Antigovernment Group Tries to Organize Mass Shutdown of Ports of Entry on U.S.-Mexico Border
A self-described coalition of antigovernment groups is hoping to organize yet another attempt at shutting down the U.S.-Mexico border at major commercial crossings this weekend, calling the event .
Previous attempts at shutting down traffic at key border crossings this spring have ended in spectacular failureânotably radio host with bikers, as well , which culminated in a only a brief interruption at Brownsville, Texas.
But this particular attempt, scheduled to take place Saturday, has set off warnings among law enforcement personnel, including a local sheriffâs office in Texas and Border Patrol officials, who say they are prepared for just such an attempt
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A spokesman for event told Hatewatch that, despite concerns, the protest will not be violent or involve any radical behavior. âWe have told everybody thatâs called, keep your military gear, your rifles, and that stuff at home,â Rob Chupp said in a phone interview. âThis is not a military operation, this is a peaceful protest.â
The groupâs Facebook page details their plans:
We are a representation of Americans who are unsettled and deeply concerned with our current Administration, in all branches of Federal and State governments. Our mission is to Shut Down, every United Statesâ Port of Entry on the Southern Border, until our Goals are met.
The website and a message at the groupâs hotline asserts that the protesters will remain in place until their demands are met. There are eight ânon-negotiableâ demands, including the termination of all medical and financial for non-documented immigrants.
According to , both the California Highway Patrol and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency are aware of the planned protest.
âCBP has contingency plans ready to put into place in the event of any protest or a temporary blockage of traffic at our international border crossings,â CBP spokesman Ralph DeSio told the Times.
A report from a southern Texas TV station also warned that âmilitiasâ were planning to block traffic on the international bridges this weekend, and quoted Rio Grande Mayor Ruben Villarreal as he voiced his concern.
"What can we expect? I don't know. The unknown becomes an issue that we really got to prepare for," Villarreal said, noting that any shutdown would have significant impacts on businesses:Â "If they're here to block traffic, to be a hindrance between traffic and the port of entry, that causes a problem. It's a huge safety issue.â
However, Rob Chupp, an Indiana man who participated in the border militia watch at âCamp Lone Starâ in Texas last month, insists that there are no militias directly involved in the protest.
âWe are not a militia group,â Chupp told Hatewatch. âNone of the organizers or the event staff is part of a militia. We have housewives, Iâm a business owner. Thatâs who we have. We donât have militia.â
Chupp claims that authorities are well aware of their plans and have actually been supportive: âWeâve talked to Homeland Security, Border Patrol, Texas Rangers, and for the most part, everybodyâs on board with us,â he said. âBorder Patrol is happy that weâre doing it. We have sheriffs that are telling us, âOK, hereâs where youâve gotta go, this is what youâve gotta do. Donât worry about this port, this is a better port.â So we have a lot of support across the board.â
The shutdown protest appears to be the brainchild of a California woman named Stasyi Barth, and mother of three from Lake Elsinore, who says she has become increasingly concerned about immigration and decided to organize citizens to stop it.
However, while they describe themselves as âcoalitionâ of Patriot groups, Chupp could not name any other organizations that have actually signed on to support their Saturday protest. Instead, he indicated that people involved in other Patriot groups such as the Oath Keepers and anti-immigration groups such as Overpasses for America would be there as participants.
âWeâre coming together as The People,â Chupp said. âWeâre not coming together as any particular group. We donât want to say, OK, hereâs this group and this group and this group. ... Because once you start naming this person or that person, it becomes about them. We want it to be about our national security and our sovereignty. Itâs about the people in general.â
Barth said that the plan is for participants to simply arrive at the border, get in the requisite traffic lanes, and then turn off their cars and walk away.
âYou get out of your car and take your keys with you,â she told the Times last week from her home. âYou stand there and wave your American flag and try to get the message to D.C. that they need to close our border.â