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Correspondent Tom Fredericksen traveled from his home in Tucson, Ariz., down to Tombstone this afternoon to get ready for tomorrow's kickoff of the Minuteman Project. He files a dispatch and photos here.
SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. - The U.S. Border Patrol has begun a new community-based program called "Operation Be Alert," involving a series of highway billboards [in southern Arizona] calling on citizens to report alien and drug smugglers... Emphasis added. Whether that's believable or not is left as an exercise. Could this be a sideways endorsement of the MMP by the Border Patrol?
Loose lips lead to arrest:
Federal agents met a Southwest Airlines flight at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport and arrested 11 male passengers suspected of illegally entering the United States, authorities said Wednesday.
“Federal officials have discovered individuals from many different countries in possession of the matricula consular card. … At least one individual of Middle Eastern descent has also been arrested in possession of the matricula consular card. The ability of foreign nationals to use the matricula consular to create a well-documented, but fictitious, identity in the United States provides an opportunity for terrorists to move freely within the United States without triggering name-based watch lists that are disseminated to local police officers. It allows them to board planes without revealing their true identity.”—McCraw, FBI
The Los Angeles Police Department is considering new guidelines for how its officers respond to illegal criminals. Far from restoring law and order to the city, the proposed new guidelines only demonstrate how twisted the elite’s attitudes towards illegal immigration are. Under debate is L.A.’s sanctuary policy, special order 40, which prohibits the police from enforcing immigration laws. Special order 40 has made Los Angeles into a free-fire zone for illegal gangbangers, who know that the police can’t touch them for their immigration crimes. So what does the LAPD top brass propose to do? Confer due process rights on illegal chollos that your average Crips homie could only dream of possessing. Compare the fate of two gangbangers, one American, the other an illegal Mexican. Let’s say a cop sees a member of the 42nd St. Gangster Crips hanging out with fellow Crips in a park that the gang controls. Congregating in the park is illegal under a local gang injunction. The cop can arrest all those Crips on the spot; he doesn’t need to go before a judge to get an arrest warrant. Now imagine that that same cop sees an illegal alien member of the 18th Street gang hanging out on Cesar Chavez Blvd. The 18th Streeter has already been deported back to Mexico following conviction for murder. Upon deportation, he was forbidden from ever returning to the U.S. His mere presence in L.A. now is a federal felony punishable by 20 years in jail. Can the cop arrest him? Absolutely not—not under the old special order 40, nor under the proposed revision. According to the contemplated new rules, that cop first has to call his supervisor; that supervisor has to call federal immigration officials at ICE; ICE officials have to go before a federal judge to get an arrest warrant; then with warrant in hand, the cop may finally arrest the felonious 18th Streeter. Oops. He’s gone. This is preposterous. To arrest an American citizen for a crime, arrest warrants are rarely required; about 95% of arrests of citizens are warrantless. But in L.A., under the new rules, illegal criminals will have due process rights that guarantee them not just judicial review before they can be taken off the streets, but federal judicial review—the gold standard of all constitutional protections. Maybe home-grown criminals should renounce their citizenship and reenter the country illegally. It would be a constitutional windfall for them. Naturally, the usual suspects—the ACLU, MALDEF--are screaming bloody murder about this proposed new change. It is citizens and legal immigrants who should be crying foul. It is a world turned upside down where border trespassers have more protections from a state they have already thumbed their noses at than legal residents.
A few weeks ago, Lou Dobbs covered the Save Our State Home Depot demonstration. Dobbs was yesterday denounced for same by Univision anchorwoman Maria Elena Salinas in her syndicated column.
"Instead of punishing the legitimate efforts to create a more diverse labor force, these people should be giving credit to companies like Home Depot for their courage."
Question: Where do illegal aliens and convicted criminal alien residents go after they’re deported from the United States? Answer: Right back into the United States again to work illegally. The Mobile (Alabama) Register [free registration] offered a faint glimpse into the secret lives of two illegal aliens in a story published March 30. Staff reporter Brendan Kirby writes: “A pair of Mississippi residents pleaded guilty Tuesday to illegal re-entry into the United States after previous deportations. A judge will determine in July how long they must spend in prison before the government returns them to Mexico. At Michelle’s request, I tried my hand at deciphering the rest of the article about these two “Mississippi residents” (AKA: illegal aliens). Here’s the tale of the tape: Gomez-Madrigal – Deported in December 1996, most likely as a result of a conviction for “assault with a firearm” in Fresno County, California. Reentered the U.S. illegally and apprehended in Mobile, Alabama. Valencia-Magana – Received lawful permanent residence (LPR) status in the United States, probably through one of the 1986 Amnesty give-away programs, or else through a family petition (but I’m guessing here). Convicted for “illegal discharge of a firearm” in California. Deported from the United States, losing the legal status of a “green card” for good. Arrested while attempting to enter the United States from Tijuana, Mexico, at the San Ysidro, California, port of entry, with 86 pounds of marijuana. Ordered excluded and deported from the United States by the Immigration Court system of the Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). He remains in the country. He appeals the EOIR Immigration Court decision in 1996, “but immigration authorities [the EOIR’s Board of Immigration Appeals – BIA] did not rule until 2002. Authorities did not serve the paperwork until last year." Apprehended again working illegally in Mobile, Alabama. It is not clear whether he remained in the United States the entire time following the 1996 Immigration Court order, or if he was physically deported and entered illegally yet again. Here’s the kicker: Assuming these illegal aliens weren’t arrested at the chemical refinery, since they were hard-working employees of a “subcontractor that was installing piping insulation,” they could have been first in line for the Bush Administration’s “guest worker” Amnesty program. And if the Bush Betrayal were to succeed, when these guys finish their time in federal prison, enter illegally again and get their old jobs back . . . they just might even have another shot at a “temporary worker” status.
Chris Kelly reports below on an L.A. mayoral candidate’s past involvement with the Chicano separatist group MEChA. But candidate Antonio Villaraigosa’s opponent, incumbent mayor James Hahn, is indistinguishable from Villaraigosa in his support for immigration law-breakers. Whoever wins the mayoral race, L.A. will continue to flout the law. Both Hahn and Villaraigosa recently affirmed their commitment to Los Angeles’s sanctuary law, special order 40. That law prohibits the Los Angeles police from arresting criminals for immigration violations. Let’s say an L.A. officer recognizes a MS-13 gang member on the corner of Hollywood and Vine. The gangbanger was previously convicted for armed assault and deported back to El Salvador. Now he’s back, more violent than ever. Without special order 40, the officer could arrest him on the spot for a federal felony: returning to the country following deportation. Thanks to special order 40, however, the officer can’t lay a finger on him for his felonious reentry. Illegal gangbangers in L.A. enjoy total immunity from the police for all immigration crimes. Illegal alien advocates portray sanctuary laws (replicated in high-immigrant areas across the country) as pro-immigrant. Bunk. By turning an entire city into a safe zone for illegal criminals, sanctuary laws keep law-abiding immigrants in the grip of crime and fear. Los Angeles police officers detest special order 40. The LAPD top brass, however, seem to worry more about placating illegal alien advocates than about keeping communities safe. Deputy Commissioners warn police captains that if they so much as think of arresting a gangbanger for an immigration felony, they will face disciplinary action. Mayor Hahn could finally deliver on his promise to free L.A. barrios from gangs by jettisoning special order 40. He might also find that standing up for immigration enforcement would guarantee his reelection. But in L.A., apparently, the politics of illegal immigration trump everything else. The message to legal immigrants is clear: You were a sucker to play by the rules.
Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA) recently introduced H. R. 698, the "Citizenship Reform Act of 2005" (report here). It seeks to prevent the children of illegal aliens from automatically being declared U.S. citizens. Earlier this month, the San Diego Union-Tribune editorialized against the bill in "Bill of wrongs" (reader responses here). The SDUT editorial includes this bit: ...Actually, it's not enough to say that this bill would simply deny U.S. citizenship. Since the people impacted are already citizens under current law, what this legislation really intends to do is to revoke one's citizenship... Actually, that's wrong. The bill won't revoke anyone's citizenship, it will simply prevent future children of illegal aliens from being declared citizens. The full text of the bill includes this at the end: (c) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply to aliens born on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. In other words, the bill isn't retroactive. If you've read otherwise either in the SDUT or elsewhere, perhaps you should reconsider the reliability of the source. (Note: it bears pointing out that if the bill passes children born to illegal aliens would not be stateless. They would have citizenship, it just would be of the country of their parents. That's the procedure followed by almost every other country.)
Rep. James Sensenbrenner says the Real ID Act has a better than 50-50 chance of passing the Senate, Ira Mehlman reports. Sensenbrenner also says he is working on a comprehensive immigration enforcement package, which he plans to introduce in 2006: While he did not cite specifics, the clear implication was that this legislation would include the means to enforce employer sanctions. "My intent is to deal with immigration in an overall way next year," said Sensenbrenner. He went on to say that the bill "will put employers who hire illegal aliens for cash and on the cheap out of business."
Res Ipsa Loquitur publishes a copy of a flyer describing the Minuteman project as a "terrorist organization" and its founder, Jim Gilchrist, as a "racist vigilante":
Read Res Ipsa Loquitur's full post for more information.
Here's my latest column on the ACLU's campaign against the Minuteman Project. An excerpt: On April Fool's Day, the American Civil Liberties Union will show us what a joke its commitment to American civil liberties really is. As I note, this bullying campaign is no surprise given the ACLU's concerted efforts to sabotage our immigration system and elevate illegal alien rights over law-abiding Americans' civil liberties. So, who are the real vigilantes?
The San Diego Union Tribune reports that someone dug a tunnel beneath the U.S.-Mexico border. Apparently our best and brightest immigration authorities are not sure exactly what the tunnel was being used for, but they have some interesting theories: TIJUANA – Mexican authorities tipped off their U.S. counterparts this week to a potential tunnel being dug underneath the border fence near the Otay Mesa port of entry. No, you think?
The L.A. Daily News reports on community activist Hal Netkin's attempts to get the word out about Antonio Villaraigosa, the leading candidate for L.A. Mayor. The election will be held on May 17, with Villaraigosa facing off against the incumbent, Jim Hahn. This is a repeat of the mayor's race from four years ago. Netkin's site about Villaraigosa is mayorno.com. If you can filter out the terrible design it has some interesting information on the candidate. For instance, Antonio Villaraigosa is the former president of the UCLA chapter of MEChA (more on them here). In 2001 he was asked to repudiate that group's goals, and he refused. He responded by accusing those who were accusing him of belonging to an intolerant separatist group of... being intolerant. Unfortunately, in L.A. that's considered an acceptable answer. At mayorno.com you can also find a screengrab of Villaraigosa sharing a stage with Augustine Cebeda of the Brown Berets. Here's something Cebeda said on a different occasion: "…Go back to Boston! Go back to Plymouth Rock, Pilgrims! Get out [of the U.S. Southwest]! We [Mexicans] are the future. You are old and tired. We have beaten you. Leave like beaten rats. You old white people, it is your duty to die." It's good to see the L.A. Daily News at least linking to Netkin's site, but it would be much better if the Daily News and - more importantly - the L.A. Times did their jobs and reported the truth about Villaraigosa instead of papering over his past. For instance, does Villaraigosa regret sharing a stage with someone who suggested that white people should go back to Plymouth Rock and/or just die? Here's the L.A. Times' contact information page if you'd like to suggest they do their job. (Note: The Daily News article gives the impression that the site is new, when in fact it's been around for over four years, since the last time Villaraigosa faced Jim Hahn in the run-off.)
Last night I was thinking how we Americans could make the rest of our citizens come to the table and face the facts of reality. Passivity is no longer an option! Relying on the major news networks for the "Gospel" according to Dan, Peter, and Tom will no longer pass the "smell test." America is not nearly as safe as the leaders want us to believe. We have "wolves in sheep's clothing" among us, and the battle to gain back the heart and soul of America is going to be a long drawn out fight. BUT fight we must because there is no other choice. Our southern neighbors and "friends" continue to barrage us with complaints of how we are discriminating against their migrants...they only want a better way of life. Fox bitterly detests any legal American citizen standing in the way of his citizens coming to "view the land of the free, the home of the brave, and to take a piece of it while they are here." I guess the old adage "What is yours is mine" applies in this case. Fox even has the nerve to put out a guide (comic book and DVD) on how to cross into America illegally through our deserts and and do it safely. Talk about presumption! BUT we again are to sit still, behave, not get in the way of these lawbreaking tresspassers, or we are labeled "vigilantes!" ( Is he on a power-trip because he is such a good friend of our President Bush? How many of our readers are aware that these two men were friends in college?) Vicente Fox claims that there really is no border and that we are all one land. Hmmmm...I wonder why his southern border is heavily armed with Mexican military and why they utilize thuggish tactics against those trying to enter from Central and South America? Everyday new information comes to light about how America's enemies are trying to destroy our very way of life. Very few news reporters are willing to relay the facts to the public, but a debt of gratitude must go to Lou Dobbs for his willingness to be frank and talk about our Broken Borders and how our big corporations are Exporting America. He is garnering more and more respect all the time from people on the right and left because these issues are not politically-based, but America-based. It is what is right and wrong for America and Lou does not put his "finger to the wind" to test the polls. He knows this is his obligation as a news journalist and it needs to be told. We need to keep the fires lit and to hold our members of Congress, our President, and any other elected official responsible for the safety and well-being of the American citizenry. Two and one-half years ago, no one was being held accountable, borders were unsecured, drugs, weapons, criminals entered.........and Kris Eggle was trying to hold the line just like the story of the little Dutch boy Peter who put his finger in the dike to hold back the waters. Our story had a horrible ending because Kris Eggle was ambushed and murdered for real by invading illegal alien drug traffickers. This is the reality I will live with all of my life. How about you? Can you make a difference? Will you make a difference? It is too late for my son Kris, but maybe it won't be too late for other sons, daughters, moms, dads, friends....join the battle now. Do not let "Nero fiddle and let Rome burn." Stand for something bigger than yourself. Bonnie Eggle, Kris' mom (EOW 8-9-02)
Dan Stein of FAIR has the scoop: Virginia Governor Mark Warner (D) signed a measure this afternoon cutting off illegal aliens' access to public benefits. The bill limits illegal aliens access to state services, much like Arizona's Prop. 200. "The measure would require that both state and local governments verify the legal presence of an immigrant before providing any nonemergency public benefits. Local governments said the bill would require them to deny access to subsidized health care, free clinics and homeless shelters for adult aliens," according to the Washington Times today.
“Britain is an island nation. We can control our borders. But it will only happen if we have a government with the determination to act.”
The Bush administration is sending 500 agents to reinforce Arizona's border patrol. This seems superficially to be a good move, and overdue:
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Homeland Security Department will assign more than 500 additional patrol agents to the porous Arizona border, saying they will help keep potential terrorists and illegal immigrants from entering the country, The Associated Press has learned.
CLARIFICATION: A Border Patrol agent emails to tell me that the force shifting that the NYT reports in the story above has been ordered in the past couple of "high immigration seasons," mostly as a response to bad press resulting from the deaths of illegals crossing the desert. So the Bush administration may not be playing games with the Border Patrol. But it's not actually doing anything at all about the problem, either.
Last week President Bush, PM Martin of Canada, and Vicente Fox of Mexico met at Baylor University in Waco to announce the "Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America". The transcript of the press conference that followed is here. The press conference doesn't have as much information on the Partnership as the White House press release. The press release mentions some worthwhile goals. However, it also uses the phrase "North America" as if it were a new country. Unfortunately, that might be the ultimate goal of the Partnership and other such plans. For instance, a task force co-sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations recently released a report calling for a "North American community". This 11/04 article has background on the task force and their plan for a "NAFTA-plus". And, Vicente Fox has been quite clear about his goals. From a 2000 interview: "I'm talking about a community of North America, an integrated agreement of Canada, the United States, and Mexico in the long term, 20, 30, 40 years from now. And this means that some of the steps we can take is, for instance, to agree that in five years we will make this convergence on economic variables. That may mean 10 years we can open up that border when we have reduced the gap in salaries and income." And, from 2002: Eventually, our long-range objective is to establish with the United States, but also with Canada, our other regional partner, an ensemble of connections and institutions similar to those created by the European Union, with the goal of attending to future themes as important as the future prosperity of North America, and the freedom of movement of capital, goods, services and persons... Fox would also like to see a common currency. Other Mexican officials have made similar statements, including their "border czar". See 9/27/04's "Mexican official seeks open border" or 7/10/04's "Mexican Official Wants Border Eliminated". Here's what former Mexican foreign minister Jorge Castaneda said in Feb. '02: "We would like to continentalize as much as possible... We have been pushing for this. And we have been encountering a receptive ear both in Canada and the United States at a certain level of intensity... We would like to move more quickly. We would like to move more deeply." As for President Bush, see 4/17/01's "Bush envisions Western Hemisphere free trade zone": President Bush pledged to representatives of nearly every nation in the Western Hemisphere Tuesday that he would press Congress for fast-track trade authority to help create a free trade zone throughout the Americas... The 2000 article "Spain At Our Border? Fox's Vision For Mexico" by Andrew Reding from the World Policy Institute favoring such continental integration might be interesting. On the other side, see "EU Parallel". Returning to the White House's SPP press release: ...each nation will establish ministerial-level Security and Prosperity Partnership working groups. The working groups will: Is there any group of stakeholders that should be in that list, but isn't? It's a rather large group, and they might be strongly opposed to plans for continental integration.
The broadcasts of many major networks seem to be so out of touch with the reality of what issues 80% of the public feel should be put "on the front burner." From personal experience, I know what is the first and foremost issue in my family's mind and in our hearts. My son, Kristopher William Eggle, a Federal Law Enforcement Officer/Ranger, was ambushed and murdered by an illegal alien drug trafficker in southern Az, right near the US/Mexico border. Kris was working at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and felt that he had found his perfect job...that of helping protect and preserve the beautiful resources and that of helping to enforce the laws of this land he so loved. He treasured his Oath of Office and the words that stated, "I will protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies,foreign and domestic." As his blood spilled on that desolate desert floor, Congress, the Administration, the agency leaders, and all the "top dogs" in DC yawned, swept his murder under the rug, and went back to their priority lists....of following their political agendas, pandering to the PC crowds, bowing to the big corporate lobbyists, listening to the radical groups and the multiculturalists. Never mind the people who really make this country work...the hard working taxpayers,some of whose sons and daughter do the dangerous jobs of protecting and defending this country's borders...for little or no recognition, for little pay, for little or no gratitude, for little or no respect, for little or no support...while being outgunned, outmanned, outspent by the drug cartels on the other side of our border. Our Homeland Guardians really are insignificant in the whole scheme of things, I guess. My son's life and death was also insignificant to the "power-brokers"...but not to me. Kris deserved so much better than what he got. Because those in positions of power chose to do nothing about protecting our porous and unguarded borders from the illegal invasion from Mexico and countries around this world, Kris is dead. The invasion of drugs, weapons, criminals of all types continues 24/7/365. Many of Kris' friends and coworkers and our friends face these dangers every single day. I refuse to sit back and do nothing. I will continue to fight on for what my son spilled his blood for....he would expect nothing less than that from me. Our Bill of Rights and the Constitution of the United States are sacred documents, giving the freedoms, rights, and responsibilities to the legal citizens of this country. Many thanks need to go to patriotic heroes like Michelle Malkin. Her strength and resolve are so important in this fight for justice and common sense. My voice is only one, but more and more voices are coming on board this battle to win back our country to its rightful owners--the legal citizens. I refuse to sit back while "Nero fiddles and watches Rome burn." I will never forget what so many have sacrificed for this country. I will never forget that my son gave his all for this land he so loved. Kris is "watching" to see what will become of this country that he so treasured, the country that he died for. He protected those who would not protect him. He died for those who cared so little for him. I will not forget. When will enough be enough? Bonnie Eggle, mother of Kristopher Eggle (EOW 8-9-02)
Here's an opinion from someone who actually knows the Southwest border: Author and retired U.S. Border Patrol anti-smuggling Special Agent John W. Slagle announced his complete support of the Minuteman Project in an Op/Ed in Michnews.com on March 27. “Mr. Bush remains "clueless" concerning Vigilantes and vigilant law abiding citizens who assist authorities . . .” Slagle began speaking out on the illegal immigration disaster in December, 2003, in a self-published e-book, Illegal Entries which I reviewed for VDARE.com. Slagle has dedicated his retirement to the mission of trying to bring some sanity to the so-called immigration policy "debate," in the hope that the Bush Administration will somehow face the reality that “amnesty” always means even MORE illegal aliens. The veteran Special Agent also shared some of his personal vintage photos of unabated illegal alien smuggling (in 1987 and 1988) even after the 1986 IRCA Amnesty. Imagine that!! . . . Why would illegal aliens continue to come to the United States after Congress "solved" the illegal immigration problem in 1986?
Seems the “casseur” thread – on which I reported below -- isn’t quite dead.
“These displays of anti-Jewish and anti-French violence are part of the same real and significant ethnoracial cleavage between blacks, rebeu [a slang inversion of 'beur', or Arab], and whites. The Blacks and Maghrébins consider themselves anti-white. Part of it is class hatred but there is also a real racialization of social conflict."
Thanks mostly to Michelle's writings, you've probably heard of MS-13--the violent Central American gang that may link up with al Qaeda to move terrorists and materiel into the US via the Mexican border. That gang apparently plans to take on the Minutemen: NACO, Ariz. -- Members of a violent Central America-based gang have been sent to Arizona to target Minuteman Project volunteers, who will begin a monthlong border vigil this weekend to find and report foreigner sneaking into the United States, project officials say. The Minutemen are only present to observe illegal crossings and report them to Border Patrol, yet even President Bush has stooped to calling them "vigilantes." What will he and the rest of the open borders crowd call MS-13? I know what I'd call them: The MS-13 gang has established major smuggling operations in several areas along the U.S.-Mexico border and have transported hundreds of Central and South Americans -- including gang members -- into the United States in the past two years. The gang also is involved in drug and weapons smuggling. MS-13 constitutes a clear and present danger to the United States. (thanks to Chris)
Didja hear: Mexico beat the U.S. 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier Sunday afternoon. How did Mexican fans behave during the match? ESPN reports: Some Mexican fans responded by chanting "Osama! Osama!'' The "Osama!" chants were prevalent during last year's U.S.-Mexico Olympics qualifying soccer match. Mexican fans also tossed plastic bags filled with urine on American players. The bad blood is about more than just athletic competition. As the Christian Science Monitor made clear in a report from Mexico City, the spirit of reconquista and revenge animates the country's soccer fans: The origins of this intense rivalry, explains fan Gerardo Gonzales, are historical - and he is not talking soccer history. Talk about a grudge match.
Even the Christian Science Monitor--no right-wing rag--understands that employer sanctions are a joke: Ha ha ha. That's a good one. Wal-Mart, a company with $285 billion in sales, gets fined a mere $11 million earlier this month for having hundreds of illegal immigrants clean its stores. Heather Mac Donald, one of this blog's contributors, described the futility of the current employer sanctions regime here: Though it is against the law to hire illegal aliens, a coalition of libertarians, business lobbies, and left-wing advocates has consistently blocked the prerequisite to making that ban enforceable: a fraud-proof form of work authorization. Libertarians have erupted in hysteria at such proposals as a toll-free number that would allow employers to confirm Social Security numbers with the Social Security Administration, hurling out comparisons to concentration camp tattoos and godless Communism. Hispanics warn just as stridently that giving employers a means to verify work authorization would result in invidious discrimination against Hispanics — implicitly conceding the point that there are vast numbers of Hispanics working illegally.
Nine percent of Arizona's population consists of illegal immigrants, according to a new report by the Pew Hispanic Center.
The time is long overdue to report illegal aliens. Here's how to do it: If there is no U.S. Border Patrol station nearby, your best bet will be contact the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) division of the Department of Homeland Security by calling (866) DHS-2ICE to "report suspicious activity"—(866) 347-2423. Either make a report there or ask for the number of the nearest ICE field office with an investigations division "duty agent." A list of phone numbers for former INS district offices that now have ICE investigations divisions has been complied by American Patrol in its report illegals section. Yes you can, Mr. and Mrs. America!
The U.S. State Department says that the Mexican government consistently violates the rights of illegal immigrants crossing its southern border, the Washington Times reports: Many of the illegals in Mexico, who emigrate from Central and South America, complain of "double dangers" of extortion by Mexican authorities and robbery and killings by organized gangs.
When left-wing high school students turned out in Paris on March 8th to protest the latest education reform bill (the “loi Fillon”), they had a surprise waiting for them. All along the demonstration's route were small packs of black and Arab teenagers – and they hadn’t come to join the protest. Le Figaro reports what happened next:
“A dozen adolescents began running side by side, scarfs camouflaging their faces, hats pulled down over the ears. One of them threw himself on an isolated girl, ripping her purse away. Two others dragged a male student several meters while kicking him until he gave up his cell phone. Afterwards, the student got to his feet, his face covered in blood.”
“Heikel is one of the 700 to 1000 young people, essentially from Seine-Saint-Denis and the neighborhoods of northern Paris, who the police say came to the protests of recent weeks – especially those of February 15 and March 8 – to attack students. […] These young people’s talk mixes economic explanations (‘make some easy money’), enjoyment (‘the pleasure of hitting’), and a mélange of racism and social jealousy (‘getting back at the whites’).”
“I didn’t go for the protest but to take cell phones and hit people. There were little groups running, agitating the crowd. And in the middle of all these clowns, little Frenchies looking like victims [des petits Français avec des têtes de victims].”
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