Saturday
Apr092005
Saturday, April 9, 2005 at 09:12PM
Several Alabamians will participate in
the Minuteman Project, an effort to curb illegal immigration by
patrolling a 20-mile stretch along the Arizona-Mexico border for one
month. James Gilchrist, leader of the project, said he expects more
than 1,000 volunteers to participate in the rally, which begins April
1. He estimated that 400 members of the news media and hundreds of
observers, supporters and protesters will also be present. "This is not
an anti-immigration (effort)," Gilchrist said. "It is pro-immigration
law enforcement." Advocate groups for immigrants have announced plans
to attend to ensure that human rights and civil rights of illegal
immigrants and others are not violated. Gilchrist said on his website
that the rally was not intended to violate the rights of any person.
"We will seal the border by our presence, but we will not violate
anyone's civil rights," he wrote. The project does not have backing
from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. [more]