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Greensboro, NC: Minutemen Militia Confronted

By Josh Sykes

Greensboro, NC – People from across North Carolina rallied here, May 10, to oppose the anti-immigrant Minutemen. The Minutemen are a racist militia organization devoted to armed patrols of the U.S-Mexico border, with the intent to ‘stop’ anyone crossing the border ‘illegally.’ They are touring the country to rally support for the anti-immigrant Sensenbrenner Bill (HR 4437) and are adamantly advocating a militarized wall on the southern border of the U.S.

As the 30 members and supporters of the caravan from the Minutemen Project gathered on a sidewalk alongside of Highpoint Road, over 80 workers, students and youth rallied on the other side to let them know they are not welcome in North Carolina. The Minutemen were unable to get a permit to hold a rally downtown. Anti-minutemen protesters held signs and chanted, “No racists, no borders, no Minutemen supporters!” and, “Hey Minutemen what do you say, how many immigrants did you kill today?” as the Minutemen yelled, “Go back to Europe!” and waved American flags. When a young teacher from the Greensboro area yelled, “Hey, how many of you are in the [Ku Klux] Klan?” to the pro-Minutemen rally, it is noteworthy that at least four individuals on the other side of the street brazenly raised their hands.

The rally lasted about an hour, culminating in a confrontation between anti-Minutemen demonstrators and Minutemen supporters who had parked their cars in the lot where the pro-immigrants’ rights demonstrators were rallied. The police broke up this brief confrontation, but it was clear to all that the immigrants’ rights struggle will not be without its sharp battles.

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