Brad Botwin, founder of the anti-illegal immigration group Help Save Maryland, said he has been called a Nazi, a racist and a member of a hate group when he?s organizing protests of day labor centers.
Botwin said he?s frustrated that his efforts to get Montgomery County government leaders to crack down on illegal immigrants make people think he?s worthy of those labels.
“We get people calling us KKK members and racists all the time,” Botwin said. “As a Jew, the Klan wouldn?t have me for a member any day. I find it very insulting to hear these things shouted at me by people on megaphones who have never spoken to me.”
But immigrant-advocacy group members say they believe the actions of anti-illegal immigration groups are often racist. Alicia Ruiz, an organizer with Virginia?s Tenants and Workers United, said when Minutemen come to area day labor centers, they only target Latinos for harassment and intimidation methods.
“When they talk about immigration problems, they don?t talk about illegal immigration from Europe,” Ruiz said. “They?re always talking about Latin America. It is a color issue, because if they really just oppose illegal immigration, they?d think about other areas. There are illegal immigrants from Russia and Australia, too.”
Hessie Harris, a black member of Botwin?s group, said she?s not afraid of the racist label.
“People want to say anybody who?s against illegal immigration is a racist,” Harris said. “Well, if supporting the enforcement of laws makes someone a racist, so be it.
“People throw the term racist out there as if it?s putting a crucifix before a mythical Dracula.”
Botwin agreed.
“We are anti-illegal immigration, not anti-immigration,” he said.
Gustavo Torres, executive director of CASA of Maryland, an immigrant-advocacy group, said while he believes some tactics used by anti-illegal immigration groups are racist, he does not think they should be silenced.
“I also believe they have the right to express themselves,” he said.
