R.I. State House rally on immigration takes unexpected turn

PROVIDENCE –– Just as guest speaker Jim Gilchrist derided critics who call him a “racial supremacist,” the clowns came marching in.

Two dozen rubber-nosed, rainbow-wigged clowns disrupted Friday’s State House rally in support of an Arizona-style, bipartisan immigration bill being cosponsored by state Representatives Peter G. Palumbo and Joseph A. Trillo.

Gilchrist, cofounder of The Minuteman Project — a “national citizens’ watch group” at the U.S.-Mexico border — spoke first at the rally sponsored by his group and Rhode Islanders for Immigration Law Enforcement.

The Palumbo-Trillo bill mirrors the controversial SB 1070 Arizona law that criminalizes failure to carry immigration papers, and gives the police broad powers to detain and deport undocumented immigrants.

Key portions are currently blocked by federal injunction. Palumbo tried unsuccessfully to file his bill in May. He will re-introduce it in January.

Gilchrist said he was there to draw national attention “to an issue threatening our domestic tranquility … that of runaway illegal immigration.”

He said, “I want to be clear that no one here, in my opinion, is using this platform as a means of engaging in what our critics call ‘racial supremacy.’ We’re all products of legal immigrants somewhere in our lives …” Gilchrist said he was there to push “the rule of law, as opposed to mob rule, which our adversaries would prefer …”

Suddenly, demonstrators in polyester clown suits filed through security and entered the State House rotunda, carrying signs that said, “Clown Power,” and “Clowntocracy.”

At that point, the “Clowns for Immigration Law Enforcement” outnumbered Palumbo-bill supporters, whose critical mass never exceeded 50.

The clowns mocked the speakers with whoops and applause: “Peter Palumbo! Clown in Chief!” “Peter Palumbo! Clown in Chief!” “When I say ‘Clown!’ You say ‘Power!’ ”

Palumbo, the keynote speaker, took offense.

“We are a very well-controlled group, and we’re here for one reason,” said Palumbo, a Democrat from Cranston. “We’re here to protect the State of Rhode Island and the Constitution of the country. Don’t let the opposition define us.” He said those opponents were “haters and bigots,” guilty of “lies and distortions.”

Palumbo added, “Our opposition, they like to say somehow we’re evil because we want to protect our borders, and we’re haters because we think people should abide by the laws of our country. In fact, we’re doing the right thing … there’s a new type of slave out there. It’s the illegal alien.”

He said he and Trillo heard “frightening things” during a recent trip to Arizona, about how undocumented immigrants are exploited by coyotes who charge “their whole life savings” to cross the border, then extort the families left behind; and by unscrupulous American business owners “who use them for a fraction of what they should be paid.”

As Palumbo wrapped up his speech, the clowns danced down the stairs and went on their way. Many were familiar faces from local immigrants’ rights groups.

Trillo, a Republican from Warwick, said that America’s melting pot is out of balance.

“Anytime you throw too much of anything in our pot; it’s no longer a melting pot. It’s become contaminated by a particular population and that is altering the makeup of the United States.” Trillo said he was referring to Hispanics, but that could apply equally “to French, or Italians” or any other population that upset the equation.

Trillo said, “All we’re asking for is for the federal government to help us enforce our laws!”

The rally stretched until noon. Most of the numerous speakers were political candidates, some of whom are also RIILE members.

Terry Gorman, RIILE’s executive director, called the turnout “extremely disappointing,” compared with the 500 he expected, and noted, “We’ll have to keep plugging away.”

Asked about the bewigged visitors, Gorman added, “No, I didn’t appreciate the clowns. I think that’s totally unfair. They have their right to protest. They have their right to free speech — but is anyone here trying to crucify anyone? Or condemn anyone? No. They have their side of the issue [and] they tried to put it in our face today. I think that’s unfortunate.”

http://www.projo.com/news/content/CLOWN_RALLY_10-02-10_TFK618E_v28.1fa8a59.html