Minuteman meeting still on for Missouri despite questions over member on city parks board
1:00 AM
Posted: Tuesday, October 09, 2007
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- National leaders of an anti-illegal immigration group said Monday they were postponing their conference but would still hold it in Kansas City, in part to support one of their members on a local parks board.
President and founder Chris Simcox and others from the Arizona-based Minuteman Civil Defense Corps met with Police Chief James Corwin and local media, hoping to clear up what they say has been misinformation about their organization.
The officers of the group, which patrols the border and reports illegal immigrants to authorities, said they would hold a regional leadership conference in February instead of December because of problems finding convention space during the holidays.
"Kansas City is a perfect spot within the center of the nation," Simcox said. "Geographically, it will accommodate our needs to hold a Midwestern retreat. And certainly it's in support of Frances (Semler) in standing by her principles."
The appointment of Semler, a 73-year-old grandmother, to the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Board this summer has drawn criticism from the National Council of La Raza, the nation's largest Hispanic advocacy group, as well as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Both organizations have threatened to cancel conventions scheduled for Kansas City.
Joe Miller, a spokesman for Mayor Mark Funkhouser, said the mayor is working to keep those conventions in Kansas City. Funkhouser has said he will not ask Semler to resign.
Semler said she can't believe her involvement in the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps has generated so much attention.
"I've heard that I'm a racist and a bigot, and that's absolutely false," Semler said.
Minuteman members say they are not vigilantes, just concerned citizens who report illegal immigration activity to police and other authorities.
"We're an organization that does not take the law into its own hands," Simcox said. "We're there to support law enforcement, to observe and report."
President and founder Chris Simcox and others from the Arizona-based Minuteman Civil Defense Corps met with Police Chief James Corwin and local media, hoping to clear up what they say has been misinformation about their organization.
The officers of the group, which patrols the border and reports illegal immigrants to authorities, said they would hold a regional leadership conference in February instead of December because of problems finding convention space during the holidays.
"Kansas City is a perfect spot within the center of the nation," Simcox said. "Geographically, it will accommodate our needs to hold a Midwestern retreat. And certainly it's in support of Frances (Semler) in standing by her principles."
The appointment of Semler, a 73-year-old grandmother, to the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Board this summer has drawn criticism from the National Council of La Raza, the nation's largest Hispanic advocacy group, as well as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Both organizations have threatened to cancel conventions scheduled for Kansas City.
Joe Miller, a spokesman for Mayor Mark Funkhouser, said the mayor is working to keep those conventions in Kansas City. Funkhouser has said he will not ask Semler to resign.
Semler said she can't believe her involvement in the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps has generated so much attention.
"I've heard that I'm a racist and a bigot, and that's absolutely false," Semler said.
Minuteman members say they are not vigilantes, just concerned citizens who report illegal immigration activity to police and other authorities.
"We're an organization that does not take the law into its own hands," Simcox said. "We're there to support law enforcement, to observe and report."
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 3 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
Bill Burkhart wrote on Oct 9, 2007 9:09 PM:
Dick wrote on Oct 9, 2007 5:13 PM:
USA Steve wrote on Oct 9, 2007 10:38 AM: