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A Goofy Press Conference
By Greg L | 27 August 2007 | Zapatistas, Prince William County | 11 Comments
Mexicanos Sin Fronteras gave a completely surreal and long-winded news conference today, and I decided to go so I could see first-hand what these folks are doing. When I went in, there were flyers shouting “Shut Down the IMF and World Bank” from something called the “October Coalition” which is the anarchist group that has engaged in violent protests in Seattle and elsewhere. I ran into School Board candidate Belkacem Hacene-Djaballah who was there to support Mexicanos Sin Fronteras, and was happy to lecture to me (in French, no less) about how no person is illegal and that we should be granting illegal aliens amnesty. The the press conference started, and it only went downhill from there.
John Steinbach emceed this event and incredulously claimed that this boycott “was not meant as a punishment”, but is an “economic statement”. Now how else is one to characterize an organized effort to harm the local business community, unless they happen to essentially sign on with the political agenda of Mexicanos Sin Fronteras? The statement Mexicanos Sin Fronteras is trying to make here is that either the local business community put up signs that say “Rescind the Prince William County Anti-Immigrant Resolution”, or else those that ascribe to the agenda of Mexicanos Sin Fronteras won’t shop there. Not explained was why businesses in Manassas and Manassas Park are being boycotted.
They then paraded a number of speakers in front of the press. There was a laundromat owner in Woodbridge who has been in business for two years, and said that she saw a 30-40% drop in business since July 10th. I can understand her frustration, but targeting the illegal alien community as your customer base isn’t going to be a good long-term business strategy. Casa De Maryland, which operates day laborer centers at public expense in Montgomery County, MD, spoke next. It was fascinating to see folks from Maryland come down and tell us here in Prince William County what our laws should look like. A representative from the “New Sanctuary Movement” in Fairfax County, which harbors illegal aliens facing deportation orders then spoke saying that policies in Prince William County would impose segregation in the jurisdiction. Then there was Ricardo Juarez and someone named Leslie, representatives from LULAC, noted leftist Joann Bagnerise, Manny Hernandez of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (which is protesting ICE enforcement actions to find and deport illegal aliens), and a few more after that. It was long-winded, of terrifically thin substance, and entirely bored the press corps. It was also dominated by people who don’t live in Prince William County.
About two-thirds of the way through, they started asking me to step outside for interviews. I spoke with Univision, Telemundo, ABC 7, WTOP and a few others in rapid sequence, giving my reaction to what was being said. I imagine that tonight’s news broadcasts are going to have a lot of coverage on the boycott, and not all of it will be positive.
By the way, if you missed this morning’s Chris Core show on WMAL, Nancy Lyall of Mexicanos Sin Fronteras and Chairman Corey Stewart were guests and the show was hilarious. Corey said something to the effect that the response of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors will likely be to “squeeze harder” every time Mexicanos Sin Fronteras does a boycott, protest or otherwise try to harm the county.
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11 Comments
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Good job, Greg. Novatownhall and even NLS have posts up urging people to shop in PWC this week. I’ll be making a trip or two myself.
Thank you so much for the report, Greg. I am amazed that you were able so sit and listen to all that crap. You must have a stronger stomach than I do.
Greg, Where was Manes during this mini-rally?
I did a drive by all the shopping centers on the right hand side of the road between Manassas Shopping Center on Mathis to Westgate. I only saw signs in about 6-7 windows and they were all Latino named establishments or foreign grocery stores. It appears that no other businesses caved to this blackmail, at least on the side of the road I was checking. I did see several establishments with Spanish names who did not have a green sign in the window.
I also saw a fair amount of what appeared to be middle class hispanics out and about, going about their normal lives.
A follow up to Greg’s post-
I went to the “vigil” after the press conference, which started at Sams Club across from Potomac Mills Mall. Since they are boycotting most businesses in Prince William I went into Sams Club to let their management know that there were protestors on the corner of their property, and since they were boycotting them I couldn’t understand why they would let them on their property. Well a few minutes later they moved across the street onto Potomac Mills Mall property.
I called mall security and once again asked why protesters were allowed on their property and told them that I patronize the mall and didn’t appreciate them being there. I was told that they were aware of the situation and were looking into it. I stated that I hope they were going to be told to leave. They said they could not comment.
The next thing I know, two unmarked police cars showed up along with mall management. The protesters were told to move across the street onto the sidewalk. Red Robin, a restaurant is located across the street and instead of staying on the sidewalk they moved up the hill onto Red Robins property.
So once again I went into the Red Robin, asked to talk to the manager and while I was waiting bought an iced tea to go. When the manager came out I told her about the boycott and that Mexicanos Sin Fronteras was on their property protesting. She was not happy.
I went and sat in my car to see what would happen and the next thing I know four unmarked and one marked police cars show up across the street at the mall. One unmarked car parked in Red Robins parking lot. The police then told the protesters to stay on the sidewalk. I took a couple of pictures and left around 2:20.
I went to Wal-Mart, which is beside the Sams Club, bought a digital camera, told the manager I was spending my money there because they were being boycotted. He shook my hand and thanked me.
So folks when you are patronizing businesses this week in Prince William make it a point to let the management know. They appreciate it.
There’s a Red Robin in PWC? Cool. I was unaware.
It’s by across from the Burlington Coat Factory at Potomac Mills Mall. I found it about three weeks ago. I love their ceasar chicken wrap!
Mr. Greg.
you are a frustated man. I feel sorry for you and all the ones that support you. I hope God forgive you. ask to yourself if there are frontiers,borders in heaven. When a latino or a caucasian dies
do you think God will separate them of course not. You don’t want any illegals in your community but let me ask you this question have you check your status to go to heaven, examine yourself be a good samaritan God is not going to let selfish peolple in. Don’t waste your time talking with every store manager look for God he is the way the thruth and life maybe you felt happy when you saw all those poor people protesting trying to get a resolution on their status, that happiness that you felt will go away is going to be there only for a short of time.But when God gives happiness and peace no body can take it away from you.
Think about it maybe you look happy outside, but in the inside you are a frustated man
God bless you
save
remember God has never loose a battle, but you will loose this one.
Greg,
Keep up the good work. You have amazing restraint.
Save, I also doubt that there are borders, at least as YOU describe them…but I am sure that there are rules, and very severe consequences for breaking them. Now, since we do not have Heaven on Earth here, and I’m sure that none of us would want to go to the other one prematurely, you might want to consider what you say and apply it to the rule of law on earth, at least for the time being. According to the rule of law, the illegal aliens are “sinning” constantly. You might want to think about that.
Maureen Wood is amazing! She must have spent her whole Monday driving around, sitting in her car, taking pictures, talking to managers, drinking iced tea. What do you plan to do tomorrow?
I heard WTOP’s mini-blurb on the event. They included a tiny piece of their interview with you (I think it was all of three words).
However… you did come across positively and the WTOP reporting was honest and non-biased.