Thread by @AmericasVoice

We're on the call with @HenryFernandezJ of @CAPimmigration, @RepEscobar, Heidi Beirich of @splcenter, @HMAesq, @lschubiner @WStatesCenter to talk about Hold Their Feet to the Fire, FAIR's annual hate group event.

@HenryFernandezJ @CAPimmigration @RepEscobar @splcenter @HMAesq @lschubiner @WStatesCenter HTFTTF is an annual reunion of anti-immigrant members of Congress, white nationalists, anti-Muslim conspiracy theorists, and activist law enforcement officers. More than 80 organizations have joined a letter urging MOCs not to attend.

@HenryFernandezJ @CAPimmigration @RepEscobar @splcenter @HMAesq @lschubiner @WStatesCenter .@RepEscobar: My city of El Paso has long been one of the safest cities in America, even though we are a frequent backdrop for racist politicians and commentators who want to use us for their anti-immigrant agenda.

@HenryFernandezJ @CAPimmigration @RepEscobar @splcenter @HMAesq @lschubiner @WStatesCenter .@RepEscobar: Last month, many of the same words used by the president (criminals, invasion) were also used by a killer who drove 600 miles bc he wanted to slaughter Mexicans and immigrants. 22 were killed, & our community is still reeling. Words have consequences.

@HenryFernandezJ @CAPimmigration @RepEscobar @splcenter @HMAesq @lschubiner @WStatesCenter .@RepEscobar: What FAIR is doing by bringing together by people who use these words, is dangerous. It's inspiring people who would do us harm. It's putting targets on the backs of vulnerable people and communities. It's beyond irresponsible, & we cannot give them cover.

@HenryFernandezJ @CAPimmigration @RepEscobar @splcenter @HMAesq @lschubiner @WStatesCenter .@RepEscobar: I cannot emphasize it enough. This is life and death for many of us.

@HenryFernandezJ @CAPimmigration @RepEscobar @splcenter @HMAesq @lschubiner @WStatesCenter Heidi Beirich of @splcenter: We have listed FAIR as a hate group since 2007. Founder John Tanton: “I’ve come to the point of view that for European-American society and culture to persist requires a European-American majority, and a clear one at that.”

@HenryFernandezJ @CAPimmigration @RepEscobar @splcenter @HMAesq @lschubiner @WStatesCenter He also wrote a book called "The Immigrant Invasion". Familiar-sounding words.

@HenryFernandezJ @CAPimmigration @RepEscobar @splcenter @HMAesq @lschubiner @WStatesCenter Heidi: FAIR is responsible for a policy agenda designed to punish immigrants and keep America white. This is a deeply racist org that demonizes immigrants on the basis on race, promotes white nationalists, and has put on a scary, toxic event with HTFTTF.

@HenryFernandezJ @CAPimmigration @RepEscobar @splcenter @HMAesq @lschubiner @WStatesCenter .@HMAesq: After the election, I saw how this Admin was going to be promoting anti-imm policies pushed by white nationalists. Where does this stuff come from? John Tanton, who built the modern anti-imm movement.

@HenryFernandezJ @CAPimmigration @RepEscobar @splcenter @HMAesq @lschubiner @WStatesCenter .@HMAesq: White nationalists have camouflaged terms like "illegal," "chain migration" for public consumption. These are dehumanizing terms that create a wall inside the debate on immigration that prohibits us from talking inclusively on the matter.

@HenryFernandezJ @CAPimmigration @RepEscobar @splcenter @HMAesq @lschubiner @WStatesCenter .@HMAesq: Tanton left a bunch of his papers with the University of Michigan; boxes 15-25 are still sealed. We won a victory with the court of appeals this year; we cannot afford to not know all the info behind the man who has helped promote anti-imm policies for 40 yrs.

@HenryFernandezJ @CAPimmigration @RepEscobar @splcenter @HMAesq @lschubiner @WStatesCenter .@lschubiner: FAIR has played a deeply troubling role in anti-imm messages, and in using this bigotry to build political power. FAIR has gained unprecedented power in Trump Admin (through decisions like ending DACA, TPS, family separation).

.@lschubiner: FAIR's president Dan Stein has publicly supported zero tolerance family separation and downplayed the effects of separating parents from their children.

@lschubiner .@lschubiner: Former staff members & known associates from FAIR and FAIR's sibling groups have moved into Trump Admin, including Stephen Miller, Julie Kirchner, Ken Cuccinelli. There is no q that FAIR's promotion of anti-imm bigotry has contributed to institutionalized hate

.@lschubiner: We can't separate FAIR's policies from their consequences, such as parents separated from their children, asylum seekers facing danger at the border, and white nationalists seeking violence.

@lschubiner The Washington Post has written about restrictionist groups like FAIR and how they've found themselves on the defensive now that their beliefs and language are being repeated verbatim by violent white nationalists.

washingtonpost.com/politics/it-ha…

@lschubiner Relevant report from @DefineAmerican: Study: Major Newspapers Uncritically Echo Trump Administration Anti-Immigrant Language defineamerican.com/journalismrepo…