Group Burns Mexican Flag in Front of Consulate
 Paul Cicala - KVOA
| | A man waving a Mexican flag joins other immigrant rights protesters marching during the Immigration March for Dignity, Respect, and Hope in downtown San Diego on Sunday, April 9, 2006. (AP/Sandy Huffaker) |
Dozens of protestors and counter protestors showed up in front of Tucson’s Mexican Consulate as a Mexican flag was burned in a heated debate that saw tempers flare.
Border Guardians, a group formed along the Arizona border to speak out against the estimated thousands of illegal immigrants that enter the U.S. every day through the Tucson sector, led the protest.
"Flags are symbols of government, not of people," shouted Roy Warden, as a member of his group, Border Guardians, set foot to the Mexican Flag.
One woman speaking out against the Border Guardians yelled, "This is not a gesture of humanity, this is a gesture that provokes."
As a handful of journalists, and people from both sides of the debate huddled around, members of Border Guardians set fire to Mexico’s flag.
"We have declared this our day, and our moment of expression," said Warden.
The demonstration began before the flag burning as protestors verbally sparred with ACLU members showed up to observe the event.
One man stomped, and danced on the Mexican flag. He also taunted the empty, Mexican Consulate to express the group's view:
"(This protest) is against the Mexican government and the Mexicans that are illegally present in the United States right now," says Laine Lawless, Director of Border Guardians, "I want the American people to know that we're going to stand up for them."
Roy Warden added, "You may not enter our country without our permission."
Juan Manuel Calderon Jaimez, the highest ranking official at the Mexican Consulate here in Tucson, was unable to comment on the groups flag-burning.
However, we did talk to some Mexican nationals here in the U.S. who witnessed the event, and their opinions varied.
"I think it's dangerous," says Liz Moreno, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Mexico , "and I don't think it's right, burning the flag."
Another woman present, identifying herself as a legal immigrant from Mexico, said, "It’s their right to do it, although (I don’t) support their actions."
A half-dozen observers from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) also showed up. Caroly Trowbidge, an ACLU spokesperson, said, "We are here to make sure that everybody's first amendment rights are respected."
In an effort to mock the popular chant "Si se puede", or "Yes You Can", used by the millions of marchers who’ve protested in support of illegal immigrants, the Border Guardians also began shouting "NO SE PUEDE, NO SE PUEDEO."
Moreno added, "It made me angry, and it hurt me."
In response to some people calling his group racist, Warden said, "Our movement is of all colors of skin. It has nothing to do with racism."
Warden says the group's action's were not specifically targeting the people of Mexico.
"We stand for the Mexican people," says Warden.
"I’m picking more on their government than anything else, because their government promotes their illegal status here," said Lawless.
Members of the Border Guardians tell News 4, they also plan on burning more Mexican flags at some of the mass marches planned throughout the week. |
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News from Around the Americas | April 2006 
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