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Bob Miller/for NBC News
Isela Meraz and Fernando Lopez lead a group of undocumented Hispanics in protest against anti-immigration laws during a briefing on the civil rights effects of state immigration law held by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in Birmingham, Ala.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Protesters opposed to strict state-level immigration laws confronted one of the key writers of such legislation as he testified at a U.S. Department of Justice civil rights hearing here on Friday.
Holding up small banners with the words "undocumented" on them, four self-proclaimed undocumented immigrants stood up one at a time to denounce the laws, interrupting the testimony being given by Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who helped author the measures in Alabama and Arizona.
Kobach, who advised those states before being elected to statewide office in Kansas, and others were invited to speak about the impact of such laws by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, an independent commission of the federal government.
But the session was interrupted by protests.
"I have received a lot of discrimination. I am Maria Huerta, undocumented and without fear. I have no fear! You have to respect our rights. They are civil rights," the 65-year-old woman, originally from Mexico, cried out just before throwing the hearing agenda on the floor. "I leave it there. Keep it. You don't know how to respect human suffering."
Huerta is among a group of undocumented immigrants traveling across the country in a caravan to highlight their situation and those of others still living in the shadows. Before landing in Alabama, the ragtag caravan made stops in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. Their ultimate goal is the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., where they intend to press their concerns.
Moments before Huerta spoke, another group of five women stood up and turned their backs on the commission as Kobach began his testimony. They wore shirts that spelled out "stop hate."
Bob Miller / for NBC News
Secretary of State Kris Kobach of Kansas addresses the commission during a briefing on civil rights effects of state immigration laws held by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in Birmingham, Alabama on August 17, 2012.
Emotions ran high later when protesters called Kobach, a "liar," with Mayra Rangle, 32, telling commissioners: "It's a shame you invited him and him," as she pointed to those invited to speak.
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After the hearing, Kobach said the protesters had the right to voice their opinions, but the interruptions were disrespectful.
"It's inherently rude and it disrespects the American process of deliberation and careful policy making," he said. "It's really unfortunate when one side in a debate results to personal insults instead of bringing information and making a coherent point."
When asked why he didn't respond to them when challenged, he said: "I was there to respond to the panel not the protesters."
During the protest, the civil rights commissioners argued about the presence of the demonstrators, with Commissioner Todd Gaziano, a Heritage Foundation fellow, denouncing the lack of security and Commissioner Michael Yaki, of Michael Yaki Consulting, noting the demonstrators were acting in the form of non-violent protest.
Bob Miller/for NBC News
Civil Rights commissioner Michael Yaki addresses a crowd of mostly undocumented immigrants in downtown Birmingham, Ala.
Gerardo Torres, 41, a Mexican who lives in Phoenix, said after the hearing that those who wrote the immigration laws were out of touch.
"I don't think they have ever been in contact with regular people," he said. "At the end of the day, I think they just go back to their gated community. ... They are not in touch with reality."
Bob Miller / for NBC News
Mayra Rangel, 32, from Blout County, Alabama, protests during a briefing on the effects of state immigration laws.
NBC News' Natalia Jimenez contributed to this report.
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If I were to stand up in a public meeting and confess to committing a crime, I could expect to be cuffed and arrested. These admitted illegals have audacity to demand their civil rights. Their civil rights reside in the country they came from. Not the USA! Arrest them, deport them and let them go through the legal process to return to the US. If they are not willing to do that they don't belong here anyways.
They do have civil rights in the U.S. See my previous posts. And learn something about the law.
Clotho, these ILLEGALS should have only the same rights that some gringo would have in Mexico if there without permission. That person would be so far under the jail that his fijoles would have to be shot to him with a pea shooter.
ILLEGAL is just that send them home they should be arrested on the spot not only are they breaking the law they are throwing it in the face of every law abiding person in this country.
Hey Right Dingers, what do you have to say about Ronald Reagan's Amnesty plan he put in place? Just asking.
He did it with understanding that Congress was going to secure our Borders and strictly enforce our immigration laws so their Would be no More Illegal Immigration. Neither of those things happened which is quite apparent today.
Of course we weren't going through the Worst Economic Recovery in History at that time Either.
It was a HUGE Mistake!!! Other than that I though he was great!
"I have received much discrimination. I am Maria Huerta, undocumented and without fear. I have no fear! You have to respect our rights. They are civil rights," the 65-year-old woman, originally from Mexico
Send her back to Mexico. This is beyond just out of control.
F You Maria Huerta!!! Get the phuck outta my country you POS!!!...Right on Dan!!
Hey MARIA.... YOUR country would IMPRISON ME if I entered YOUR country without papers......
Illegal aliens are not immigrants - they are felons! They are stealing the American experience without taking the lawful steps to earn it! These pieces of human debris need to be sent back to their home country and dumped on the tarmac where they belong.
When will you socialist pigs realize that the only people with a right to the American experience are those born here or lawfully processed through they system. Those who bypass the system should be permanently barred from ever becoming US citizens. There should be a profound penalty for those who are so selfish as to think that they should get what others WAIT YEARS to get LEGALLY!
Say no to compassion. Say yes to the rule of law and to removing felons from our country. No matter how long a felon who has committed murder goes without ever committing another crime, he is still a murderer. Once a felon who steals our experience remains, he has gained all of his life from false pretenses and theft. He will always be and unlawful and illegitimate punk!
No. Legally, they are not felons.
I can see the bumper sticker though:
"Say no to compassion: Romney/ Ryan 2012"
Compassion? It's beyond that point clotho, you don't see the problems they cause in southern AZ on a daily basis like I do. If these people are so concerned with social justice why aren't they doing something in their own country clotho? Have you ever considered that? I'll tell you why because they are a corrupt culture. They have been paralyzed by their own corruption in Mexico for the past 300 years and nothing has changed! And each one of them that crosses OUR border illegally brings a little of that corruption with them. But in your compassionate liberal heart it's okay for them to destroy our country as long as we respect their culture, right? That is why, as Michael Savage has said, liberalism is a mental disorder
If you come the United States to become AMERICANS, then welcome, glad to have you....
If you come here to make America into the same place you came from..... GO HOME
Time to go home! And bring your TB with you.
These people should have been deported,the police in this country don't want
to do the paperwork for racial profiling so they don't bother.They have no problem taking your
picture at a so called" safety check" if you ride an american made motorcycle and you're a citizen
and all the money bikers raised for police causes or charities..........
I'm an Independent, and I think we should dig him up so we can kick his damn ass, and Obama should be lined up right alongside him for the same treatment.
Reagan is NOT in charge, frivolous nonsense
Reagan was suckered by Congressional Democrats. They had a deal to offer amnesty and secure the border. They passed the amnesty and reneged on securing the border. Never, ever, trust a Democrat. NEVER!
Dont worry, the usa will look just like mexico in 20 years, a complete @!$%# hole. You know it, even if you don't want to admit it out loud. Once the white money leaves usa and it will sooner or later, all the mexicans can sit here and rot and wonder what happened.
They need to fix there own country, not bring there @!$%# hole country here. Just wait and see.
Look at how lovely california is, what a grand spectacle it is.
Being new to Newsvine, an independent and against this toxic atmosphere a lot of people are using for the own agenda. That agenda is racism and hatred. To call for voilence against other humans trying to make a living, it wrong. Treating any human as less is wrong. We used to be a country that would embrace those in need. No more racism or bigotry.
I think most people are not calling for violence and are not bigots. We embrace those that use the legal process to remain in the US and eventually gain citizenship. We simply deplore those that think they are not obliged to use the system and try to circumvent the established laws of the land.
I have seen quite a lot of racism and hatred here on Newsvine. It's almost celebrated in certain circles.
What does this mean? Why would you say such a thing Scott? That's being mean to be mean.
We mean no racism or bigotry.... but we DEMAND that anyone entering OUR COUNTRY do so LEGALLY... no different than me coming into your home without your permission... you would consider that action wrong... why do so many think it's OK for people to enter the US the same way?
Newsvine has been used by the left to propagate the lefts Agenda for years. This toxic atmosphere has existed for years. Because you are new to this it may come as a shock to you. The first thing you need to learn is to ignore the Racism, Homophobe, etc labels.
Attempting to stereo type one group or another is the norm in here. What you need to ask yourself is if they were successful? Is there really an agenda of Racism and Hatred going on in here or are people just pissed because of how our laws are being ignored, selective enforcement, etc.?
You may be shocked to realize this article is Propaganda to push an agenda.
http://vigilantcitizen.com/vigilantreport/mind-control-theories-and-techniques-used-by-mass-media/
Learn Rules for Radicals by Saul Alisnky.
These are Alinsky's rules for tactics:
-Power is not only what you have but what the enemy thinks you have.
-Never go outside of the experience of your people..
-Wherever possible go outside of the experience of the enemy.
-Make the enemy live up to their own book of rules.
-Ridicule is man's most potent weapon.
-A good tactic is one that your people enjoy.
-A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag.
-Keep the pressure on, with different tactics and actions. and utilize all events of the period for your purpose.
-The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself.
-The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition.
-If you push a negative hard and deep enough it will break through into its counterside;...
-The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative.
-Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.
SunsetCliffs. Are you for real! What color is the sky in your world? We are not talking violence but simply obeying the laws that are in place. If this situation is allowed to continue then this nation will become no better then the third world sh##hole they are trying to leave behind. If we can't have laws and have them obeyed then why the hell even have them. Let every person do whatever they like! Is that the way you want it?
We are either a country of laws or not. This is not a civil rights issue - we have legal ways for people to live here. The reason they are illegal is that it isn't convenient for them to do it the right way. Well, I'm so sorry about that. You know, it isn't really convenient for me to pay may taxes and obey the speed limit either. Maybe I should try their approach.....
We need to get C135's and get the Military to round up every illegal that sticks there greasy noses out. Its one thing to be an illegal non taxpaying slug, but another thing to puke all over our Constitution and Laws. I think they are looking to incite a War with the real legal Citizens of this great Country. Bring it on.
I agree, bring it on
I have a feeling the sh!t is about to hit the fan!!!
And it will continue to hit the fan till the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
This is truly pathetic. The only argument the pro-illegal crowd has is personal attacks. This underscores the fact that the pro-illegal supporters have no argument. They simply brand their opponents as racist. Unfortunately, this is what passes for political discourse by the left these days.
Of course Jose Mangand, Maria Huerta, and others who have entered the US illegally have no fear! Barak Obama is US President. It is quite simply disgusting that the Obama administration does NOTHING to illegal immigrants who flaunt their criminality and disrupt government sponsored meetings. If Obama honored his oath of office he'd send U.S. Border Patrol Agents to hunt these people down (not very difficult is they are headed to the Democrat convention) and immediately deport them. It is an outrage that illegals feel secure enough to disrupt a governmental meeting. Obama must be held accountable November 6th.
They wont hold him accountable and then wonder why they are sitting in there filth once there great leader departs and doesn't give 2 @!$%#s about them.
Given the fairly strict enforcement of illegal alien hiring laws on businesses and significant fines doled out to employers of illegal aliens, shouldn't it be possible to find out who is funding the spectacle and obviously employing these folks and give them a lesson on what it's like to be on the other side? Karma would sure be fun to watch.
Maria Huerta---you have NO rights, except to be sent back to your home country. You are breaking the law by being in the states without the law mandated documentation.
You and the others on this bus who are so proud to be law breakers need to leave NOW. It is not a matter of human rights. It's a matter of legal rights, and you have none.
Sunset- Welcome but this is what you will find, lot's of anger and not budging from their views.
I'm guilty of it too, but I am shocked that many of my fellow Americans forget we are talking about human beings, looking to have a better life for themselves and their families!
Now here this all you Terrorist Operatives wanting to come into the United States and do harm to us.
Come on In! You have nothing to fear.
We cant even stop a group of illegal immigrants, who we know are illegal immigrants, because they proudly pronounce it and are proud of it, from touring around the United States in a Buss, and going to meetings with Federal and State officials.
Our law enforcement has been Castrated by The Obama administration.
Use our Southern Border to sneak in, pick up some Firearms Courtesy of the ATF while your in Mexico, smuggle some Drugs in while your at it to fund your operations, and don't forget to vote for your benefactor Obama.
Would some please tell these ILLEGALS what the word means. And while they maintain that status as ILLEGAL they have no rights as a US citizen. After that send them back to where they came from. While I'm at it, Obama what country are you the president of and who should you be protecting?
People in the U.S. have civil rights under the bill of rights. I don't understand how people like you can get so worked up by the fact that a person has failed to fill out and sign the proper forms. That's all we're talking about.
Hey Clotho. What I and many get worked up about is the fact that these ILLEGALS never intend to fill out any forms. They merely intend to stay here ILLEGALLY.
I'm so tired of hearing the same old reason we have illegal immigrants: "Whites and Blacks will not do the jobs they have taken."
Who the hell do you think did those jobs before you approached and undercut OUR wages? We did! We will still do the work now...but not for $7.50 an hour! WE have to pay for our food and lodging; not to mention insurance, and we will not approach gubmint (mis-spelling intended) for food stamps and freebies. We are a proud people who abide by the laws of our nation.
If we were to approach Mexico's government as you have here...we would be in jail.
These people are so darn arrogant and stupid...they ahve bo legal rights in this country...period they are NOT undocumneted immigrants..they are ILLEGALS.......and why the heck aren't they being arrested and deported....these type of illegals make me sick.....they lie, suck our states dry, steal citizens social security numbers and then DEMAND and TELL us what they want....please somebody...stop the insanity and vote obama out
Oh figment--You need to do some research..You are a broken record!! We are tired of hearing about Obummer and his ousting the illegals..Shut up!! And if you hate it so much here go somewhere else!! We are sick of listening to you!! And if you knew anything about the BIBLE you would know that Jesus told his followers to obey the laws of the land/government..These people are law breakers and they need to go along with that nut job in the White House...He is absolutely worthless!!! He took an oath to defend the USA and he has lied about that and everything else he has said..He is a puke!!
Sorry darling.... it's "We the people..."
Not..... "Anyone who happens to be here at the time...."
Our protections DO NOT APPLY to those that are ILLEGALLY within our borders
and who is paying for the gas for their bus trip so they can drive thru our country and spit in our faces???