Minuteman Project gets under way with 120 volunteers
Journalists outnumber participants
By Michael Marizco
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
TOMBSTONE - About 400 people attended the opening day of the Minuteman Project Friday, coming from states as far as Pennsylvania and Tennessee to protest a lack of proper border enforcement.
Nearly half the gathered crowd was reporters, photographers and cameramen. Minuteman media liaison Mike McGarry put the number of volunteers at 120 or more.
"I wish I could shoot a picture without a journalist in it," one cameraman was heard to grumble as reporters darted from one volunteer to another.
"My wife warned me, 'Be good because all the cameras will be there,'" said Al Phillips from Tennessee. The retired correctional officer packed a .357 he's had for years and came Thursday, planning to sleep in a tent for the entire month.
"I just thought that if I could bring awareness, I could help out, that's all," he said.
He's mostly worried about terrorists, he says. "After 9/11, you don't know what's coming across the border," he said.
"I plan to sit in my folding chair and report what I see. I'm just going to enjoy myself."
Dave Troupe joined the Minuteman Project because he doesn't believe the Border Patrol does enough to control the border. The Green Valley senior citizen worries that the large group is going to attract "nuts."
"Whenever you get this many people together, you're going to have a bunch of nuts, too," Troupe said.
But Luis Martinez came with his father Ernesto to protest what he called a "racist" bunch.
"If the issues are about the areas out there," he said, pointing to the border, "then take it there."
"This is about nothing but race," he said. "This is bad."
The crowd began gathering at the historic Shieffelin Hall in the early morning, building up throughout the day to register for the month-long protest on the border. They cheered when organizer James Gilchrist stood before them, telling them the U.S. Border Patrol's increase of 500 agents to the Arizona border was not enough.
"Five hundred is nice but they should have sent 2,500!" he said to scattered cheers as he stood on a staircase overlooking the crowd.
Gilchrist said he's received threatening e-mails from the Mara Salvatruchas gang and worries Minuteman volunteers will be attacked.
"I am fearful the violence will be brought to us," he said.
Contact reporter Michael Marizco at 573-4213
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/68451.php
Journalists outnumber participants
By Michael Marizco
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
TOMBSTONE - About 400 people attended the opening day of the Minuteman Project Friday, coming from states as far as Pennsylvania and Tennessee to protest a lack of proper border enforcement.
Nearly half the gathered crowd was reporters, photographers and cameramen. Minuteman media liaison Mike McGarry put the number of volunteers at 120 or more.
"I wish I could shoot a picture without a journalist in it," one cameraman was heard to grumble as reporters darted from one volunteer to another.
"My wife warned me, 'Be good because all the cameras will be there,'" said Al Phillips from Tennessee. The retired correctional officer packed a .357 he's had for years and came Thursday, planning to sleep in a tent for the entire month.
"I just thought that if I could bring awareness, I could help out, that's all," he said.
He's mostly worried about terrorists, he says. "After 9/11, you don't know what's coming across the border," he said.
"I plan to sit in my folding chair and report what I see. I'm just going to enjoy myself."
Dave Troupe joined the Minuteman Project because he doesn't believe the Border Patrol does enough to control the border. The Green Valley senior citizen worries that the large group is going to attract "nuts."
"Whenever you get this many people together, you're going to have a bunch of nuts, too," Troupe said.
But Luis Martinez came with his father Ernesto to protest what he called a "racist" bunch.
"If the issues are about the areas out there," he said, pointing to the border, "then take it there."
"This is about nothing but race," he said. "This is bad."
The crowd began gathering at the historic Shieffelin Hall in the early morning, building up throughout the day to register for the month-long protest on the border. They cheered when organizer James Gilchrist stood before them, telling them the U.S. Border Patrol's increase of 500 agents to the Arizona border was not enough.
"Five hundred is nice but they should have sent 2,500!" he said to scattered cheers as he stood on a staircase overlooking the crowd.
Gilchrist said he's received threatening e-mails from the Mara Salvatruchas gang and worries Minuteman volunteers will be attacked.
"I am fearful the violence will be brought to us," he said.
Contact reporter Michael Marizco at 573-4213
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/68451.php
