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June 10, 2005, 12:44 PM EDT / Source: msnbc.com
By Brock N. Meeks
Volunteers in the civilian-led border watch group known as the “Minuteman Project” are called vigilantes, or worse, by their critics -- patriots or heroes by their supporters. Regardless of the moniker, the Minutemen have driven the issue of illegal immigration from the margins of America’s conscience onto the national stage.
In October, the group plans to launch a coordinated border watch with its chapters located in at least eight states.
The Minuteman Project was initially cobbled together by a grassroots Internet effort and its recruits fired up by tough talking radio talk show hosts from California to Texas. What was once just a band of passionate citizens has pushed its agenda all the way to Washington.
Last month Gilchrist and Simcox met with members of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus, adding to the the Minuteman momentum.
“I would like to thank the Minutemen on behalf of the millions of Americans who can’t be here with you today,” said Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo, chairman of the CIRC. “You are good citizens who ask that our laws be enforced. When did that become a radical idea?”
Border watches are scheduled or are in the planning stages for Arizona, California, Texas and New Mexico, Hair said. “Chris is going to Michigan in a couple of weeks to do a training session there,” she said. “But they’ve also got Idaho and Washington State and Vermont interested. In all they’ve had requests from seven states in the north,” and new requests “coming in every day.
Nothing new under the sun, this news is two decades old