Today marks the second anniversary of the murder of 9-year-old Brisenia Flores and her father Raul. From Border Action Network:
Today, Monday, May 30th, marks two years since three Minutemen members stormed an Arivaca, Arizona home. In an elaborate plot intended to raise money for their Minutemen chapter, they brutally murdered nine-year-old Brisenia Flores and her father Raul. The only survivor, Brisenia’s mother, had to watch her family die as she lay wounded on the floor.
While the murder trail against Shawna Forde and the other two perpetrators was proceeding, the Arizona legislature debated and approved a bill that would create a state militia to patrol the border. Governor Brewer signed this bill into law last month that could result in people like Shawna Forde having state-sanctioned license to brutalize Latino and immigrant families in Arizona.
Minutemen leader Shawna Forde and gunman Jason Bush both received the death penalty for their roles in Brisenia and Raul’s murders. A third participant, Albert Robert Gaxiola, is awaiting trial.
The following is a statement from Jennifer Allen, Border Action Network’s Executive Director:
“Memorial Day today marks the second anniversary of the brutal murder of Brisenia Flores and her father in Arivaca, Arizona. It is simply unacceptable that people are dying in the border region —whether through heat exhaustion, at the hands of armed vigilantes or by poorly trained Border Patrol agents who needlessly respond with lethal force. The list of those we have lost continues to grow —from Esequiel Hernandez, Francisco Dominguez Rivera, Brisenia and Raul Flores, Carlos La Madrid, Ramses Barron Torres, and many others.
“Out of respect for the families who have lost loved ones and to our nation’s principle of equal protection under the law, we challenge local, state and national policymakers to stop the practice of scapegoating the border. We challenge policy makers to help lead this country to a place where the border, the people who cross it and the people who live there are seen as full human beings and are treated with the same rights and dignity as anyone else.”
This article appears in May 26 – Jun 1, 2011.
What about the people from the other side of the border who kill American ranchers and other citizens, and sell drugs to our family members, fill our prisons, spill into our borders with their drug wars, start and enlarge the street gangs, cause traffic accidents and deaths with uninsured cars, burn our flags while putting up their own, and spread hatred of Americans while taking advantage of them? There is a LOT more of that going on than there is illegal immigrants being “brutalized” by Americans. Let’s stop the practice of scapegoating our governor and others who are trying to enforce our border security and save American lives as well as the lives of illegal immigrants.
Until we close the windows there will be no reason to further open the doors. Killing a few at the fenceline will save untold tens of thousands and put an end to the free market trafficing of people and drugs across the border. The only reason we even have these problems is that it’s easier to climb through the windows illegaly than to process legally. No Mas Muertes will be a waste of time if the Border gets sealed as it should. Ask a Soldier if it’s okay that a few can “Slip through the Perimeter unchallenged”, he’ll remind you that it couldn’t happen on his watch. Why is this the only Border on the Planet that can’t be sealed?
I think this new law is better than sliced bread and Arizona needs it big time. The government refuses to secure our borders, arrest and either deport or encarcerate illegal aliens, so we don’t have much choice. Better than having to post parts of Arizona as dangerous to travel because of illegals and the cartels. It’s sad that we have to take these measures, but they just don’t seem to get it….illegal is a crime!
Couldn’t agree more. The government refuses to secure our borders, arrest and encarcerate or deport illegal aliens, so we don’t have a choice. No way, in the United States, should we have to post sections of land as dangerous to travel because of illegals and cartels. Where is our security? The government is supposed to protect us against invasion internal or otherwise. Sad state of affairs. What’s wrong with Congress, the DOJ and Homeland Security, not to mention the “Commander-In-Chief?” What a joke.
I know the Tucson Weekly likes to publish half truths and ignorant opinions, but sounds more like a rant than a opinion piece.
1. Shawna Forde was basically banned by any mainstream anti-illegal immigration militias. She was even kicked out of the groups she helped found, Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, in 2007. Her “militia” was called Minutemen American Defense, which was more of a gang and actively broke state and federal laws. She was kicked out of MCDC because she was unstable and violent. She is no more of a militia member than members of the KKK were Christians..
2. The illegal aliens that died from the elements in the desert is tragic, but it was by their own free will.
3. The names mention all have various elements that concluded with their deaths. Esequiel was killed after shooting at the Marines. That has nothing to do with our law enforcement and everything to do with not properly training our military when put along the border. Brisenia and Raul Flores were killed by a home invasion and had nothing to do with our our immigration polices. The others were throwing rocks at law enforcement personal which could cause serious injury or death. If you do not believe it, I will be more than happy to throw first sized rocks at our head until you get the picture.
This is another reason why the Tucson Weekly is giving away for free. Who really would pay for this blatant one sided opinion piece?
Illegal is not a RACE!
The usual 5th rate bumper-stickers slogans to all the evils of the world, save Nate1980’s. I think he’s been touched by some god. Somehow, he’s been deemed fit to decide just who is a Christian and who is a Minutemen. We ought to feel blessed by his rocks tossed at our noggins.