Monday
Aug162004
Racists Behind Anti - Immigration Initiative in Arizona: Abernathy Responds
Monday, August 16, 2004 at 03:04AM
A woman who says she believes in the separation
of the races is the new national voice of Protect Arizona Now, drawing
harsh criticism from activists who call her a "white supremacist" -- and
splintering the political group's own rank and file. Virginia
Abernethy, a 69-year-old professor emeritus at Vanderbilt University
School of Medicine in Nashville, Tenn., has been appointed chairwoman
of the national advisory board for PAN, a political group trying to
stop illegal immigration. Reached by telephone, Abernethy said
she considers herself a "separatist," not a supremacist. "I'm in favor
of separatism -- and that's different than supremacy," Abernethy said.
"Groups tend to self-segregate. I know that I'm not a supremacist. I
know that ethnic groups are more comfortable with their own
kind." PAN has gathered enough signatures to get Proposition 200
on the Nov. 2 ballot. If passed, Proposition 200 would require proof of
citizenship to register to vote, require voters to show identification
and force government officials to ask individuals if they are legal
residents before offering public benefits. [more 
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