Minuteman turnout is a fraction of prediction
By Michael Marizco and Carla McClain
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Volunteers, protesters, observers gather in Tombstone
While far less than the expected 1,000 volunteers showed up to register for the Minuteman Project's kick-off, there was no shortage of people with agendas - and cameras - outside Tombstone's Schieffelin Hall on Friday, Apr. 1.
TOMBSTONE - Only a fraction of the promised 1,000 Minuteman volunteers showed up here Friday for the start of their month-long protest of the federal government's inability to control the U.S.-Mexican border.
In a crowd of more than 150 reporters, photographers and camera crews, about 150 Minuteman volunteers registered for the project, photos of the event show. Reports were wildly scattered, with the Associated Press reporting 100 while CNN reported hundreds.
Organizers declined to say how many people officially registered as participants on the opening day.
Al Phillips, a retired correctional officer from Tennessee who showed up with a .357 pistol he's had for years, was among the volunteers. He plans to spend the entire month in Southern Arizona sleeping in a tent on the border.
"My wife warned me, 'Be good because all the cameras will be there,' " he said. "I just thought that if I could bring awareness, I could help out, that's all."
Dave Troupe said he joined the Minuteman Project because he doesn't believe the Border Patrol does enough to control the border. But the Green Valley senior citizen said he's worried that the event is going to attract "nuts."
"Whenever you get this many people together, you're going to have a bunch of nuts, too," Troupe said.
At least one man was stopped by security volunteers for the Minuteman Project after he tried to bring a shotgun to the event, said James L. Chase, a volunteer who is organizing security at the Bible College in Palominas, where about 30 of the volunteers were camped on Friday.
Organizers have said rifles and shotguns are not allowed, and handgun restrictions for participants, nearly all male and over 50, are also strict, Chase said.
Chase said small groups of Minuteman volunteers would be placed at observation posts every quarter-mile along the San Pedro Riparian Area to observe illegal entrants coming across.
He also alluded to "covert operations" being performed that could not be discussed.
At orientation meetings Friday, volunteers heard from speakers including Bay Buchanan, chairwoman of American Cause organization, and Chris Simcox, founder of the Civil Homeland Defense Corps, one of the organizers of the Minuteman Project. Simcox criticized the media, saying they were spreading "fear and hysteria among the citizens."
The event had some locals, including Tombstone Mayor Andree De Journett, concerned about possible problems. That's why the city asked the Arizona Rangers to assist in directing traffic and maintaining order.
"We've been hearing about all of these groups that were coming down. We just wanted to be prepared," De Journett said.
The uncertainty has local residents nervous enough that even those who don't normally carry guns in Tombstone are carrying them now, said Patti Escapule, whose family has lived in this Wild West town for generations.
"A lot of people here are a little wary of all this - it's scary," said Escapule, working at Tombstone Hardware and Feed.
On Allen Street, the stagecoaches were running and the Wild West shows went on as usual, Steve Kukowski pointed out as he got his trick paint pony, Cisco the Kid, ready to perform.
"We're taking it all in stride. It's pretty much business as usual for everyone in town. No one here is really worried. And anyway, they'll all be out of town by Monday, when they head for the border."
Despite the all-day hubbub spread out over two blocks of Tombstone's main thoroughfare, traffic moved steadily and tourists - many unaware of the national spotlight on Tombstone - strolled the historic district unmolested.
"Oh, I've heard of them but I don't understand it," said Joyce Sly of Bullhead City, who spent the day sightseeing.
"Are they for or against immigration? "
Though many in Tombstone lamented the flood of strangers and the "media circus" shadowing them, just as many seemed to welcome the spectacle.
Store owner Barbara Brown ordered up a slew of American flag shirts just for this occasion and displayed them prominently.
"I would love to see the guys wearing them down on the border," said Brown, owner of the William Brown Holster Co., a Western clothing and leather shop.
"I absolutely love it that they're here - I think this is desperately needed," she said.
At Schieffelin Hall, volunteers cheered when organizer James Gilchrist stepped out onto a staircase overlooking the crowd and told them the U.S. Border Patrol's recently announced increase of 500 agents to the Arizona border was inadequate.
Gilchrist said he's received many threatening e-mails, including some from the Mara Salvatruchas, a criminal gang based in El Salvador. He said he's worried that volunteers will be attacked during their month in Southern Arizona.
By noon, as the Minutemen finished registering for the day, many headed over to Big Nose Kate's Saloon on Allen Street. It was then that protesters started performing native dances and banging pots and pans as they hoisted signs reading "No human is illegal."
In Naco, a crowd of Mexican and U.S. protesters briefly blocked southbound traffic at the Naco Port of Entry, but Custom's and Border Protection officials said the border crossing remained open.
Tombstone resident Luis Martinez showed up at the Minuteman Project registration 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."
● Contact reporter Michael Marizco at 573-4213 or at mmarizco@azstarnet.com. ● Contact Carla McClain at 806-7754 or at cmcclain@azstarnet.com.
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/border/68578.php
By Michael Marizco and Carla McClain
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Volunteers, protesters, observers gather in Tombstone
While far less than the expected 1,000 volunteers showed up to register for the Minuteman Project's kick-off, there was no shortage of people with agendas - and cameras - outside Tombstone's Schieffelin Hall on Friday, Apr. 1.
TOMBSTONE - Only a fraction of the promised 1,000 Minuteman volunteers showed up here Friday for the start of their month-long protest of the federal government's inability to control the U.S.-Mexican border.
In a crowd of more than 150 reporters, photographers and camera crews, about 150 Minuteman volunteers registered for the project, photos of the event show. Reports were wildly scattered, with the Associated Press reporting 100 while CNN reported hundreds.
Organizers declined to say how many people officially registered as participants on the opening day.
Al Phillips, a retired correctional officer from Tennessee who showed up with a .357 pistol he's had for years, was among the volunteers. He plans to spend the entire month in Southern Arizona sleeping in a tent on the border.
"My wife warned me, 'Be good because all the cameras will be there,' " he said. "I just thought that if I could bring awareness, I could help out, that's all."
Dave Troupe said he joined the Minuteman Project because he doesn't believe the Border Patrol does enough to control the border. But the Green Valley senior citizen said he's worried that the event is going to attract "nuts."
"Whenever you get this many people together, you're going to have a bunch of nuts, too," Troupe said.
At least one man was stopped by security volunteers for the Minuteman Project after he tried to bring a shotgun to the event, said James L. Chase, a volunteer who is organizing security at the Bible College in Palominas, where about 30 of the volunteers were camped on Friday.
Organizers have said rifles and shotguns are not allowed, and handgun restrictions for participants, nearly all male and over 50, are also strict, Chase said.
Chase said small groups of Minuteman volunteers would be placed at observation posts every quarter-mile along the San Pedro Riparian Area to observe illegal entrants coming across.
He also alluded to "covert operations" being performed that could not be discussed.
At orientation meetings Friday, volunteers heard from speakers including Bay Buchanan, chairwoman of American Cause organization, and Chris Simcox, founder of the Civil Homeland Defense Corps, one of the organizers of the Minuteman Project. Simcox criticized the media, saying they were spreading "fear and hysteria among the citizens."
The event had some locals, including Tombstone Mayor Andree De Journett, concerned about possible problems. That's why the city asked the Arizona Rangers to assist in directing traffic and maintaining order.
"We've been hearing about all of these groups that were coming down. We just wanted to be prepared," De Journett said.
The uncertainty has local residents nervous enough that even those who don't normally carry guns in Tombstone are carrying them now, said Patti Escapule, whose family has lived in this Wild West town for generations.
"A lot of people here are a little wary of all this - it's scary," said Escapule, working at Tombstone Hardware and Feed.
On Allen Street, the stagecoaches were running and the Wild West shows went on as usual, Steve Kukowski pointed out as he got his trick paint pony, Cisco the Kid, ready to perform.
"We're taking it all in stride. It's pretty much business as usual for everyone in town. No one here is really worried. And anyway, they'll all be out of town by Monday, when they head for the border."
Despite the all-day hubbub spread out over two blocks of Tombstone's main thoroughfare, traffic moved steadily and tourists - many unaware of the national spotlight on Tombstone - strolled the historic district unmolested.
"Oh, I've heard of them but I don't understand it," said Joyce Sly of Bullhead City, who spent the day sightseeing.
"Are they for or against immigration? "
Though many in Tombstone lamented the flood of strangers and the "media circus" shadowing them, just as many seemed to welcome the spectacle.
Store owner Barbara Brown ordered up a slew of American flag shirts just for this occasion and displayed them prominently.
"I would love to see the guys wearing them down on the border," said Brown, owner of the William Brown Holster Co., a Western clothing and leather shop.
"I absolutely love it that they're here - I think this is desperately needed," she said.
At Schieffelin Hall, volunteers cheered when organizer James Gilchrist stepped out onto a staircase overlooking the crowd and told them the U.S. Border Patrol's recently announced increase of 500 agents to the Arizona border was inadequate.
Gilchrist said he's received many threatening e-mails, including some from the Mara Salvatruchas, a criminal gang based in El Salvador. He said he's worried that volunteers will be attacked during their month in Southern Arizona.
By noon, as the Minutemen finished registering for the day, many headed over to Big Nose Kate's Saloon on Allen Street. It was then that protesters started performing native dances and banging pots and pans as they hoisted signs reading "No human is illegal."
In Naco, a crowd of Mexican and U.S. protesters briefly blocked southbound traffic at the Naco Port of Entry, but Custom's and Border Protection officials said the border crossing remained open.
Tombstone resident Luis Martinez showed up at the Minuteman Project registration 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."
● Contact reporter Michael Marizco at 573-4213 or at mmarizco@azstarnet.com. ● Contact Carla McClain at 806-7754 or at cmcclain@azstarnet.com.
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/border/68578.php