California-based Minuteman Ron Branstner has family roots in Minnesota, so part of his yearly summer vacation in the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes is spreading his message of undocumented immigrant workers as victims of corporate greed--victims who should be shipped back to wherever.
Some sympathy.
The Dairyland Peach reports Tea Party to discuss open borders Monday evening that Branstner spoke on June 8, and a source in Little Falls tells Bluestem that he'll be on the conservative-leaning Up Front show on Little Falls Radio, AM960 KLTF on Thursday, June 18, from 9:00--10:00 a.m.
The show is streamed online if you're outside the broadcast area, and the hosts take questions on the studio line (320) 632-2306. Whatever your opinion of Branstner's views might be, please be civil if your question is taken.
In the past, he's shown up in Albert Lea, Austin, Minneapolis--and Willmar, as we reported last year in California Minuteman Ron Branstner to lead "Illegal Immigration Forum" at Willmar Library July 24.
An article in the Willmar paper suggests what Branstner's been Covering the event, West Central Tribune staff writer David Little reported in Immigration forum sparks some heated discussion:
Minutemen Civil Defense Corps member Ron Branstner of California brought his message of opposition to illegal immigration and what he says are harmful effects on small communities during a two-hour forum Thursday night at the Willmar Public Library. . . .
Branstner says the influx of immigrants takes revenue out of the community because facilities such as hospitals and schools are overwhelmed, and he says crime goes up.
The discussion Thursday night ranged broadly — and often was lively and loud — among the approximately 30 audience members who attended. . . .
One woman cautioned Branstner against speaking in generalities.
Heated discussion broke out about assimilation when one man from Olivia said undocumented workers receive preference for services.
Another audience member who said he works in human services said 90 percent of the people he deals with are white. He said he does not favor illegal immigration. . . .
He also discussed a former federal government program called 287 (g), in which local law enforcement departments could enter into a memorandum of understanding with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to arrest illegal immigrants. He said many mayors did not know about the program.
Willmar City Council member Ron Christianson said the program was on the council agenda in 2011. He said the meeting room was flooded and those who spoke in favor of the program were smeared. . . .
Also, Branstner singled out the Blandin Foundation of Grand Rapids. The Blandin Foundation on its website says its mission is to strengthen rural Minnesota communities, especially the Grand Rapids area.
Branstner says the foundation invites city mayors, council members and others for week-long workshops about cultural diversity and establishing cultural diversity centers in their cities without telling the citizens.
The Blandin Foundation was a partner in Willmar’s Vision 2020 community planning effort. Diversity and tolerance were among the top goals that emerged from community meetings, according to a 2001 story in the Tribune archives.
Oh jeepers. People getting into a discussion and deciding that diversity and tolerance are valuable in a community.
Screenshot: the notice of the earlier meeting from the Hometown Paper.
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