DNC Calls on RNC To Put An End To Anti-Immigrant "Games"
Today, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and DNC Hispanic Caucus Chair Ramona Martinez called on Republican National Committee Chairman Mel Martinez to put a halt to the College Republicans' "Catch an Illegal Immigrant" events across the country. In the event, College Republicans are rewarded for hunting down an "immigrant" who is hiding and wearing a tag.
Dean and Ramona Martinez sent a letter to Republican Chairman Martinez urging swift action on the part of the Republican Party. In September of last year, Chairman Dean had sent a similar letter to Mel Martinez's predecessor Ken Mehlman over the same activities by College Republicans in Pennsylvania and Texas. Despite the RNC's condemnation at that time of these "Catch an Illegal Immigrant" events, Republicans continue to do nothing to prevent similar events from being held, as evidenced by Republicans at New York University recently holding their own disgraceful version of this event. So far, the RNC has been silent and the leader of College Republicans issued a tepid statement saying they do not "necessarily" condone it.
In the letter to Chairman Martinez, Dean and Ramona Martinez point out that "these despicable tactics have no place in our public discourse or on our college campuses and do nothing to further the debate on how to address the issue of immigration reform. Rather, these tactics teach hate, and promote fear and resentment." The DNC called on the Republican Chairman to "set an example for our young people" and to make it clear that the Republican Party does not endorse discrimination. Dean and Ramona Martinez also called on the RNC Chairman to proactively engage College Republicans to ensure that similar activities never again take place, and to join Democrats in their commitment to comprehensive immigration reform.
The RNC and College Republicans have a long and disgraceful track record of organizing and condoning these anti-immigrant tactics:
College Republicans Host Anti-Immigrant Game at New York University. "A game called 'Catch the Illegal Immigrant' staged on New York University's campus by a student Republican group drew several hundred students yesterday. But most came to protest the game, not to play it. Under the game's rules, according to one student Republican, players were to search on campus for the student chosen to wear a name tag saying 'illegal immigrant.' The winner received a small reward. But many students and other critics said they were repelled that anyone would want to play such a game." [The New York Times, 2/23/07]
College Republicans Issue Response Which Fails to Condemn These Disgraceful Events. "The New York College Republican State Committee, Inc. will not deny that there are more constructive ways to express your opinion on controversial issues, but as an organization we neither denounce nor support the actions of the NYU College Republicans. As long as everyone involved were willing participants, nothing illegal took place, no constitutional rights were violated, and as long as the NYU College Republicans were conducting this activity as last resort to bring attention to a political issue that the members and leadership of that chapter feel so strongly about." [NYCRSC Statement, 2/23/07]
College Republican Leadership Takes No Responsibility For Anti-Immigrant Activities. "We do not sponsor them. They're individual chapters and do whatever they'd like to do," said Amanda Trice, Deputy Executive Director of the CRNC. "We don't necessarily condone it. ... At the national organization, we don't sponsor that or give them materials or anything like that." [ABC News, 2/23/07]
RNC Hired Intern is Planning "Catch an Illegal Immigrant" and "Fun With Guns" Events. "Morgan Wilkins, the intern hired by the Republican National Committee to win the hearts and minds of Michigan 20-somethings, is planning events that some may find odd. To others, they may be offensive. One such idea is 'Catch an Illegal Immigrant Day,' in which a volunteer would play the part of an illegal immigrant and hide somewhere on campus while others try to find him. The winner would receive a prize. Her other ideas include an event called 'Fun with Guns,' in which young Republicans would use a BB gun or paintball gun to shoot cardboard cut-outs of Democratic leaders such as Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.)" [The Michigan Daily, 9/12/06]
College Republicans at Penn State Proposed Playing "Catch an Illegal Immigrant" As Segue Into Immigration Discussion. The College Republicans at Penn State University wanted to enter the debate about the nation's borders by playing a "Catch an Illegal Immigrant Game. "People would be invited to "catch" group members wearing orange shirts symbolizing illegal aliens. Amid the student outcry that ensued, they softened their plan to an illegal immigration awareness day in which leafleting and speech-making would let both sides air their views on immigration policies. [Scripps News Service, 4/14/06]
Catch an Illegal Immigrant Day Reportedly Planned at University of Texas. Members of the University of Texas' multicultural center cited UT Young Conservative's proposed "Catch an Immigrant Day" last spring as one of the causes of Latino students feeling unwanted at UT. Though there was no such event on March 2, and representatives from YCT denied planning it, the idea caused uproar and protest from multiple organizations on campus, including the Latino Leadership Council. [University Wire, 6/15/05]
The full text of the letter appears below:
Mel Martinez, General Chairman
Republican National Committee
310 First Street, SE
Washington, D.C. 20003
February 27, 2007
Dear Mel,
After reports last September revealed that College Republicans in a number of states were engaging in a so called "game" entitled "catch an illegal immigrant", we asked your predecessor Ken Mehlman to take swift, decisive action to stop these discriminatory, dangerous, and vile activities. While Mr. Mehlman distanced the RNC from the activities and did denounce them, he failed to take any action to stop these tactics and we now have new reports that these games continue among College Republicans, most recently at NYU.
Neither the national party, nor the College Republicans have taken a stand on these recent activities. What's worse, it's clear that the College Republican National Committee would only say that they don't "necessarily condone" the anti-immigrant games, and the New York College Republican State Committee would "neither denounce nor support" the NYU College Republicans. The RNC continues to remain silent.
Mr. Chairman, these despicable tactics have no place in our public discourse or on our college campuses and do nothing to further the debate on how to address the issue of immigration reform. Rather, these tactics teach hate, and promote fear and resentment. As leaders of America's two major political parties we have a responsibility to set an example for our young people and to elevate the political discourse in America. So we are once again calling on you, as Chairman of the RNC to put an end to these "games" and to decisively denounce these tactics. Your silence and inaction can only be seen as an endorsement of these activities. We urge you to make it clear that neither you nor your party condone discrimination and fear-mongering and that the agenda of the national Republican Party does not include this brand of hate-filled tactics being used to inflame rather than inform the debate on immigration.
Mr. Chairman, we know that as an immigrant, you have a particularly personal understanding of what it means to come to a new country in search of a better life, by choice or otherwise. When you took the Chairmanship of the RNC you said there was no "question that the tone of the immigration debate was wrong" and that you expected to "be a voice...not an attack dog." Your voice is needed today. The RNC can and should speak out on this issue, but above all proactively engage the College Republicans to stop and prevent these vile activities that do nothing to create a constructive dialogue. Lastly, we call on you to join Democrats in our commitment to achieving the type of comprehensive immigration reform that's consistent with America's best traditions.
Our democracy depends on mutual respect, even when we disagree, and on upholding the values that have made our country great. We hope to hear back from you on this important matter promptly.
Best regards,
Howard Dean,
Chair, Democratic National Committee
Ramona Martinez
Chair, DNC Hispanic Caucus
