From the Website of  COALITION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS:

 Statement of Solidarity

We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, are shocked and dismayed at the continued presence of hate groups and vigilante behavior in our communities, and are concerned that our elected officials have done nothing to stop such terrorist activity. The growing boldness and obvious malice in these actions are disturbing to community members, who fear where these unchecked acts of violence will lead us.

The actions of these organizations crystallize the increasing hostile and violent atmosphere created by our failed U.S. border policies. Such an environment produces a climate of hate and violence against our neighbors along the U.S.-México Border and against undocumented immigrants, the innocent victims of a system that continues to exploit them. We have, and will continue to witness hatred-motivated actions until the underlying problems of racism and xenophobia are addressed.

· The American Patrol, Ranch Rescue, and the American Border Patrol, groups that claim to be “Dedicated to defending and preserving the private property rights of individual Citizens”, do so by carrying high power weapons, patrolling public lands, holding individuals at gunpoint, and making false accusations against organizations that work for the dignity and human rights of immigrants.

· November 1, 2002, a group of immigrants are fired upon by masked attackers while standing in the desert about 20 miles southwest of Tucson, Arizona. Of the 14 border crossers, only nine were later found. (Arizona Daily Star, November 5, 2002)

· Thursday, October 24, 2002, issue of the Tombstone Tumbleweed, a local newspaper, states: Enough is enough! A public call to arms! Citizens Border Patrol Militia now forming!…Bring your experience, ideas and support towards creating a Citizens Patrol of the Arizona/Mexico Border!...This is an organizational meeting. No weapons are necessary at this time… Join together to protect your country in a time of war! (Tombstone Tumbleweed, October 24, 2002)

· “Authorities are searching for something more than eight bodies found so far in a killing field west of Phoenix… It’s an area where eight bodies have been found since March, their hands tied behind their backs before being shot multiple times with a semiautomatic weapon, deputies said.” (Arizona Republic, October 28, 2002)

· On October 22, 2002, in Red Rock, Arizona, two men wearing camouflage fatigues opened fire on a group of twelve immigrants, killing two. One escaped to summon help; it is not known what became of the other nine. (New York Times, October 22, 2002)

· The American Patrol website claims that the Border Mobilization, a peaceful demonstration that took place in four border communities along the U.S.-México Border, "proves that the Pima County Defender Isabel Garcia (Co-chair of Derechos Humanos) is a Mexican agent." It then goes on to demand her resignation, claiming that she is a traitor to this country, sent here by México to reclaim these lands, Aztlan, for México.

· On the morning of May 12, 2000, two Arizona ranchers on horseback and armed with high power hunting rifles shot and critically wounded and undocumented Mexican worker attempting to cross the border near Sasabe, Arizona. Four other young men accompanying 20 year old Miguel Angel Palofox Aguirrin of Guasave, Sinaloa were also shot at by the vigilantes. (Revolutionary worker #1058, June 11, 2000)

· In May of 2001, the Justice Department notifies Isabel Garcia that her image is once again on the American Patrol's website, mentioning an upcoming vigil to remember 14 migrants who died in the desert. According to the Justice Department, the website had a schematic of the vigil location, with a little cross supposedly indicating where Garcia would be standing.

· Glenn Spencer and Arizona rancher Roger Barnett sent out invitations in May of 2000 to anti-immigrant groups across the USA to come down to Arizona for some "Fun in the Sun" and hunt down Mexicans crossing the border.

· In an interview, Barnett told USA Today Magazine: "A vigilante goes out, rounds up people, holds a trial and executes them," he says. I haven't done that yet. But bloodshed could happen." (USA Today, July 21, 1999)

The U.S. Federal Definition of "hate crime" is crime that is motivated by the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, or sexual orientation of any person. (USC Title 28 Sec 994)

The Department of Justice illuminates the government's view of hate crimes:

"Hate crime is the violence of intolerance and bigotry, intended to hurt and intimidate someone because of their race, ethnicity, national origin, religious, sexual orientation, or disability. The purveyors of hate use explosives, arson, weapons, vandalism, physical violence, and verbal threats of violence to instill fear in their victims, leaving them vulnerable to more attacks and feeling alienated, helpless, suspicious and fearful. Others may become frustrated and angry if they believe the local government and other groups in the community will not protect them. When perpetrators of hate are not prosecuted as criminals and their acts not publicly condemned, their crimes can weaken even those communities with the healthiest race relations."

We, together with other human/civil rights and social justice groups, demand immediate and effective action against any group or organization which violates the hate crime statutes of our country. We will not tolerate hate motivated activity which infringes upon the integrity and basic human rights of all peoples of all nations. Nowhere in this country, outside of the border regions, would armed citizens with obvious hate-filled agendas be permitted to patrol public lands, while officials stand by anddo nothing.

As people of conscience, we demand that our government officials be accountable for their lack of enforcement of the federal and state criminal statutes, particularly hate crime statutes. We call for the immediate dismantling of these terrorist organizations and an immediate halt to the murders, the continued gross violations of human rights and civil liberties, the complete contempt for the principles of dignity, justice, and equality that uphold human and civil rights of all people crossing and living along the U.S.-México Border region.

To Sign the Statement as an Endorser, Click Here

Please include your address and contact information on your e-mail (only city and state will be listed on Statement of Solidarity). Also list any title and organizational association you wish included with your signature.

Organizations that have signed onto the Statement of Solidarity

Coalición de Derechos Humanos/Alianza Indígena Sin Fronteras—Tucson, AZ
AFSC- Arizona
AFSC-Arizona Area Committee
Arizona Green Party, Phoenix AZ
Arizona Prison Moratorium Coalition
Border Network for Human Rights, El Paso, Texas
Citizens for Border Solutions, Bisbee, AZ
Coalition of Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles—Los Angeles, CA
Coalition of Immokalee Workers—Immokalee, FL
Coalicion Nacional por Dignidad y Amnistia
Colorado Jews for a Just Peace
Colorado Progressive Coalicion, Denver, CO
Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition
Denver Area Labor Federation, Colorado
Fundación México,Tucson, AZ
Green Party of Pima County, Tucson, AZ
Healing Our Borders/Sanando Nuestras Fronteras, Douglas, AZ
Houston Copwatch, Houston, TX
Indigenous World Association
Interfaith Action of Southwest Florida, Immokalee, FL
The Interfaith Alliance- Colorado
La Gente Unida, Denver
Mexico Solidarity Network
Montana Human Rights Network, Helena, MT
9to5 Colorado, National Association of Working Women
Southside Presbyterian, Tucson, AZ
Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice, Albuquerque, NM
Southwest Workers Union, San Antonio, TX
Student/Farmworker Alliance
Students 4 Justice, Denver
Tonatierra, Phoenix, AZ
Veterans for Peace, Inc.- Tucson Chapter
Women Builders, Tucson, AZ
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Colorado
Young Socialists, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Individuals that have signed onto the Statement of Solidarity

Jose R. Matus, Derechos Humanos/Alianza Indígena, Tucson, AZ
Patricia Flores, Alianza Indígena Sin Fronteras, Tucson, AZ
Kathryn Rodriguez, Derechos Humanos/Alianza Indígena, Tucson, AZ
Christina Aboyte, Derechos Humanos/Alianza Indígena, Tucson, AZ
Angela Bracamonte, Derechos Humanos/Alianza Indígena, Tucson, AZ

Vlad Abernathy, Tucson, AZ
Gloria D. Alvarado, St. Edward's University, Austin, Texas
Tanya Alvarez, Tucson, AZ
Sean Arce, TUSD Raza Studies, Tucson, AZ
Emiliano Velasco Arenas ,Vancouver, Canadá
Shirley Atencio, United Campus Ministry, Adams State College, Alamosa, CO
Audrey R. Bacon, Tempe Az
Betty Ball, Safety Net Group, Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center, Boulder, CO
Sarah Bartlett, Gainesville, FL
Lesley Beach, Tucson, AZ
Justin Bendell, Dry River Radical Resource Center, Tucson, AZ
Tom Berning, Tucson, AZ
Ariel Bickel, Durango, CO
Nick Bonokoski
Adam Borowitz, Tucson, AZ
Michael E. Broyles, M.S., Tucson, AZ
Paul Burkhardt, Ph.D., Cultural Studies, Arizona International College, AZ
Julie Burns
Montserrat Caballero, Tucson, AZ
Juan Caicedo, Tucson, AZ
Kathleen Carey, Bisbee, AZ
Carla Carino, Social Studies Teacher, Leadership High School at Manual, Denver, CO
Rev. Robert E. Carney, Jr., Tucson, AZ
Mary Ellen Carroll, Denver
Roger Carrillo, Tucson , AZ
Maribel Casas, Chicago, IL
Blanca Casillas, Students for Justice, Denver, CO
Guadalupe Castillo, Tucson, AZ
Clare Cecil, Tucson, AZ
Amanda Champany, Colorado People's Environment and Economic Network
Jason Chang, Amherst, MA
Gerardo Reyes Chávez, Immokalee, FL
Thomas Clark, Tucson, AZ
Sebastian Cobarribias, Chicago, IL
Tori Cole, Immokalee, FL
Fay Mara Comé, Tucson, AZ
John Connors, Maine
Emily Mae Cook, Summretown, TN
José Cortez, Phoenix, Arizona
David F. Cummings, Tucson, Arizona
Yutaka Dirks, Calgary, Canada
Jennie Duberstein, Tucson, AZ
Jan Elster, Tucson, AZ
Antonio L. Estrada
Audrey Faulkner, Fort Collins
Judy Flanagan, Phoenix, AZ
Kristel A. Foster, Tucson, AZ
Brad Frank, Hesperus, CO
Betty Fridena, Tucson, AZ
Octavio Fuentes, Refuse and Resist, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
The Honorable Art Goodtimes, San Miguel County Commissioner, Colorado
Michelle Gallagher, Tucson, AZ
Isabel Garcia, Tucson, AZ
Nancy Gracia-Gungor, Tucson, Arizona
Stefanie Goebel
Jon Goldin-Dubois, Denver, CO
Jason Gonzales, Information Systems Coordinator, Muskogee Public Library, Muskogee, OK
J. Sarah Gonzales, Hall Director, Stadium Halls, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Adela Gonzalez, Tucson, AZ
David Gonzalez, Tucson, AZ
Regis Goodwin, Astoria, NY
Jean Gore, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Colorado
Luce Guillen-Givins, Tucson, AZ
Carole Gutierrez
Miguel Guzmán, BorderWatch, Arivaca, AZ
Brigitte Gynther, South Bend, IN
Amy Kim Hagemeier, Border Action Network, Tucson, AZ
Felicity Harley, Hebron, CT
Paula Heeren, Lafayette, CO
Corey Knox, Tucson, AZ
Cecile Lumer, Bisbee, AZ
Maricruz Herrera, Students for Justice, Denver, CO
Ruth Hillman, Tucson, AZ
Loren Holmes, Tucson, AZ
Dahlia Horton, Gainesville, FL
Camiliano Juarez, Co-Coordinator, Citywide MEChA Central, Tucson, AZ
Rebecca Karb, Tucson, AZ
Rev. Kenneth Kennon, Tucson, AZ
Erl Kimmich, Tucson, AZ
Jill Kitchen, Tucson, Arizona
Ericka Landeros, Westminster, CO
Lydia Lester, Tucson, AZ
Gloria Leyba, former state representative, Denver, CO
Leslie Lomas
Cecilia Lopez, Tucson, AZ
Karla Lopez, Tucson, AZ
Lorenzo Lopez Jr.
Denise Lowrey
Adan Luevano, Organizer, Roofers’ Local 135, Tucson, AZ
Doralina Luna, Tucson, AZ
Hector Oswaldo Meza Machuca, Nogales, Sonora, Mexico
Peggy Malchow, Executive Director, The Interfaith Alliance of Colorado
Donaciano Martinez, Secretary, La Gente Unida, Inc., Denver, CO
Monica R. Martinez, Tucson, AZ
Norma Martinez, New York City, NY
Oscar J. Martinez, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Betsy McDonald, Tucson, AZ
Shelly-Dawn McDonald, Tucson, AZ
Patricia Medige, Denver, Colorado
Pancho Medina, Tucson, AZ
Jenne Mendoza, Denver,Co
Layli Milden, Tucson, AZ
Jon Miles, Tucson, AZ
Leslie Moody, President, Denver Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO
Michael Moore, Oracle, AZ
Patricia Morrison, Tucson, AZ
Tracy Mott, Associate Professor, Dept. of Economics, University of Denver
Bernice Muller, Tucson, AZ
Melissa Munoz, Chair, La Gente Unida, Inc., Denver, CO
Nancy Myers, Tucson, AZ
Laura Naranjo, Two Spirit Society of Denver
Katharina Nardi Sacramento, CA
Maya Nitis, Nashville, TN
Kelli Olson, Tucson, AZ
Xavier Otero, Tucson, AZ
Ruben J. Pacheco, Educator, Challenger Middle School, Tucson, AZ
Gordon Packard, Tucson, AZ
Sara Pawlik, Montreal, Canada
Frank Pena
Max Perez, Immokalee, FL
Julia Perkins, Immokalee, FL
Daisy Pitkin, Tucson, AZ
Kathryn Polk, Tucson, AZ
Carla Isabella Ponce, Tucson, AZ
Carlos Ponce I, Tucson, AZ
Carlos Ponce II, Tucson, AZ
Carlos Ponce III, Tucson, AZ
Isabella Ponce, Tucson, AZ
Julio Quezada, Students for Justice, Denver, CO
Tiburcia Yocopicio Rabago, Tucson, AZ
Angelita Ramon, Sells, AZ
Esther Ramirez, Denver, Colorado
Erwin Ramon, Sells, AZ
Alicia Ranney, Tallahassee, FL
Carolyn Rashti, Tucson, AZ
Monica Reedy, Gainesville, FL
Steve Rensel, Tucson, AZ
Arthur Richards, Tucson, AZ
Elisa Riesgo, Tucson, AZ
Sam Ritchie, Tucson, AZ
Alessandra Riva, Denver, CO
Tony Robinson, Denver, Professor, University of Colorado-Denver; Director, Denver     Outreach Center; Board President, El Centro Humanitario Para Los Trabajadores
Darcy Román, Department of French and Italian, Tucson, AZ
Maria Rodriguez, Students for Justice, Denver, CO
Bertha Rodriguez, Students for Justice, Denver, CO
Dora Rodriguez, Students for Justice, Denver, CO
Rosemary Rodriguez, Mayor's Office, Denver, CO
Augustine Romero, Director, Raza Studies, Tucson Unified School District
Martí Romo, Tucson, AZ
Gilberto Rosas, Austin, TX
Raquel Rubio-Goldsmith, Tucson, AZ
Dereka Rushbrook, Tucson, AZ
Ann Samuelson, Tucson, AZ
Federico Sanchez, Tucson, AZ
Andy Sauers
Elaine Schmidt, Greeley WILPF
Sister Mary Amy Schreiner, Tucson, AZ
Andy Silverman, Tucson, AZ
Edwin Skidmore, Tucson, AZ
Jacob Smith, Paonia, CO
Esther Louise Snow, Tucson, AZ
Donna Staggs, Tucson, AZ
Jennifer Sugg, New York City, NY
Livingston D. Sutro, Ph.D., Sierra Vista, AZ
Xavier Teso, Tucson, AZ
Elena Thomas, Denver, CO
Susan Thorpe, Tucson, AZ
Paul Tompkins, Bisbee, AZ
Anita Torrez, Tucson, AZ
Lorenzo Torrez, Tucson, AZ
Dianne Tramutolo-Lawson, Colorado-CURE
Eduardo Trujeque, Students for Justice, Denver, CO
Ludwig Van Castro
Bill Vandenberg, Denver, CO
Eric Van Meter, Tucson, AZ
Emilie Vardaman, Bisbee, AZ
Elvia Virgen, Students for Justice, Denver, CO
Ward Wallingford, Tucson, AZ
Jane Webb, Green Valley, AZ
Heather Weste, Portland, ME
Edith White, Bisbee, AZ
Thomas Whittingston, Tucson, AZ
Jennifer Wieczorek, Health Education Specialist, Denver Public Health, Denver, CO
Louisa Walker, Tucson, AZ
Rachel Wilson, Tucson, AZ
David Winkler, Phoenix, AZ
Rebekah Wilce, Tucson, AZ
Catherine Zavala, Tucson, AZ
Adan Zhytton, Tucson, AZ