Posted by Frank James at 3:32 pm CDT
It’s a gorgeous day in the nation’s capital, the temperature in the mid-70s and all the white marble buildings blindingly bright, the sun reflecting off their stone.
Perfect weather for an outdoor rally like one I attended today. The Minutemen, the grassroots, anti-illegal immigration group, was in town. It took place in a park across the street from the Russell Senate Office Building.Minuteman Project founder, Jim Gilchrist, and other members of the group had just finished a cross-country caravan to Washington to demand tougher border enforcement and no amnesty for illegal immigrants. They were greeted by protesters who called them bigots and racists.
The Minutemen returned epithets. Traitor, anarchists and even the throwback “commies” were some names hurled at the counter protesters.
I plan on having a more substantive post about the event later. But now, I wanted to post some photos I took at the event before much more time passed.
These are anti-Minutemen counterprotesters who heckled the Minutemen as they assembled for their rally.
The Minutemen look at the counterprotesters as members of the anti-illegal immigrant group wait for the start of their rally.
Dave and Donna Thompson of Maryland display the signs they brought to the Minuteman rally.
Steve Eichler, director of the Minuteman Project, told the crowd “We will not be moved.”
Serious-looking rally attendees who said they were not actual federal U.S. Border Patrol agents.
A gentleman with an uncanny resemblance to the iconic Uncle Sam
Barbara Coe, co-author of California Proposition 187, which denied benefits to illegal immigrants, speaks.
Jim Gilchrist, Minuteman Project founder, prepares to speak.
Speaker Ray Herrera, who called illegal immigrants from Mexico “immoral,” drew much attention from Spanish-language media.
U.S. Capitol Police keep the Minutemen and the counterprotesters apart.
