At the rally today

I took today off from work to attend the ALIPAC rally in downtown Raleigh. I was helping provide the internet audio feed so that people could listen live to the rally via the web. I was asked to be there at 8 AM. I did not comprehend why I would have to be there at 8 for an 11 AM rally, but OK. I left early, found where I was going, and got a parking space. It turned out that I was being asked to be a lobbyist today and help knock on the doors of state legislators and senators. I had no idea that I would be expected to do that today. If I did understand that, I would have dressed more business like. I wore some old jeans, sneakers, and a short sleeve button shirt. I thought I was just going to be a guy in the background that was running the podcast audio.

I got to see how some things run at the state level. I have been asked in the past to go and do this sort of thing with a gun rights group. Now that I know what to expect, I may just agree more readily.

I got to meet a few people that I had talked to on the phone, either through one of my podcast shows or in conversation. I also got to meet people who are legislators from all over NC, from SC, and from various anti-illegal immigration groups. Among them was someone I have seen on TV and read about.

Chris Simcox is co-founder of The Minuteman Project. For quite sometime, I have been wanting to go to the southern border and join the Minutemen for a tour. I have often though of spending my vacation doing just that. I got the chance to talk to him a little bit. He personally went on a lobbying tour with some of ALIPAC's leaders, as well. Here is Chris's project web site. I got his contact information and may work with him for an interview when I start my podcasting again.

The picture is one I took of Chris Simcox with my tiny digital camera that is disguised as a cigarette lighter. He was right next to me at the time. I thanked him during the rally told him that I appreciated the work he has done, regardless of what Penn & Teller had to say about him. He chuckled and said that he actually had fun filming that episode with their crew. By the way, Simcox is not to be confused with Jim Gilchrist.

You can even catch me in a shot or two of the news coverage on News 14's web site. I find it amusing that Ms. Chen gave more face time to an opponent of the speakers at the rally than anyone speaker there and used extraneous, useless file video footage. But of course there is no bias in reporting nowadays...yeah, right. I just caught WRAL's news footage, but it is not on their web site yet. I did see myself in the background on WRAL, too. Doggone, I am not exactly beautiful.

Live from downtown Raleigh and the NC Legislature

I will be there. I took a day off from work and will be providing the live web streaming for ALIPAC. I have interviewed some of these guys in the past and others I have wanted to meet.

Join Immigration Enforcement Groups for Historic Rally in Raleigh on June 18

A diverse group of concerned citizens who represent the 80% of North Carolinians, which want the NC Legislature to take action to curtail illegal immigration in 2008, will gather for a rally and citizens lobby day in Raleigh on June 18, 2008

The rally will be from 11am-1pm on the Bicentennial Mall, which is across Jones St. from the main entrance of the NC Legislature. Supporters are also encouraged to join us, on the 1st floor inside the legislative building from 8am-5pm, to distribute materials and lobby NC lawmakers against HB 2717 that would allow illegal aliens in NC Colleges, while supporting measures to protect American jobs, tax resources, and lives threatened by illegal immigration.

These events will be at the NC Legislature at 16 West Jones St., Raleigh, NC Click here for map.
http://tinyurl.com/6bwl4a

Signs that are consistent with ALIPAC's platform and American flags only are welcome at the rally, but not inside the building.

The Rally Podium is open to any NC Lawmaker supporting immigration enforcement and several are already scheduled to speak.

Keynote speakers include

William Gheen, President of Americans for Legal Immigration PAC
www.alipac.us

Chris Simcox, Co-Founder of the Minutemen and President of Minuteman Civil Defense Corps
www.MinutemanHQ.com


Ron Woodard, Director of NC Listen
www.nclisten.com


Lee Anthony Nieves of You Don't Speak for Me
www.dontspeakforme.org


Roan Garcia-Quintana, Director of Americans Have Had Enough (SC)
www.americanshavehadenough.org


Mike Kelly of NC Voice
http://www.ncvoice.info/

Dr. Jameson Taylor of the John W. Pope Civitas Institute
http://www.nccivitas.org/


This event is also being supported by NC Minutemen, the Faith, Family, Freedom Alliance, and The Action Club.


Citizens from across the state and nation will be calling NC lawmakers from home during the day on June 18 to ask for immigration enforcement.

The Rally will be broadcast live via streaming audio on the web. Visit alipac.us on June 18 for listening instruction.


Groups interested in supporting this event should contact William Gheen of ALIPAC, WilliamG@alipac.us for possible inclusion on the permits.
For More information, visit www.alipac.us

Ron Paul on illegal immigration

I have personally interviewed William Gheen of ALIPAC. And as you know if you just look at my blog, I am a Ron Paul supporter.

NC community colleges required to take illegal aliens. Fred Smith has common sense. Your tax dollars hard at work.

From ALIPAC

The N.C. Community College System decided this month to require all system schools to admit illegal immigrants, altering a 2004 decision to leave that admissions decision up to the individual colleges.

The rights of illegal immigrants have become a hot topic in North Carolina, which has one of the highest illegal immigrant populations in the country.

Chancy Kapp, assistant to the president for external affairs for the NCCCS, said system attorney David Sullivan conducted a study that prompted the decision.

"In his opinion the system had been misinterpreting the open-door policy - we were not allowed to put nonacademic barriers to applicants," Kapp said.

About 300 illegal immigrants are currently enrolled in the state's 58 comprehensive community colleges and pay out-of-state tuition, Kapp said. Total system enrollment in full-time programs is nearly 200,000.

Most of the schools already admit illegal immigrants, but the recent decision has forced some, like Wake County Technical Community College, to revise their admissions policy.

"We don't have a choice, so now we're going to abide by what the state board is requiring us to do, and that's fine," said Laurie Clowers, the college's public relations director.

This is the formal press release from State Senator and gubernatorial candidate Fred Smith about this issue.

Statement by State Senator Fred Smith - Republican Candidate for Governor on Community Colleges Decision

November 29, 2007 —

Raleigh, NC (FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE)

We are a nation that is sustained under the rule of law. Without these laws, our freedom and order is compromised. Our citizens can't just pick and choose which laws they will obey. The directive issued by the North Carolina Community College System to mandate all community colleges across our state admit illegal immigrants as students simply ignores our immigration laws. If we ignore these laws, what other laws should we consider as unnecessary to obey?

How can a state government organization take the position that some laws just don't count? If we disagree with the laws, then we work to get them changed. We don't simply ignore them. The legislature should act quickly, setting politics aside, and address this important issue. I believe in sharing our freedom and opportunities with those who desire to come to the United States, but I believe those who come should respect our laws and make the effort to come to our country legally. We can't continue to ignore our laws by providing new incentives to come to North Carolina illegally.

I call upon Governor Easley, Lt. Governor Purdue, and Attorney General Roy Cooper to recognize the importance of this action by the Community College System and the message that is being sent by simply ignoring the federal laws and fact these individuals are in our state illegally. They should take appropriate action including the call of a special session of the General Assembly if necessary to rectify this improper decision.

A comment via email from the founder of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration:

Fred has "Uncommon Sense"