Skip to content
The Archive of The Carrboro Citizen
Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Community
  • Schools
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Obituaries
  • Sports
  • Mill
  • Flora
  • Print Archive
  • About
Menu

Conservative group, ICE supporters clash in Chatham

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Staff

By Taylor Sisk
Staff writer

The dais at Captain John’s Dockside Fish and Crab House was arranged last Thursday evening for a debate – a forum, in broad terms, on immigration, education, crime and the budget.

On one side sat Hal Winters, representing the Chatham Conservative Voice, a citizens’ advocacy group, and Brian Bock of the Chatham County Republican Party. Rick Martinez of WPTF AM 680 was seated in the middle, moderator’s chair. To his left stood two full water glasses and a pair of empty chairs.

There would be no debate. Churlish words across the Internet – and the likelihood that groups from outside the county that espouse extreme views on immigration would be in attendance – had led county commissioners and members of the county’s Human Relations Commission to decline invitations to attend.

What was convened in the debate’s stead was a “rally for open government.”

The focal point of debate was to have been a resolution passed in January by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners declaring the commission’s opposition to participation in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 287(g) program, which provides money to local law-enforcement agencies to help identify illegal immigrants and process them for deportation.

The resolution states that while supporting “local law enforcement in the execution of their duties … the Chatham County Board of Commissioners stands in strong opposition to any local governmental agency contracting with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration laws.”

At a Feb. 16 commissioners’ meeting that was packed with supporters of the resolution, board chair George Lucier read a statement listing the reasons the board had adopted it.

These included the fact that since participation in 287(g) would require a new jail, it would be costly (“We’d rather build schools than jails.”); that joining would take resources away from other anti-crime measures that have proved effective, such as anti-gang programs; that evidence suggests that participation increases the incidence of racial profiling; and that the county must “honor” its diversity.

The Chatham Conservative Voice (CCV) has actively opposed that resolution, saying that, the overwhelming preponderance of supporters at the board meeting notwithstanding, it doesn’t reflect the views of a majority of Chatham citizens and that it was passed with insufficient public input.

Many, perhaps most, among the approximately 75 attendees Thursday evening arrived aware there would be no debate.

Earlier in the week, commission chair Lucier had declined to attend, stating in a letter to CCV communications chair Heather Johnson that, “several outside groups not affiliated with CCV have actively promoted this meeting with their own fliers and email lists, using inflammatory language …” but that he would be “happy to talk with local residents individually or in other local groups, using a format that is not dominated and emotionally charged by outside influences.”

One such flier had been circulated by NC FIRE, a Cumberland County-based group that, according to its website, seeks to “educate American citizens who turn a blind eye to the many costly and destructive aspects of illegal immigration,” including the “8 Ways Illegals Make You Sick.” That flier implored recipients to “Fight Back Against Chatham County” and urged members of such groups as the N.C. Minuteman Patriots and the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps to attend.

Representatives of William Gheen’s Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee (ALIPAC) were also expected to arrive. ALIPAC’S platform states that it “supports those that legally immigrate, but we DO NOT support any amnesty, visa expansion, or ‘Guest Worker’ program designed to reward illegal aliens or legalize their presence in the US.” Gheen spoke at a rally in Pittsboro in late January.

Outsiders not welcome
But in the days leading up to the forum, CCV began circulating the message that outsiders would be turned away and, according to Johnson, a communication was sent to NC FIRE saying their representatives would not be welcomed.

In an interview this week, Johnson said that, “In my naiveté, it never occurred to me [when I said], ‘OK, Mr. Gheen, I’ll give you the floor to talk about this issue,’ what kind of a guy he would be.”

Johnson said that it became clear to her that Gheen was “trying to use our local issue to advance his agenda,” one that she personally finds “horrible.” When Gheen’s language on the Chatham County Online Bulletin Board became what Johnson characterized as “ugly,” and he subsequently sent her “a very intimidating email … we made it clear we wanted absolutely nothing to do with these groups.”

“They’re here,” in the county, she added, “but not by my invitation.”

In fact, says Johnson, members of such groups most probably were in attendance on Thursday night. Nonetheless, a show of hands indicated an overwhelming majority of Chathamites.

“No one looks dangerous to me,” Bock said from the dais. “If you are dangerous, you can leave now.” And, for the most part, the evening proceeded in a civil manner.

Winters said that he believed “we all share a common goal of having a safe place to live, work and raise a family.”

And while the CCV doesn’t take a position on whether the county should adopt 287(g), both Winters and Bock declared that in passing the resolution Chatham County was now a “sanctuary county.” Winters later identified a website that listed the county as such.

“I don’t know anyone in Chatham County who is anti-immigration,” Winters told the crowd. “The Chatham Conservative Voice is in favor of diversity.”

In a subsequent interview, he said, “No one is advocating going into people’s homes.” Rather, he said, the CCV’s objective is to have the issue debated in a fair, civil and open forum.

But when the floor was opened to Q&A, the atmosphere grew increasingly vitriolic.
Speakers from the audience weren’t asked to identify themselves. When a man made reference to Lucier’s statement about whether the county should be building schools or jails, a woman shouted in response, “A jail.”

Another man, who later identified himself as Bill Brooks of Pittsboro, said, “This is our home. This is our county. We’ve got to take it back,” and offered to put down the first $100 to bring 287(g) to the county. He later again rose to suggest putting up road signs with directions to the commissioners’ homes.

Johnson then immediately called an end to the proceedings.

12 thoughts on “Conservative group, ICE supporters clash in Chatham”

  1. BajaRat says:
    March 5, 2009 at 1:10 pm

    Why shouldn’t any American be allowed to submit input? If Chatham decides to tolerate invaders (criminals by definition) that will be potentially dangerous for everyone in the state… if not in the entire country. 287(g) has worked well elsewhere, and it should be mandatory for every law enforcement agency in the country. Tolerating invaders is tantamount to aiding and abetting, a federal crime.

  2. Mike Mozart says:
    March 6, 2009 at 3:45 pm

    This is your country & your government people.

    If those elected to serve we the people refuse to act in the interest of the people & pander to ethnic pimps & illegal aliens, throw them out of office

    It’s very simple. You want to end the nightmare that is the illegal alien invasion? Quit electing those politicians & public servants who stand in the way & thwart the will of the people

    THROW THEM OUT OF OFFICE!

  3. June says:
    March 6, 2009 at 4:53 pm

    It’s beyond me why there should ever be any question of having illegal aliens in this country. They need to be given 30 days to get things together and leave. After that, they will go to jail because they are ILLEGAL. That seems to be a word that they and their supporters cannot understand. Our country is being systematically destroyed illegals.

  4. Larry says:
    March 6, 2009 at 4:53 pm

    HELP STOP ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION…….MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD: http://www.numbersusa.com/content/learn/about/what-numbersusa-is-all-about.html

  5. James says:
    March 6, 2009 at 5:13 pm

    Has anyone been to California lately?
    Please come down to Los Angeles
    and see what has happened to our once beautiful city.
    It now looks like Tijuana!
    Full Mexican murals on some city walls as if only Mexicans
    have a right to live here.
    Crime, graffiti, gangs, corruption!
    Stop illegal immigration in your states or you will be sorry you didn’t.
    California is bankrupt due to millions of illegal aliens on the dole and corrupt officials in this state.
    Don’t let it happen to you.

  6. DeportH1BNow says:
    March 6, 2009 at 6:05 pm

    The U.S. economy has deteriorated because of two reasons: 12+ MIL illegal aliens and H-1B visa foreigners AND a corrupt justice and political system that does not enforce U.S. laws.

    The U.S. economy will NOT improve until the 12 MIL illegal aliens and H-1B foreigners are deported and all immigration into the U.S. is stopped. This is what FDR said in 1932 speech. He was concerned with the American people, not foreigners. He was elected. IKE did the same thing in 1954 when he deported 5 MIL illegal aliens under the law Operation Wetback.

  7. Kathleen says:
    March 6, 2009 at 7:01 pm

    This country was built and thrived on unity; diversity is what is driving it apart.

    Illegal aliens are guilty of committing a civil offense; re-entering or using false ID renders them a felon. No where in any law book do we recognize “diversity” as a code word for illegal aliens. Those who support or profit from illegal aliens fool no one when they hide behind a mantle of religion or “politically correct” terms such as diversity to excuse the presence or actions of those who have no right to be in this country.

  8. SlapTheIdiotic! says:
    March 6, 2009 at 7:35 pm

    Those who ‘think’ with their heats, are the ones who were born stupid and have refused to do anything about their problem. Last I remember from biology 101 was, the heart doesn’t ‘think’.

    The people who get into offices of power and then proceed to screw the inhabitants that put said person(s) into power, deserve all the pain and woe that allowing illegal immigration will most assuredly bring to their neighborhood(s). As another poster has written, go visit Los Angeles. I was there in 1981, and I thought it was bad then. Then, I went back to visit a friend in 1997, and thought I would have to find a gun shop to purchase a weapon to feel safe! It (LA) has become a literal cesspool of violence, corruption and racism against anything ‘caucasian’!

    It happened in a city of wealthy (but also very stupid) ‘actors’ who could have fought it and instead ‘thought’ with their hearts. Now look at the mess California is in. It *WILL* happen to your neighborhood(s) too if people don’t start thinking with their *heads* again, instead of their hearts!

  9. Bobby says:
    March 6, 2009 at 8:28 pm

    Mike Mozart is correct. Americans are going to see their nation on a continuous downhill slide, where the environment,economy, and social services are concerned, if they do not GET RID OF THE POLITICIANS WHO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT WAGE AND JOB DEPRESSING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. These people in office today DO NOT REPRESENT AMERICANS, AND HAVEN’T THE SLIGHTEST CONCERN ABOUT WHAT IS IN AMERICANS BEST INTERETS.

    Advise to the public: Get rabid and get rid of these non-representatives.

  10. Melissa says:
    March 9, 2009 at 1:51 am

    1 – You hate illegal immigrants, go on a hunger strike because everything you buy at a grocery store is the result of an illegal immigrant
    2- Where was the HATE when they built our homes, paved our roads, and dug our ditches for less than anyone and at a profit for the rest of us?
    3- We send millions in aid to other countries, specifically to address educational, gender and child discrimination – LOL…yet we openly discriminate and use a person’s legal status as a reason.
    4- How many cars would be sold in NC if all the illegals were given the right to have their driver license renewed? How would that affect Detroit, NC and our economy….and please – most illegal immigrants do not drive drunk so don’t start.
    5- How much of the tax burden would be lifted off the shoulders of our children if we allowed people to be people – no matter where they were born?

  11. Melissa says:
    March 9, 2009 at 2:00 am

    In the Thomas Register you will find the minutes of Committee Hearings that took place in the 90’s. These hearings established:
    1- Social Security Suspense File (now worth BILLIONS) for illegal immigrant soc.security contributions
    2- a Hearing that specifically increased Coast Guard enforcement of Haitians trying to make it to the U.S. and the “Catch and Release” initiative began by the Border Control.
    3- Bottom line is – we needed labor and there was a shortage. Our government CHOSE Mexicans/S. Americans over Haitians and created an acceptable culture of quiet illegal immigration.
    4- More than 60 million U.S. citizen children are now in Mexico. They are considered “illegal aliens” and are now routinely threatened with deportation by authorities if families try to gain access to public assistance in Mexico. Many do not attend school due to the poverty and educational expenses.
    5- One day these ‘children’ will be adults with every right to walk into this country. If you love your children – you’ll think a little about the kind of “legacy” you are leaving them.

  12. Randy Dye says:
    May 6, 2009 at 10:36 am

    It was a excellent open forum and very well done. Sad the Commsoiner Lucier backed out 24 hrs prior of his commitment he made.
    All I seen was Chatham County citizens at the forum, very peaceful and respectful meeting

Comments are closed.

Web Archive

© 2025 The Archive of The Carrboro Citizen | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme