Dear pcventures-ga
Thank you for allowing me to answer your interesting question. The
?Minuteman Project? now boasts about 500 members from 45 states and
claim that their membership expectations are double or even triple
that number by April 1, 2005. The project makes a point to show how
diverse their membership is:
?The roster of volunteers currently includes six PhDs, two professors
from state universities, several dozen current and former members of
law enforcement, free-lance journalists, teachers, engineers, truck
drivers, construction trade personnel, firemen, EMTs, geologists,
home-makers ("MinuteMoms"), five physicians, seven attorneys, two
CPAs, janitors, college students, labor-union members, two students of
divinity, aircraft pilots, three former state-level politicians,
long-range reconnaissance specialists, computer scientists, and
others.
The participants are comprised of various religious and ethnic roots,
and include four wheel chair bound persons and seven "legal"
immigrants from six countries. About one third of the participants
are women. Eight per cent are of non-American-European (also referred
to as "Whites") ethnicity, specifically: eight American-Mexicans,
four American-Armenians, twenty one Native American Indians (Cherokee,
Comanche, Sioux, and other tribes), one American-Lebanese, one
Russian, and others.?
You can read more about this group and its recent activities here:
MINUTEMAN PROJECT NEWS MEDIA
http://www.minutemanproject.com/NewsMedia.html
MINUTEMAN PROJECT ARTICLES
http://www.minutemanproject.com/Articles.html
As for what they have done, it seems that their first major
?deployment? is set for April 1, 2005, so it largely remains to be
seen if any of them are going to prove beneficial or perhaps embarrass
themselves or others in the attempt:
MINUTEMAN PROJECT EVENTS
http://www.minutemanproject.com/Events.html
Here are the instructions for one of the April rallies in which
attendees appear to be intent upon demonstrating the US government
rather than monitoring the activities of the US/Mexico border. The
first leg of the rally looks like it is set for April 1 at the US
Border Patrol Headquarters in Naco, Arizona. Attendees are advised in
part, ?Do not direct your anger towards Mexico during this rally. All
of our messages must be directed at our government, as they are the
only ones who can solve the problem.?
After that they plan to turn around and start monitoring the border.
Confusing approach isn't it?
MINUTEMAN PROJECT RALLY INSTRUCTIONS
http://www.minutemanproject.com/RallyInstructions.html
I don't know about you but this paints the mental picture for me that
they plan to stand on the border and protest in both directions. That
should get an interesting measure of attention, don't you think?
More recently authorities are saying that as many as 860 people are
registered ?Minutemen? and the legality of the group itself is
beginning to come into question. It seems they might be perceived as
more of a hindrance to governmental operations that a supplement to
it:
NORTH CAROLINA TIMES
?Officials, rights groups debate legality of 'Minuteman Project'
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/03/10/news/top_stories/23_43_493_9_05.txt
Mexico is also expressing concern over the activities of US citizen
just across the border:
?Mexican senators concerned about Minuteman Project?
http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=3066551
Finally, while the Minuteman Project may indeed be sincere in its
efforts to supplement the US authorities? manpower, there are some
individuals who seem to believe this is all a one big demonstration to
draw attention to the US?s border and illegal immigration policies and
the impact illegal immigration has on our economy:
?A dose of suspicion for the Minuteman Project?
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/news/editorial/11040298.htm
?Minuteman project not worth a second?
http://wildcat.arizona.edu/papers/98/109/03_2.html
?Civilian patrol at border draws worry?
http://www.freep.com/news/nw/border22e_20050222.htm
No one in this group appears to have shown out as of yet (if its going
to happen at all), but then again their big debut (and their first
opportunity to make heroes or fools of themselves) is not scheduled
until April 1, 2005.
I can't speak for the average person but for me personally, it does
seem difficult to know if these are good guys or bad guys. It's
unclear if they are a citizen supplement to an understaffed force or
if they are a semi-organized rabble with an agenda. Frankly, I can't
tell. Keep an eye on the nightly news. Good or bad, something tells me
we?ll hear much more about these folks in the very near future and at
that point perhaps we'll all know what to make of them.
I hope you find that my research exceeds your expectations. If you
have any questions about my research please post a clarification
request prior to rating the answer. Otherwise I welcome your rating
and your final comments and I look forward to working with you again
in the near future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.
Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga ? Google Answers Researcher
INFORMATION SOURCES
MINUTEMAN PROJECT
http://www.minutemanproject.com/index.html
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