
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper has his eyes on a higher office, and he is betting that picking on children fleeing violence will help him get there. Between jokes with Vice President Biden, and pool with President Obama, he took time to publicly state his opposition to hosting children who have fled the ongoing crisis in Central America. Hickenlooper’s cold comments follow similar statements from his Republican challenger, gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez.
It’s clear that both candidates seem to think that closing their state off to young refugees will further their political careers.
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Anti-immigrant Arizona sheriff prompts protest against migrant children
Tuesday, July 15, 2014 | Nativism Watch
An Arizona sheriff with a history of anti-immigrant rhetoric and activism has provided Oracle, Arizona residents with information that helped activists coordinate an anti-immigrant demonstration today. Oracle local Robert Skiba, who plans to protest a proposed site to shelter children fleeing violence in Central America, was told of the plans during a meeting with Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu.
Appearing on Breitbart News Sunday, Skiba recalled his meeting with Babeu and expressed shock before he reportedly told the sheriff, “We will take care of this.”
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West: Migrant children are part of Democrats’ plan to boost voter base
Tuesday, July 15, 2014 | Imagine 2050
Over recent months, the nation was surprised to learn that since October, more than 52,000 Central American children have been detained after fleeing violence in their home countries. What has been far less surprising has been the organized nativist movement’s efforts to politicize the issue and staunchly oppose humane responses to it. And even less surprising has been Frank Gaffney’s constant efforts to vilify the children and push back against policies that would aid them.
Gaffney, founder and president of the Center for Security Policy, has already demonstrated his lack of empathy by deeming these children an invasion. However, in his latest efforts against them, Gaffney proved why he’s worthy of the title of Islamophobia’s “most paranoid propagandist.”
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Murrieta protest organizers have history of anti-Muslim activism
Monday, July 14, 2014 | Imagine 2050
The shameful actions of anti-immigrant protesters who have blocked buses transporting Central American children fleeing violence to a Border Patrol facility for processing have been some of the most explicit public displays of nativism in recent memory. With intimidating chants of “Go back home!” and “U-S-A,” and signs accusing those seeking refuge of being public health threats, the Murrieta protestors have shown they have virtually no regard for the well-being of these children who have made this traumatic journey out of pure desperation.
As is well-documented, some of the organizers of the Murrieta demonstrations have a history of nativist activism that is not limited to demonizing immigrants. Muslims, too, have been a target of their bigoted fervor.
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Image source: Los Angeles Times