The below was sent out by Jerry Gonzalez (GALEO) on October 23, 2007 – on behalf of the ADL
Atlanta, GA – October 23, 2007
Contact: Bill Nigut (404) 262 3470
As the national debate over immigration reached a fever pitch, some mainstream advocacy groups “reached for the playbook of hate groups” — resorting to hateful and dehumanizing stereotypes and outright bigotry to demonize immigrants. One of those groups, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), is the Dustin Inman Society, based in Marietta, Georgia.
In a report released today, ADL, which monitors extremist groups and the rhetoric they employ in the immigration debate, has exposed a new development where some anti-immigrant groups increasingly are adopting the tactics and rhetoric of racist groups and moving it into the mainstream.
The ADL report identifies D.A. King, head of the Dustin Inman Society, as one of those who are demonizing immigrants as a scare tactic in the war against undocumented workers.
“King has become accepted by many media outlets as a legitimate spokesman, but when the cameras aren’t rolling, he uses hate-speech to characterize undocumented workers as a threat to the safety and well-being of American citizens,” said Bill Nigut, ADL Southeast Regional Director.
Speaking at a Newton County Republican Party meeting in April, 2007, King reportedly told attendees that undocumented immigrants are “not here to mow your lawn. They’re here to blow up your buildings and kill your children, you and me,” according to a report in the Rockdale Citizen.
In that same meeting, the Citizen reports, King displayed a Mexican government ID card with the name “Al Qada Gonzalez.”
In a July, 2004 article, King wrote: “We have become sadly acquainted with the absolute and brazen disregard for the law that comes from the Third World horde that is allowed to swarm over our border with Mexico. It is clear that when the mostly Mexican mob illegally ‘migrates’ into our nation, it brings with it the culture of lawlessness and chaos that is responsible for the very conditions they flee in the rapidly deteriorating example of Democracy without the rule of law that is Mexico.”
ADL’s new online report, Immigrants Targeted: Extremist Rhetoric Moves into the Mainstream documents the rhetoric employed by groups that routinely position themselves as legitimate, mainstream advocates against illegal immigration in America.
A closer look at the public record reveals that many ostensibly mainstream anti-illegal immigration organizations – including those who testified before Congress or frequently appeared on news programs – promote virulent anti-Hispanic and anti-immigrant rhetoric. Some groups have fostered links with extremist groups. Other groups highlighted along with the Dustin Inman Society in the ADL report include Mothers Against Illegal Aliens (Phoenix, AZ), the Federation for American Immigration Reform (Washington, DC), Choose Black America, You Don’t Speak for Me, Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee (Raleigh, NC) and Grass Fire (Maxwell, IA).
“The Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazis were not the only ones who saw an opportunity in the national debate over immigration to sow the seeds of racism as a means to derail immigration reform,” said ADL National Director Abraham Foxman. “While reasonable people can disagree about border control and the appropriate parameters for immigration reform, the debate has been tainted by the virulent anti- immigrant message employed by a handful of groups. The real victims in this are Hispanic-Americans and other immigrants who are being unfairly targeted, demeaned and stereotyped.”
The report cites several key tactics used by anti- immigrant groups, including:
Describing immigrants as “third world invaders,” who come to America to destroy our heritage, “colonize” the country and attack our “way of life.” This charge is used against Hispanics, Asians and other people of color.
Using terminology that describes immigrants as part of “hordes” that “swarm” over the border. This dehumanizing language has become common.
Portraying immigrants as carriers of diseases like leprosy, tuberculosis, Chagas disease (a potentially fatal parasitic disease), dengue fever, polio, malaria.
Depicting immigrants as criminals, murderers, rapists, terrorists, and a danger to children and families.
Propagating conspiracy theories about an alleged secret “reconquista [1]” plot by Mexican immigrants to create a “greater Mexico” by seizing seven states in the American Southwest that once belonged to Mexico.
ADL has written a number of reports documenting the impact of anti-immigrant rhetoric and activities by extremist groups. The full report, Immigrants Targeted, which includes video clips showing the rhetoric of some of the groups, is available on the League’s Web site at www.adl.org.###
GALEO NOTE: Donald Arthur King is also a convicted felon (click here for story [2]). Additionally, King has served as a proxy speaker for Georgia State Senator Chip Rogers when the Senator is not available for speeches. They traveled to the U.S. Mexico border together for a “fact finding mission”. In fact, Mr. King appears frequently with State Senator Chip Rogers. Watch them together at this screening of the documentary, Fighting 529 at Georgia Tech earlier this year.
Jerry Gonzalez, Executive Director of GALEO, added,” What is also disturbing is that you have Georgia Legislators defending Mr. King’s rhetoric. In addition, you hear many state and local elected officials also using the same language described in this report.”
About GALEO
GALEO is a statewide 501 (c) (6) nonprofit and non- partisan organization focusing on leadership development and increased civic engagement of the Latino community. GALEO also provides a voice for the growing Latino population in Georgia and a framework for collaborative and proactive legislative initiatives for Georgia’s Hispanic community.Website: http://www.galeo.org
About the Anti Defamation LeagueThe Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.
Website: http://www.adl.org
This press release was sent on behalf of the Anti-Defamation League.