MEDIA ADVISORY

National Hispanic Group Calls for “Brisenia’s Law” To Fight Domestic Terrorism

Phoenix, Arizona – We are pleased to hear that the Pima County jury convicted Shawna Forde today of two counts of first-degree murder in the May 30, 2009 deaths of Arivaca residents Raul Junior Flores and his 9-year-old daughter, Brisenia. As a result of the conviction, we are asking Congressman Peter King, Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, to conduct hearings and a thorough investigation on domestic terrorism by border vigilantes.  It’s time for a congressional investigation into this epidemic of domestic terrorism by vigilantes along our border, to disarm the Minutemen, Nativists, and Neo-Nazis at the border.

The conviction today of Minutemen leader Shawna Forde on capital murder charges is just one small step in bringing closure to the Minutemen murders.During the trial, the mother of nine year old girl Brisenia Flores testified as an eye witness, and recalled the ghastly horror of watching her own family brutally murdered. She testified how young Brisenia asked the gunman why he shot both her parents. By then the gunman was out of bullets from shooting her parents,  and as young Brisenia cowered and begged for her life to be spared, her mother saw the gunman calmly reload his gun and shoot her daughter anyway. Brisenia died in her mother’s arms minutes later from two gunshots to the head.

Most Americans have never heard of these senseless murders of a family in their home near the Arizona border with Mexico. The murderers were not undocumented immigrants, drug smugglers, or Muslim terrorists, but a group of Minutemen (also known as domestic terrorists), led by their leader, Shawna Forde.. Shawna Forde was also very close to Jim Gilchrist, where they participated in border patrols together, and even held a leadership role in the Minutemen project, etc. Forde was also a member of the Minutemen Civil Defense Corp (MCDC), until leaving to form her own group, Minutemen American Defense, and has appeared on TV as a representative for FAIR. Shawna Forde also had a long criminal record before joining any of the Minutemen groups. Chris Simcox, who founded the MCDC, also has a criminal record involving weapons, and restraining orders placed against him by two ex-wives, who alleged violence and threats of violence.

We believe violence has escalated and hate crimes have peaked in the State of Arizona.  Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said that the state has “become the mecca for prejudice and bigotry,” and we are convinced that he is right. Also, Sheriff Estrada believes a rash of shootings in the desert in Rio Rico are by border vigilantes, as the perpetrators wear camouflage, shoot from a distance, never rob their victims, none of whom were involved in drugs. Roger Barnet, widely credited with originating the Minutemen concept, has twice been successfully sued for assault on immigrants and citizens too. Heavily armed neo-Nazis patrol the Vekol Valley led by J.T. Ready, a long term friend and political ally of Arizona Senate President Russell Pearce.

In contrast to Minutemen claims they are peaceful, disturbing evidence of violence keeps emerging. We demand a congressional investigation into this epidemic of domestic terrorism by vigilantes along our border, and to disarm the Minutemen, Nativists and Neo-Nazis at the border.  We call on Congressman Peter King, Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, to conduct a thorough investigation on domestic terrorism by border vigilantes.

We’d like to know how Shawna Forde, who has an extensive criminal record, was able to become a member of both major Minutemen vigilante groups including a leadership role in the Minutemen project, when these groups always claim they do background checks on new members. It’s too late for Brisenia and her dad, along with the Rio Rico victims in the desert, but perhaps other lives can be saved with Brisenia’s law.

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About Somos Republicans:

Somos Republicans is a national watchdog group and the largest Hispanic Republican grassroots organization in the nation because of our leadership that is pro immigration reform. The Mission of Somos Republicans is to promote political education and information needed to make more informed political decisions. To inspire the Hispanic people to make a difference in their lives and the lives of their neighbors through collaborative political education, volunteer commitment and responsible participation in society. Our vision is to increase the Latino Republican voting block by 100% within two years. To increase voter registration, precinct committeemen recruitment, campaign volunteering, fundraising and events to reflect quality of future Latino leadership.

SPANISH TRANSLATION

Traducción de Alejandro Torrealba

Grupo Nacional Hispano Pide que Se Aplique la “Ley Brisenia”

Phoenix Arizona- Shawna Forde, líder activo de los Minutemen, fue condenada por cargos de homicidio calificado el día de hoy,  lo que debe considerarse un paso significativo para poner fin a la ola de asesinatos causado por los Minutemen.  Durante el juicio la madre de la niña de nueve años Brisenia Flores fue admitida en la corte como testigo ocular, quien relató   el horror que vivió en carne propia cuando vio a su familia ser brutalmente asesinada.

Testificó  que la niña  Brisenia Flores le reclamo al asesino por haber disparado a sus padres, en ese momento el arma del asesino estaba descargada por los disparos hechos contra sus víctimas, la niña Brisenia se puso de rodillas y le rogo al asesino que no la matara, la madre  testifico que el  asesino calmadamente recargo su arma y le disparo a la niña sin compasión alguna. La niña Brisenia Flores recibió dos disparos mortales en la cabeza, la madre testifica que la niña murió en sus brazos minutos después.

La mayoría de los estadounidenses nunca han oído acerca de este tipo de crímenes en contra familias Hispanas cerca de la frontera de Arizona con México. Valga por mencionar que los asesinos no son ni  indocumentados, ni  traficantes de drogas, o musulmanes terroristas, sino son parte un grupo llamado los  Minutemen, encabezados por su líder,Shawna Forde
Shawna Forde trabajó juntamente con  Jim Gilchrist, ambos participando en patrullajes fronterizos   e incluso mantuvo un papel de liderazgo  en el proyecto Minutemen,  Shawna  Forde también fue miembro de los Minutemen de Defensa Civil Corp(MCDC), quien luego decidió  formar su propio  grupo con el nombre  Minutemen American Defense, ella  ha aparecido en la televisión como un representante de FAIR. Shawna Forde también tenía amplios antecedentes penales antes de unirse los grupos Minutemen. Es importante mencionar que Chris Simcox, fundador de los  Minutemen de Defensa Civil Corp (MCDC) también tiene antecedentes criminales relacionados con armas, y quejas de violencia domestica de sus matrimonios anteriores.

El alguacil Estrada cree que la racha de tiroteos en el desierto en Rio Rico has sido causados por los “vigilantes fronterizos”, quienes usan camuflaje para no ser identificados desde largas distancias, no roban a sus víctimas, y sus víctimas no estaban involucrados en drogas. Roger Barnet quien invento el concepto de los Minuteman ha sido demandado dos veces con éxito por asalto agravado en contra de inmigrantes y ciudadanos estadounidenses. También hay una patrulla neo-nazi que está sumamente armada conocida como la patrulla del Valle Vekol  que está dirigida por J.T Ready, quien es un político aliado y gran amigo del presidente del Senado en Arizona, el señor Russell Pearce.

Aunque los Minutemen reclaman que son una organización pacífica la violencia manifestada por miembros de dicha organización debe ser razón suficiente para que el Congreso tome cartas al asunto e investigue la epidemia de terrorismo domestico  a lo largo de nuestra frontera. Es hora de desmantelar a los Minuteman y desarmar a los neo-nazis que dicen “proteger” nuestra frontera cuando en realidad son la causa de la inseguridad fronteriza.

Hacemos un llamado al congresista Peter King, quien es presidente del Comité de Seguridad Nacional, para que realice una investigación exhaustiva sobre el terrorismo domestico que están causando los  “vigilantes fronterizos”  Como es posible que Shawna Forbe quien tenía un amplio record criminal llego hacer líder en dos diferentes grupos de los Minutemen cuando dichos grupos alegan que ellos verifican que sus miembros no tengan antecedentes criminales. Lamentablemente es demasiado tarde para la niña Brisenia Flores y su padre, de igual manera tarde para otras víctimas en el desierto, sin embargo se podrían salvar otros con “la ley Brisenia”.

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